Pro Tips to Get More From Group Fitness Classes
Whether you’re swinging kettlebells or pedalling through a spin session, group fitness classes are a great way to get into shape. Health and fitness classes provide instructor motivation, an energetic atmosphere, and boredom proof routines to keep you going with personal accountability for your own goals. However, if you want to take it to the next level, there are some pro tips to get more out of your classes.
Invest in Some Higher Tech Gear
Before heading out to any group health and fitness clubs in Melbourne , you should consider upgrading your kit. Swap your cotton gear for poly blends that help to regulate body temp and wick moisture. Research has shown that women who wear polyester fabrics when exercising showed improvements in their athletic performance compared to working out in cotton clothing.
Think Form Rather Than Speed
Speed and repetition don’t necessarily mean a better outcome. The key to avoiding injury and building muscles is ensuring your body parts are in the right place. While an instructor will explain arm or foot placement and provide modifications, it is crucial that you ask questions if you feel unsure. If you feel a little shy to speak up during the class, stay behind and ask to be shown the precise alignment for your next class.
Practice Proper Posture
While you may think posture is only important for yoga, it is crucial for other strength moves and cardio. For example, if you’re rowing going as fast as possible isn’t important, rather concentrate on your posture. Ideally, 60 percent of the power for the motion should come from your legs, while 20 percent comes from your core, rather than relying solely on your arms.
Stand Up During Spinning
Regardless of the cycle, you prefer using, getting up out of the saddle whenever possible will help you gain the most from the class. Research has shown that standing climbing or adopting a running position will generate higher cardiorespiratory responses compared to sitting. So, try to stand up whenever you have the option even if you feel tired as you’ll get better endurance benefits.
HIIT Your Heart Rate
If you want to get the best from your health and fitness classes, strap on a monitor and ensure you’re hitting your target heart rate. For a highly efficient workout, look to spend most of the class in the aerobic zone at approximately 70% of your maximum heart rate, with the remaining time in the anaerobic zone at 84% of your maximum heart rate. Spending up to 20 minutes during an hour long class in the higher range will help you to burn more calories even if you’ve stopped moving.
Have Fun
Dreading an exercise class means that it’s likely you’ll find other tasks that have to be completed, and you’ll end up missing it. Two Cornell Food & Brand Lab studies found that treating your workout as fun can result in eating less later, which can further aid you to achieve your fitness goals.
If you’re interested in group fitness classes, you should visit us. We offer a fantastic range of yoga classes in Melbourne, health and fitness classes and you’ll find our team members would be delighted to answer any questions to help you discover your ideal class.