Body pump classes

[nbee84]

Can anyone tell me about these classes. What are they? Are they suitable for a relative beginner?

Joined a gym 6 weeks ago and am trying out different classes - zumba, pilates and body conditioning so far. Boxercise and boot camp look a bit scarey but I haven't been able to look in on a body pump class to see what it involves.

You can work to your own level. Each track works on a different area of the body and you use weights.

I really like body pump. It's a very effective way of building strength and you can start with low weights and build up. I was a complete novice to it in November and can now do push ups and I'm a lot stronger. You need to keep challenging yourself by upping the weights though.

I like choreography based exercise so it suits me. Usually the tracks run in the following way;

Warm up
Squats
Chest
Back
Triceps
Biceps
Lunges
Shoulders
Core

They change the release every few months so it doesn't get boring.

Its great fun, but you really really need to watch your form - because you are trying to keep up with the music it is easy to let your form suffer.

You should be fine as a beginner as long as you keep the weights light and build up gradually. Great for toning.

when you go to your first class keep your weights low, pretty much the lowest. you'll regret it if you don't .

I like the ariana grande triceps track at the moment.

Think I'll have to give it a go. They sound similar to the body conditioning classes I've done. 2 different instructors - one does warm up followed by 30 mins of aerobics and then uses handweights for various exercises followed by core work and stretching. The other (which is harder!) we use hand weights and barbells and he has us doing aerobic bits in between each set to keep our heart rates up throughout.

I was a bit worried it would be too hard for me and I'd look like a wimp so thanks for the info

meglet - it was going down the stairs that got me after the 1st of the harder body conditioning classes. I don't think I've ever done so many squats and lunges before. Today's class seemed a bit more focused on upper body and my arms are already aching.

My gym prefers you to do an induction for BP to make sure you are using correct form.....you'll love it BTW - the music on this release is the best

An induction would be a v good idea if your gym offers one. I went to my first ever body pump today without an induction and it was too busy for the instructor to advise me on my form. I was waving that barbell around like a bloody majorette

It would be really easy to work ineffectively or worse.

There are technique videos on the Les Mills site here which I intend to check out.

If I can move tomorrow

Thanks all. Got my 1st class on Thurs 4th June

Great website ewan - thanks for the link. I think I might be even more scared now but hoping to get some good results.

I just need to sort my eating out now. I could do with dropping 7lb but going to the gym makes me hungry and I tend to 'reward' myself after a workout which I know is the wrong mentality to have.

I hate exercise but I loved Body Pump.

Bodypump is great
just start with less weight than you would think

I did bodypump till I was 9 months pregnant
and was back at it 6 weeks later!

if you keep your weight low it is THE toning class

and YYY to not rewarding yourself after the gym
a muffin and a cappucino contain more calories than you have burned off in three hours of hard classes

Thanks talkin

What sort of weight should I be looking at? I usually pick up 2kg hand weights for the body conditioning class. Could probably go heavier for some of the exercises but find them heavy enough for others (like triceps - which are aching at the mo!) I can't remember what weights I put on the end of the barbell (is that the correct name?) but I think they were 2kg as well. As you can see I'm a fairly lightweight beginner

TBH I'd start with 1kg each end for warmup and all arm stuff, 2kg each end for legs.
It sounds pathetic but you do 800 reps in the class and if no muscles ache you can always add a kg the following week

better that than go with the crowd warming up on 3 kg each end , 2x 8kg for legs etc and feeling like Frankenstein's monster for a week!

Lol! Thanks for your advice. Think I'm looking forward to it.

Pump is addictive.
I got to the stage of doing it 3 times a week and lifting silly weights.
Enjoy.

Bumping my own thread here

It's Saturday night, I'm home and bored and found this!

Well.... I did go to that bodypump class and loved it. Kept my weights low as advised but still felt it the next day. Sooo many reps.

Nearly 3 years later and it's still my favourite class and I do 3 a week. Also have some of the heaviest weights in class now.

I love BodyPump. I’ve just started going again after a long break, and can already see the improvements in my body after just a few weeks.

Start with lower weights than you can manage.

It's about the technique to start with, once you master that you can put the weights up. Some of the exercises are quite fast and use tricky combinations- so clean and press/bottom rows etc, so you need to think and watch.
Don't worry if you get it wrong though. I have been doing pump for 12 years and sometimes my mind wanders and I get it wrong- no one cares.

One last bit of advice is arrive early!!

Newbies are always welcome and get lots of help from others, but not if you arrive one minute before class starts.

The equipment is a little complicated to start with- especially the bloody smart bars which I hate.
Arrive at least 10 minutes before class starts which will give you time to get organised.