Friday, September 6, 2013

REVIEW: Les Mills BodyPump

Today I'm going to talk about a class that I LOVE.  It's called BodyPump, and it's by a company called Les Mills.

Don't let the name intimidate you- even though this is a weightlifting-based class, you can definitely do it.  If you've never lifted weights before, this is a great class for you.

What I love about BodyPump:

1. The music

  • Les Mills releases a new BodyPump track several times per year.  There are specific exercises that go along with each song.  Personally, I really like this because it seems like a dance class, and you can learn the choreography.  Plus, the music is really entertaining! 

2. The barbell

  • While it may seem intimidating at first, BodyPump's signature barbell is a wonderful workout tool.  It allows you to adjust your weight level for each exercise.  And, if you get fatigued, you can always drop some weight.  I also like that the barbell makes it easy to keep your movements smooth and controlled.  

3. The clean-and-press

  • This is a shoulder workout that you'll do in every body pump class during the shoulder track.  It looks like a killer, but it'll make you feel SO powerful! (Keep in mind, you'll be using much less weight than the competitive weightlifter in the video)

4. The order of exercises

  • In every BodyPump class, you will always work the same muscle groups in the same order.  That way, you always know what to expect.  But don't worry...this class never gets boring! 
To sum it up, I highly recommend that you give BodyPump a try.  You'll get a great resistance workout and have a great time.  Enjoy!