Body4Me

**Update: I’ve got the review/preview of BodyPump 67 up here **

Ahh yeah.. It’s BodyPump workshop time again!

In a couple of short weeks, the quarterlyBodyPump 67 workshop is coming to town. (Has it been 3 months already?…. I guess having a baby warps time a bit). Can’t wait. Catching up with people I only get to  see at the workshops and getting a sneak peek at all the other programs.

Naturally, i’ll be posting a (non-spoiler) preview as soon as I can after that. I’m really looking forward to this one. There are some great songs in this coming release and possibly a few surprises. I’ve really enjoyed the variety of new moves in the ab tracks over the last few editions and this one promised to shake things up again.

I’ll keep you posted ….

For more of the current Les Mills promotional videos, check out their YouTube Page

As some of you may know, starting with release 66, the Les Mills team have introduced a new, shorter variation for Bodypump. It’s a 30 minute ‘Express’ class. In this configuration, you do 6 tracks : Warmup, Squats, Chest, Back, Lunges or Shoulders and then Abs (Core). No cool down and we skip the Triceps and Biceps completely. The workout is focused on moving the major muscle groups and using the maximum calories possible for that class type. You will still need to cool down and stretch after the class yourself.

Now, obviously, Les Mills is just doing what the market is asking. People want shorter classes to fit into their lunch breaks and around their ‘busy schedule’. It first glance, I was really excited about the idea. Hey, it’s a short ‘taster’ class to get new people interested in Group Exercise. It can be used as a warm-up class to something else (RPM, Body Attack, Body Combat, etc). You can squeeze it in anywhere when you want to get a quick workout. That’s all really good and I am totally for it.

But now, I’m a little worried about what this may do to the perception of people and the class. Are we diluting the program ? In our society, everything is about making things quicker, easier and more convenient. Does it make sense to apply that principle to exercise and keeping your body in shape ? At the end of the day, if you want to get fit or lose weight, there are no shortcuts. We all know there is no magic pill that will suddenly make you lose weight (long term). Yes, you can grab a tablet that will stop your intestines from absorbing fats or go to the doctor and get your stomach cut in half, but that’s not really solving the root of the problem. If you don’t change your mindset and how you think about your body, none of these things will last you long term.

If you wan to lose weight, you need to expend more calories than you take in. If you want to build muscle, you need to train them beyond their capacity. By offering shorter and shorter classes, are we giving people false impression that they can achieve their goals with minimal effort and barely raising a sweat ? All too often, I see people in the gym, walking on the treadmill for 20 minutes while chatting to their friends. Yes, I know it’s better than nothing, but really, who are we kidding? You’re not going to achieve any real results with that.

I’m just worried that busy clubs will start offering these classes instead of, rather than alongside, the normal classes and that participants will come to think that half an hour of exercise is all they need to get trim.

So, the way I look at it, it’s a double edged sword. On one side, this new format is an awesome weapon in our fight against globesity for those that use it to supplement their existing workout routine. On the other side, it can be misused to give you a false sense of security that you’re doing everything you need to.

If you’re an instructor and you’re teaching this new format, please make sure that you educate your participants  about the purpose of the class. Explain the benefits of each class format and try to ‘up-sell’ the longer formats.

If you’re a participant or someone who has not done a Group Exercise class before, try it out. BodyPump is an absolutely fantastic way to get in shape. Use it to add to your workout regime. You can try the short format as a warmup to a bigger workout or you can do it on an off-day. Just be aware that the class was originally designed as a 55 minute workout that targts every muscle group to give a full, balanced workout. The 30 minute class will be a compromised version that you may not want to solely rely on. And maybe, let’s ask ourselves, how busy are we really that we have to cut 15-30 minutes out of keeping ourselves in shape. At the end of the day, you only get one body. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Is your email, that spreadsheet, that report, that tv show really that important…. ?

**Update: Hmm.. Seems like google has decided that everything Pump 67 related should go to this page. Please click the ‘Home‘ button at the top of the page to get the full 67 coverage, including the preview and summary of the first week with it.***

**Update: I’ve got the review/preview of BodyPump 67 up here **

It’s that time again… We’re about to gear up for the next BodyPump release! Woohoo!

BODYPUMP® 67 is another strong and challenging release. This quarter the focus is on communicating the workout factor participants will get from each track. Instructors do this by coaching the specific weight selection, training objective and exercises used. Check out the new take on some old-school bicep training and a new Plank Crunch to challenge the core stabilizers. And watch for the chance to increase your weight selection in several of the tracks so you can get stronger, faster.

The music is a classic BODYPUMP® mix that features Heavy Rock from Finger Eleven in the Chest Track, with E–Type’s Eurofighter next up. P!nk is in the house with one of her biggest hits for the Triceps Track, followed by a wild and cheeky Bon Jovi number for the biceps work. So, cruise into the workout in the Warmup and get the feel of the steel with a mix of Deadrows, Wide Rows and Deadrows With Underhand Grip.

Then challenge your legs using a high number of Bottom Half Squats while keeping perfect form. The strong beats of Jan Wayne’s Piece Of My Heart will lift the commitment level of the workout. Enjoy the ‘X–factor’ in a wicked Shoulder Track and the Plank Crunch that rounds out the workout in the Abdominals Track. BODYPUMP® 67 is an awesome class that’ll leave you feeling physically exhausted but emotionally empowered!

Like I said in my previous post, I had a listen to the release tracklist and it’s pretty cool. I can’t wait to see how the Plank Crunch is going to work. I still love the Moby song from 66.