Strength training for beginners
You want to lose weight or strengthen your muscles and see fast results. If you recognize yourself in this and are looking for another sport, you may want to consider Bodypump. This workout is a strength training to music that uses techniques from the bodybuilding world. But fear not: a figure like the infamous Michelin man is not the end goal!
Then what? Body pump is a form of aerobics in which you work all muscles to music using weights and dumbbells. The focus is on weight training. With strength training you convert fats into muscles, you do muscle strengthening and you lose excess pounds. Because at Bodypump burning energy is the most important, this workout is also called ‘the fastest way to get in shape’.
Rage in New Zealand
Bodypump is originally from New Zealand. Like his father Les, Philip Mills ran several gyms there. Because it was expensive to bring fitness equipment to New Zealand from abroad, Mills developed a new kind aerobics with weights and dumbbells. The variant caught on in New Zealand and the workout also proved to be a success internationally.
Program
As said, the power of Bodypump is in energy combustion. But not only that. The training consists of a fixed program of 60 minutes. It is precisely this repetition that ensures that all muscle groups are trained equally often. After the warm-up, all large and small muscles are treated in eight steps. From the buttocks to shoulders, from the chest to the thigh muscles, with Bodypump no muscle is skipped.
The instructor stands in front of the group and shows the exercises. He or she will also explain which muscles are being trained in each step and what you may feel when you train these muscles. This way the athletes, experienced and inexperienced, know what to expect.
Music
To keep it fun, sports are done to motivational music. However, that does not mean that there are dance steps involved. That is why Bodypump is also suitable if you are bad in keeping the size. There is also something special about the music: each step of the training is accompanied by its own song. This combination will remain unchanged for three months. Dull?
Not according to the instructors. It is precisely the familiarity with the music that makes you train well. It seems that over time athletes even start to sing along with the exercises!
Accessible
Bodypump is an accessible sport. Anyone over the age of 12 can participate. This is partly because Bodypump is taught by professional instructors. The emphasis is on individual progress. Can’t handle a weight of 7.5 kilograms? Don’t panic, next time just take a weight of 5 kilos to train your triceps, for example.
It is not mandatory, but at Bodypump it is practical to wear sportswear made of stretch fabric: the instructor can then better see whether you are adopting the correct postures. Finally, Bodypump has no health requirements. This is due to the individual character and the professional guidance. Even pregnant women can do Bodypump. It is advisable to use in case of pain and small injuries always consult with the instructor.
More information
Have you become curious and would you like more information? On the website of Les Mills you can see at which gym in your area Bodypump lessons are given.
