Gym Classes and Mixing it up

[gindrinker]

I've signed up to the local council gym. There are four gyms and 3 swimming pools within less than 25mins of my house. they do about 100 classes a week and have a huge list each evening. Horrah.

I'm not too fussed about the machines in the gym but want to do 4-6 classes a week.
I want to improve my cardio vascular fitness and tone up.

Is there a mix of classes I should do?

This week I'm going to do: Body pump, Kick boxing or a 20mile bike ride dependant on if the guys I ride with are going out, Water circuit trading and Boxercise.

Is there anything I'm missing? I'm not a fan of aerobics or step classes.

Anyone tried TRX training?

[Cindy34]

TRX is great. Did an hour trx class last night, it works your whole body. Do give it a go.

How is your co-ordination? If not very good, then start with a class like BodyVive which is cardio and functional strength. Learn the moves, will take several weeks, then get better at correct position for things, like elbow by nose.

Routines in classes tend to change each term, so no problem doing same classes each week in my view. You may get bored though, so mix it up a bit on occasion - though I find instructors having time off results in there being the occasional different class.

[Cindy34]

What is water circuit?

Do something that focuses on core. I do core conditioning, but the class sometimes has different names, Sculpt, Ball. Talk to an instructor of one of the classes you do, they often know about other classes and can say what is good for core.

Don't forget about relaxation/stretch. Every few weeks I do a stretch class, it is a bit like yoga but not as hard! It helps to stretch out the muscles and makes you feel very relaxed afterwards.

Wish my council has good facilities, I have private health club membership at high cost as the council facilities are not that good.

[gindrinker]

Water circuits is circuit training in the pool ... Apparently? Sounds like fun in a weird way.
I'll either sink or swim.

My council seems to be pretty good, they've spent money on an indoor cycling studio at one of the gyms and have just opened a new leisure centre.
Its so cheap... For everything - swimming, gym, classes and Racquet sports its £25 a month. Virgin active want £50 a month and they don't have a very good pool.

[Thyeternalsummer]

Spin! Especially if you're a RL bike rider too. So good for stamina and fitness levels. David Lloyd zone classes are fab, really miss them now that I've just got the usual local gyms. But any spin class is great.

[Lizzylou]

Second Spin.
Really good exercise, burns lots of calories and is fun.

Circuit training also good, my council run gym has 60 min and 45 min circuits and also now Metafit, which is a killer 30mins but makes a huge difference.

I like Body Pump and Body combat.

[gindrinker]

OK spin is going on the list.
Can I wear my cycling shoes? Or are the pedals just flat ones?

[Lizzylou]

I would take both, or ask. Some spin bikes can be used with cycling shoes (I know people used to do it before our bikes were changed).

I am just weird in that I love spin but hate cycling on an actual, real bike . Hate the downhills

[Thyeternalsummer]

I wear cycling shoes with shimano cleats. Most spin bikes seem to have clip-in pedals as well as cages for people wearing trainers.

[McPie]

I like Kettlercise and have went from a 2kb bell to between an 8 and 10kg since september. I do just about everything available at my local leisure centre (60 seconds from my house!) apart from bums, tums and thighs but only because the instructor is stuck in some sort of Groundhog day and never adds anything new unless it is utterly stupid and pathetic! Favourites at the moment are boxfit, spin and metafit, hard but worth it considering tough mudder is now less than 5 weeks away