Matlock / Bakewell gym - Blog
The Woodlands November 2013 Newsletter
Friday 1st November 2013
What's New? Right then fitness friends, its November. This time last year I was trying to encourage you to check carefully for hedgehogs and other small animals before lighting your bonfires. I assume you were all equally vigilant for our woodland friends this year? Also, in last November's newsletter I made a sneaky dig at Emily Allanson's fondness for steady state cardio (in case you've missed my repeated articles about steady state cardio, it's a terrible way to burn fat!). I had no idea Emily would go from being a personal training client to being a friend to being my girlfriend to being the soon to be mother of my son to now being my fiancée. Every month I write a "What's…
How long do you sit down each day?
Friday 25th October 2013
How long do you sit down each day? 3 hours or more? If so, do yourself a favour and take 2 minutes to read this article. For many of us technology has led to a work place where we sit for extended periods of time. Unfortunately our bodies were not designed to sit as much as they do. It is not coincidental that more people are developing postural problems like weak & lazy buttocks, a protruding chin, rounded shoulders and weak core muscles. In the short term these postural problems can result in a variety of pains like headaches, migraines and knee, shoulder & back pain. But in the long term these postural problems can lead to serious irreversible skeletal problems,…
Woodlands will make you feel welcome
Thursday 24th October 2013
For many of us, no matter our age, fitness level, or gender - the gym can be a place that evokes feelings of fear, not fitness. Sometimes the one thing holding us back from achieving our fitness goals is this fear. Despite our intentions, for many of us, the gym evokes an image of a large, scary, sweaty place filled with superfit people who appear so comfortable that the gym seems like their second home. Fortunately the Woodlands Fitness Centre is not that kind of place. Woodlands manager Sarah Hurley commented "Some potential members are concerned that they'll look out of place amongst spandex clad size zeros, body builders and fitness fanatics but Woodlands isn't that kind of gym. Our members…
Exercising with your friends gets results!
Wednesday 23rd October 2013
Small group personal training with your friends is a fantastic way for people to benefit from the quality of service of personal trainer but in a small group situation. The group can be made up of your friends, work colleagues or even people with similar training goals or interests. You'll benefit from increased motivation, gain confidence, possibly meet new people and of course help build team spirit. An hour of group fitness training is not only a fast way to get results - you will have a great time having them. James Bailey commented "Enjoying a workout with your better half or your friends can be a great opportunity for some quality time together, even if you have different fitness levels.…
Want to double your endorphins?
Tuesday 22nd October 2013
Want to double your endorphins? Exercise classes spike your endorphins and turn training from burden to pleasure. My article this month is all about maximising pleasure. Below I'll explain why exercising in a group will have you walking away happier - and stronger - from every workout. Exercising in a group can double the amount of endorphins your body releases in comparison to working out alone. More endorphins mean more fun. More fun means more motivation. And more motivation means quicker, better results. Additionally, signing up to a timetabled group keeps you on the righteous path. Missing a workout is a lot harder if you've got people waiting for you to show up. James Bailey, Woodlands instructor and Corrective Exercise specialist, commented "Studio…
10 Reasons to Hire a Personal Trainer
Sunday 20th October 2013
Everybody will need little bit of help with exercise sometimes - even if you're just starting out or have been at it for a long time. Still, there are people who shy away from personal training, unsure of what they'll get out of the experience or whether it's worth the money. There are a number of reasons people work with per trainers. Some want a tailor made program so they can lose weight or get in shape. Some need to be held accountable for their workouts. Regardless of how long you've been training for, what your goals are or what level you're at, a personal trainer may be just what you need to take it to the next level. 1. You're…
30 minute Personal training Sessions
Wednesday 16th October 2013
Many people who work out in a gym find that staying motivated, working consistently at the right intensity, and monitoring progress is a time consuming and difficult task. Others find that even entering the gym area is too intimidating, not knowing where to start their exercise routine or believing they don't belong there because those places are only for fit people. Our 30 minute personal training options have been created exclusively to help you to achieve their lifestyle goals. Our one-to-one personal training methods are designed specifically to help you get great results quickly, safely and effectively. Our sessions are designed around five basic components: 1). Addressing Your Nutrition - the foundation of all health and fitness 2). Cardiovascular Exercise - optimise fat burning 3).…
What is CrossFit?
Friday 11th October 2013
CrossFit is one of the latest US fitness crazes making its way across the UK. CrossFit is described as a strength and conditioning program as "constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement," with the stated goal of improving fitness. CrossFit workouts are typically short - 20 minutes or less - and they are intense, demanding all-out physical exertion. CrossFit combines bodyweight exercises, resistance training (including Olympic lifts), sprinting, rowing, skipping and more. The equipment used is basic: barbells, dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells, medicine balls, and boxes for box jumps. Below are some example CrossFit Workouts: CrossFit Workout 1 Running: 1 mile Do circuit 10 times: Pullups: 10 reps (total 100 reps) Pushups: 20 reps (total 200 reps) Bodyweight Squat: 30 reps (total 300 reps) Running:…
Get functional
Thursday 10th October 2013
When it is time to get back into shape, burn off those pounds that accumulated over vacation or build muscle for the beach, most people think about using gym machines. After all, when you walk into your local gym and see all the shiny equipment, it is impressive. How could you not get fit, burn fat and build muscle? However, bodyweight and free weight exercises are a better choice for your fitness, fat loss and body shaping needs. You not only build an attractively muscular body, but you improve real world performance with physical abilities you can use at the gym. Some gyms set up a series of machines and have the gym members go through the circuit like an assembly…
Do your joints hurt?
Tuesday 8th October 2013
Posture has a major influence on Pain. Pain can alter muscle function, creating reflex inhibition and changing our movement patterns. Pain and reflex inhibition change the sensory input to the muscles when there is damage to ligaments and capsules; it can also influence the ability of muscles to support the joint. We should also note that poor posture could be the source of many pain syndromes, as faulty postural relationships increase strain on supporting structure. Muscle imbalance and faulty joint alignment are common sources of pain. Pain is the ultimate motivator - the body will always move away from pain. It is these pain avoidance patterns that can continue to reinforce faulty movement within the nervous system. When optimum muscle balance…
Sometimes less is more
Monday 7th October 2013
Most of the popular splits undermine progress for average trainees. Just because a certain split works for a genetic phenomenon who may be bolstered by drug support, it doesn't mean that it will also work for natural, genetically average body builders. Ideally you should train each body part three times every two weeks; that is, once every four or five days per body part. You'll train three nonconsecutive days each week, which will give you four full days of recovery every seven days. The popular split routines usually include more training than non-training days, which is counterproductive for most bodybuilders. This is abbreviated training, and it's precisely what most body builders need if they want to make good progress. The short workouts…
The Woodlands Fitness Centre Newsletter October 2013
Tuesday 1st October 2013
What's New? October has crept up on us pretty much as every month has this year and it's mildly terrifying that 2013 is now almost over. And whilst we're on the subject of mildly terrifying, let's not forget its Halloween soon. We've started to decorate the club - and have opted for a nice, old fashioned white. As promised, no wacky colours this time. We're not sure how long the brilliant white will stay brilliant - so we might opt for a very light grey in the next couple of weeks. Most of the gym has been finished. Next will be the reception followed by the changing rooms. I always want to know what you think of the Woodlands Fitness Centre…