It's good to be back!

After almost 12 months of constantly working, also having no internet facilities to speak of I am very happy to inform you that I am now able to continue my blog posts. Hopefully it will inspire some of you to get a start on the road to better health and fitness without going in too hard and giving up after a couple of sessions.
Today's gym sessions took place at Low Hill Community Centre. Low Hill is a disadvantaged area of Wolverhampton, with a high occurence of health problems which simple lifestyle changes are slowly changing.
The Easyline gym which I previously described (just go back in time a bit!) has grown in popularity and we have our 2 year anniversary on the horizon this september. People come and people go, but we still have a faithful core of original members.
Anyway.... back to today's happenings - we currently have our second fitness challenge running, the first one was hula-hoop, this one is skipping. The top score is 250 continuous skips, performed by Chrstine Bennett, one of our more recent members. I must ask her for a photograph or even a video of her great skipping technique!
We have an age range which goes up to people in their eighties.....our youngest user to date is aged 10 and she was the winner of our previous challenge (hula hoop) keeping it going for just over 31 minutes!
So it seems everyone has their strength/talent. You may not have discovered yours yet, but it's fun finding out!


check out this cool light-up skipping rope, I've got to get one of these!

It's never too late....

After a VERY busy morning in the gym, I've been relaxing and having a look at pictures on google image of different client groups exercising. I work with many different age groups and although EASYLINE was originally marketed to the over 50's age group, anyone over age 14 can use it really. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OVER 50!!!! Hope you heard that :)
Unfortunately, though - many people leave fitness until some might say - it's too late. Or is  it? Some of my gym members are in the older generation and have been exercising as a way of life since way back when, others are in the group which have retired or been made redundant, or even been "sent" by the doctor who has told them they must make time for exercise or make time for illness, the choice is theirs as only they can decide that they want to be there......
Check out these pictures I've found, they are inspirational!

I have ladies in their 80's who come to my gym sessions. I don't think it's too late, do you?

Tired....but HAPPY!

Friday the 13th of July is upon us, I did wonder what could happen in the gym this morning...but suffice to say it takes all sorts...The morning's workouts have gone without incident, I'm not really superstitious, but I did consider taking some precautions this morning!
A fantastic day was had by all at our Macmillan fundraiser. I am eagerly awaiting photos of the event which was attended by over 100 people. It nearly reached meltdown around 2pm when a crowd descended upon the equipment without so much as a by or leave! A bit of a challenge as an instructor, but we managed. I wouldn't have done it without some great people helping me. (Carol and Chris Jenkins, Maggie Parker, Marie Evans were the main ones)
Since my last blog post I've taken delivery of some new equipment, including medicine balls - so I'm looking at basic level exercises that will suit my clients, taking into account their skill level, needs, mobility etc. The common areas they want to work are the stomach and upper arms, so I'm looking at specifics for these. I've found some good images online which I will develop into exercise cards for my clients.I always choose pictures which show GOOD FORM.....

AB curl with medicine ball - Of course this abdominal exercise has the arms extended above the head, making it an advanced move. To make it easier, the ball can be held on the chest, shortening the lever length. If you're going to attempt the advanced move as shown, make sure you keep the arms in a fixed position, covering your ears! (as shown in the picture)

This exercise is known as the wood-chop. Similar movement to chopping down a tree with an axe...? But as you can see in the picture, this exercise needs a good squat technique, not letting the knee past the toe and also a rotational movement with the mid section. The arms are kept outstretched throughout.

This is an old school type exercise! A squat with a medicine ball....watch your technique, don't let the knees past the toes, to do this you need to stick your butt way out back! Just squat down to 90 degrees then back up,holding the ball at chest level. To progress, you can add a shoulder press with the ball!

Now here is one for the wobbly arms, an overhead tricep press using the medicine ball.Again, keep upper arms over the ears, ina fixed position. The joint action is just the elbow. No shoulder movement. Think of your arm as a fence post at the side of your head - upright. Extend the arms and lower the ball to the centre back of your upper back. Concentrate on that tricep (back of arm) muscle doing the work.

Remember on all exercises, never lock your joints hard straight.

We will be doing these in the gym, so come and have a go!!!!!

See you all again soon!! :)

It's been too too long!

Oh my goodness, where have I been? Well I have been so busy working, I hardly have time to sit at a computer, and it's always difficult when you rely on public facilities as well....
But let's fill you in on how the GYM is faring. I lead the Easyline gym sessions at Low Hill still, and I am loving every minute, people are coming and training in the gym and getting RESULTS! Coming up to the 12 month mark in september and it's a success so far despite a few ups and downs in attendance, which any fitness business experiences. It costs £1 annual membership with your first session FREE. After that it's only £1.50 per session - bargain! Much cheaper than a conventional gym and it's pay as you use!
Latest development for us at Low Hill is our open day and fundraiser, here is the lovely poster I designed! Looks like fun, so if you are around on that day, call in and see us - you can help raise funds for a  very noble cause! It would be nice to see some new faces.

 Below is another fitness session which I'm working on, I've had a few clients try this already. With the approval of my local council, I use the outdoor gym equipment we have here in Wolverhampton and I combine it with fitness walking to create a great calorie burning workout which is great for toning the legs. We also work on some park bench exercises - what? I hear you ask....well come along and try it for your self!

Well I've certainly been busy working in the community, doing the best job I've ever had.

Beautiful scenery of Wednesfield Park, venue for my Summer Fitness sessions

Work your waist on this outdoor gym equipment, this one takes THREE people!

