Exercise Information - Health & Fitness Information


Go from bashful to beach god/goddess with Virgin Active!
	Summer is finally here, and while we’re all looking forward to long, lazy days in the sunshine or a well-deserved trip to the seaside, the thought of baring our wobbly winter bodies is often much less enticing! That’s why so many of us resort to fad diets, in a last-minute bid to shed some excess pounds. And although cutting out the bad stuff is essential to a healthy weight-loss plan, many fad diets are too restrictive, leaving dieters feeling moody, deprived, and struggling with plummeted energy levels. Luckily, there’s a better way. Skip the dodgy diets and get beach bodylicious at Virgin Active Health Clubs! We’ve got everything you need to transform your body into a sexier, shapelier version of its former self, without the deprivation. Now, check out these top tips from our expert Personal Trainers!
Chisel your chest – (Ladies, we mean you, too!) Best move: Hit the weights on the gym floor. The chest press machine gives a great all-over workout, toning and strengthening your chest muscles for a firmer foundation and a more lifted appearance. Class act: Join in a Body Pump class. This high-intensity group exercise class targets every major muscle group, using a variety of weights to get you toned, trimmed, and beach-body ready! Why get active? For ladies, exercising the chest muscles doesn’t just improve the appearance of your bust line; it can also help reduce back pain. And for guys, well, man-boobs can seriously tarnish your ‘beach cred’… need we say more? For more great chest workouts, click here. Tone your arms Best move: Barbell curls are the best workout for your biceps, (or you can try dumbbell curls or machine bicep curls) while tricep pushdowns are best for tightening the triceps. Working on the triceps will also help you get rid of the dreaded bingo wings, firming the muscle to loose the droop! Class act: Give the all-new Gymsticks class a go! This revolutionary total body workout strengthens, tones, and defines every muscle in the body. It’s both fun and physically demanding, and you can replicate any exercises that you would normally do with free weights; including squats, presses, lunges, and curls. Why get active? Ladies often falsely believe that working out their arms will make them too muscular and unfeminine. (ie. ‘Madonna-arms’) But lifting low weights at high repetition simply tones and hones your arms for a firmer look and feel. And for guys, this exercise just goes without saying if you plan on wearing a vest top this summer! For more amazing arms workouts, click here. Trim your tummy Best move: Good old-fashioned crunches are your best bet for trimming your tummy. So get crunching in our flexibility zones on the gym floor, or for better results, do your crunches on a BOSU ball (ask one of our fitness staff for details) or a core ball. Class act: Get ‘Ab-Fab’ in a variety of group exercise classes that strengthen your core muscles and flatten your tummy. V-core is a great all-over workout for your core, while Ab Attack offers you the ultimate fat-blasting workout for tighter abs. Or you can try Pilates for some important breathing techniques and core strengthening exercises that will leave your stomach muscles on fire! Why get active? Core strength is essential for good posture and can ease back pains. A strong, stable core makes all movements and exercises easier and helps prevent injury. Oh, and on a slightly more superficial level, it helps tackle unsightly muffin tops – which can ruin any hot holiday outfit! For more amazing arms workouts, click here. Tighten your bum Best move: Lunge into action. Yes, lunges are brilliant bum-clenching exercises for toning, sculpting and tightening your booty. You should also incorporate exercises for the hamstrings - as these muscles support your bum - which has a visible lifting and sculpting effect. Class act: Get beach ‘bootiful’ with our Bums and Tums group exercise class. Specifically focused on toning and strengthening your bum and abdominals, you’ll transform your derriere from a pear to a peach in no time! Why get active? The hamstrings are one of the strongest muscles in the body, and their integral for supporting healthy body movement and athletic performance. These muscles are relatively easy to tone, so you’ll see results fast – giving you a much-needed boost to mind, body, and bum! For more of the best butt workouts, click here. Shrink your thighs Best move: Leg extensions are a great way of trimming down ‘thunder thighs’ and strengthening the muscles. Forward and side lunges are also great to incorporate into your floor routine. Class act: Feel the burn in a power-packed V-Cycle class! Calories – and inches - melt away as you pedal like you’ve never pedalled before in this high energy, high impact group exercise class. One word of advice; you won’t be doing much sitting down! Why get active? Strong legs make everyday movement and all different kinds of exercise much easier. You’ll have more stamina for swimming, taking long walks in the countryside, dancing up a storm, not to mention lengthy shopping trips while on holiday. Oh, and it makes hot pants and mini-skirts a must on the holiday shopping list! (At least for the ladies, that is!) For more leg workouts, click here.