Body Pump

[hollyblueivy]

Is this a good class to actually build muscle?

I'm wondering whether my time would be better spent in the gym on my own or in a body pump class?

You will end up with more muscle and stronger muscles especially if you use heavier weights and aren't disheartened if you need to rest during the routine

If you are looking to bulk out / look muscled it's something else you probably need
Also something else if you want to do weight lifting

It's a great class to get used to lifting weights and the movements involved. As it's high reps the weights you will be able to use mean it's not as effective for muscle building as weight lifting programme in the gym, but can certainly help you get more toned if you go 2-3 times per week.

As above but don't be fooled, pump can really tax your muscles. I went a after a two year absence and I banjaxed my entire upper body. Build up slowly, you won't feel the damage til two or three days later.

It’s a great class but you do need to push yourself regarding weight. If you don’t lift heavier then you won’t see results. Start light and work your way up but I agree you will be limited by the high reps.

It was a very good starting class, I did it for about 6 weeks then joined the gym. I liked the group nature of it so I'm now lifting heavy in the gym 3 times a week and about to try a weekly Hyrox class alongside it to still have the group element and weights progress.

I don't know about building muscle but I really enjoy the class - you can really work up a good sweat and feel like you have done something. It's the class I enjoy most.

I enjoy bodypump, but I find that I cannot lift heavy at all mainly due to the speed. I try to do 2 classes a week on top of other workouts I do in the gym. I really hate tidying away my equipment though.

I think it's best if you've already got good form for rows and deadlifts etc before you do a class. I didn't... and found I was compromising form to keep the beat.
I did it twice a week for a year and had a lot of fun- but as a menopausal woman, my reading suggests I'm better off lifting heavy weights with fewer reps, so that's what I do now.
If you prefer a class environment and find it motivating, then pump is a great option

It is not optimal for muscle building. If you want to build muscle your time is better spent in the gym focusing on lifting heavier weights for fewer reps and progressive overload

It's fun, but not optimal for heavy lifting. It can be very fast which is a bit counterintuitive. It is fairly easy to injure yourself due to the speed, and they don't really teach best form. It'll definitely improve mobility and probably slowly increase muscle, but not as well as a regular weights program.

In my bodypump classes, you sometimes see really muscly fit people. I always think they are there for their rest days 😅

I do pump a couple of times a week
I have low muscle tone due to disabilities but these classes have give me a really toned physique everyone comments even my work colleagues about how toned

I am also now the heaviest I have ever been which is frustrating but my legs, arms, shoulders, abs are pure muscle I am late 30s

@PinkBuffalo how heavy do you lift in Bp?

Good for a beginner, good fun, good overall exercise. Not good for more serious strength training because of the high reps / fast pace that others have mentioned.

Hardly heavy at all cos of my disabilities I find it hard
usually 2.5 kg in each end sometimes with additional 1.25 added to each end

CrossFit is better

I did used to do CrossFit, my gym I go to now is much better and more inclusive 👍
I did love CrossFit though

It won’t build significant muscle. The weights aren’t heavy enough and pump focuses on volume. It’s more like doing aerobics with a bit of added weight.