Contact me about my fitness sessions, I promise :) to try and blog again soon - perhaps I should do it weekly!

Checkout my facebook page as well:

www.facebook.com/missbsfitness

Ok, let's leave you with an exercise......let's see...

WORK THAT WAIST with a RUSSIAN TWIST!

You can use a small weight, a small kettle bell or even a bottle of water to add resistance. You could even hold a basket ball... Stand with the feet comfortably apart, knees slightly bent, tummy pulled in. Keep your breathing regular. Keeping the arms in the position shown, shoulder height, keep them in a fixed position using the WAIST to do the twist from side to side, returning to centre each time.

This will work your oblique abdominal muscles which really help pull the waistline IN, giving you those lovely scooped out sides. It's not just for ladies, men can do it too!

I'm out of here....back to the gym for more fitness fun. See you soon!

What a great monday morning! EXERCISE OF THE WEEK

Now I don't want to keep going on about how much I love my job, but it really is the small things that count.
Today I introduced "exercise of the week" which seemed to go down well, with a few of my clients giving it a try. It was a "single leg lift seated on swiss ball"- here is a picture.

The core muscles come into play as you stabilise yourself changing legs. The only adjustment I made was to place the arms at the sides. One lady did it with her arms out to the sides at shoulder height! I was really happy as some of these clients have health and mobility issues, but since they have been using the EASYLINE TECHNOGYM equipment, some no longer need to walk with a stick.
I have added the swiss ball, hand weights and resistance bands to the sessions quite successfully. Not only are they benefiting from the variety of movements, but I am having a whale of a time demonstrating gym exercises - I love it!
It's always nice to hear your feedback about my workouts. together with the results you can SEE, it helps guide me as an instructor. I can bring you new things to try, if you didn't think you could do it - go on, surprise yourself!
Anyhow, I'll leave you with a nice picture, well it's my poster for my new BOOTCAMP class starting in february. If you are local, come along - beginners are very welcome.

MISS B'S BOOTCAMP

Well I have taken the bull by the horns and booked the room to start my new class. It's a circuit training class and I'm calling it "Miss B's Bootcamp" I'm wondering if that might scare some people off,  but then again, some of us want to be pushed on in an energetic atmosphere to motivate us, and anyway, it sounds kinda funky so I'm going with it!
I've got some planning to do now, and it makes you think about how to motivate clients. One way of doing that is through music, so I'll be trawling through my cd collection, selecting suitable tunes that will drive peopele on. It's amazing to see people who thought they were struggling, see their faces light up when they hear the theme from "Rocky" - who would have thought it?
Even my attire and demeanour will make a difference to the class, I need to create an atmosphere that makes them feel energetic. It's almost like going into character....pleanty of time to collapse in a heap when they have gone home!
So what is circuit training anyway? well.....it can be many things. from gentle and relaxing to manic and energetic! but it will always be a series of exercises done in succession which will cater to specific aims and objectives.
hmm. let's have a look for some links to clips which will show some different classes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjUa89bcXn8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eENXBi-pkGo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0IoPfSmwzk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkm5X4Xstw

These are just a few examples. Don't be put off!

Miss B's Bootcamp starts on 2nd february (thursday) at 8pm-9pm

Venue: Low Hill Community Centre

Kempthorne Avenue, Wolverhampton.

Class fee: £4

Busy this weekend designing posters and circuit cards! See you next time when I'll be sharing!

Back to work....time to reflect

I've just come out of the gym. My first morning's work after an extended christmas break. I had 2 groups of clients this morning, all eager to continue with their fitness. I work in a community centre in Low Hill, Wolverhampton, England. The classes I teach are Easyline Technogym.
My youngest client is 16, my oldest is in her 80's. If I'm honest, it's the best job I've ever had, so rewarding to see people lose weight, get fitter and acheive things they didn't think they could do.
Looking at some of them makes me think back to how I used to be before I gave myself a complete lifestyle overhaul. Ok, I had a few serious problems in my personal life to overcome (who hasn't had?) and this partly triggered my change.
Nowadays I love working in the studio, both as a client and as an instructor. But, it took months for me to pluck up the courage to go to my first exercise class. I worked out with dvds at home. I'll never forget what Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo did for me - gave me the confidence to carry on and the will to attend classes and take it a step further.
I took up Belly dancing and burlesque alongside my aerobics classes, I later got into shape ready to do my level 2 instructor qualification by doing 10 different classes a week - including easyline technogym, zumba, boxercise in addition to this.
In the old days, I hated exercise - now I love it! and I love my work.
Easyline technogym is a range of resistance equipment that is far more user friendly than conventional gym equipment. No weight stacks or cables to fuss with, it's perfect for people who want to get started or restarted in fitness, older people or those with weight and health issues that want to get started on the road to better health.
But, that's not to say younger, fitter people can't get a good workout. As it works on the principle of circuit training, there is scope for a great cardio vascular workout.
As it is a community based project, it is far more accessible to certain target groups who may not want to attend traditional gyms. As the groups form, people have the opportunity to make new friends and benefit from the social aspect. This, coupled with the physical co-ordination and development of motor skills make it a workout which benefits the mind as well as the body.

People working out on a monday morning in my class

at Low Hill Community Centre

This morning I've added 2 exercise balls into the mix, something that a couple of ladies didn't think they were capable of, and with a little assistance, they have achieved. I'm really happy about this. It just shows how much people can do when they don't think about their limitations.

I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's sessions........

See you soon.