Lake forest health and fitness: Try a new trend, try Gym Class!

Friday, 31 July 2015

Try a new trend, try Gym Class!

Gym Class combines the balance between strength training and metabolic conditioning, so go on, try something new!

What is it?
Having worked in the fitness industry for years, Helle Hammonds has put all her experience into the energy of her new workout, GymClass. The concept is about as no-nonsense as the name – it’s not rocket science, but Helle has it nailed. It consists of interwoven sessions of cardio with resistance exercises, allowing you to recover from one part while getting to work on another. Whether you opt for the Signature Full Body class or a more specific body part-focused version, there’s not a minute that goes to waste.

The cardio takes place on the spin bikes. Helle instructs the small group through interval sprint sessions, really forcing you to push yourself and boost fat-burn potential. The strength aspect of the class is done through resistance training using all sorts of kit: bodyweight, TRX, dumbbells and rigs.

What are the benefits?

The small group setting of GymClass is ideal for those who want the intensity and intimacy of a personal-training session with the community and camaraderie feel of a class. For those after a hard-hitting fat-burn session, this is sure to hit the spot, working you at a high intensity for the entire class. Cardio queens who never venture into the free-weights section will get to sneak a totally non-scary strength session into their routines, while those who avoid cardio like the plague will get the chance to seriously boost their fitness without having to dedicate a whole session to slogging away on a treadmill or the like.

How hard is it?

As with any high-intensity interval training session, if it isn't hard work, you're not doing it right. With HIIT classes, you get to work your body especially hard in a shorter amount of time, using bursts of super-intense effort with rest periods in between. You /only/ get your fat-burning, metabolism-rising and fitness-boosting prayers answered if you put everything into it, though, so yeah, this class is hard. But the hard work pays off. Plus, it's also really fun.

Where is it?

The GymClass studio is in Holland Park, London and costs £29 per class (or cheaper with class packages). Visit gym-class.co.uk for more information.

Do it yourself

It’s not hard to replicate a session that involves alternating quick bursts on a gym bike and short circuits of resistance exercises. But GymClass offers a vibrant atmosphere, bucket loads of motivation and specialist instruction to take you through everything step by step. However, if you do want to have a quick try in the gym, try doing 30-second intervals of bike sprints as fast as you can and recovery cycles, alternated for 5 minutes. Then move on to the gym floor for circuits of the same length – try moves like burpees, weighted walking lunges and pull-ups. Keep it inventive and mix it up every round. Keep going for 40 minutes and don't forget to warm up and cool down.

Amanda’s verdict

There are loads of classes surfacing at the moment that put this concept into play, but GymClass has a great energy. The studio looks like something out of a film set and Helle, the instructor, is personable, charismatic and most importantly, a true expert at what she does. This class is loads of fun, which is a good thing since it's pretty damn gruelling, too.