Fitness review: High Intensity Training breaks a sweat

There’s a new take on group training with a breed of trainers determined to get us moving like never before.

And this is definitely a good thing. When I left my corporate job as a Public Relations Manager for a big super fund earlier this year, I was surprised to find that within a month, I had lost 1 kilogram. And I put this purely down to the fact that I wasn’t sitting for long hours at a desk anymore.

It’s no secret that Australians are living more sedentary lifestyles so any workout that moves us in ways we’re not used to is going to be good for us.

So, when my sister told me about this high intensity training she went too, I was keen to try it out. I wanted to see a) whether it was something that 30-somethings could pull up well from; and b) how it compared to the movements we do in ballet, which can be quite punishing themselves.

I knew this would be the type of session where you leave nothing in the tank. And I was right.

The details:

Duration: 60 mins
Style: Group exercise
Cost: $20 casual
Who’s there: 20s, a handful of 30s, equal mix male and female
What to wear: tights and singlets for the girls, shorts and muscle tees for the guys. Moisture wicking apparel a must.

What to expect:

In this style of training, each instructor will bring their own slant which adds to its appeal and makes for a good challenge. Luckily, a set format applies and it’s written on a chalk board in the workout area so you know what you are in for.

The warm up is a taster of the next 45 minutes where you complete short repetitions (reps) of the exercises coming up. This is a good chance to assess where your body is at and what areas you might need to pay attention to.

The session is then in full swing. This training session was based on 5 rounds of set reps in timed increments working all major muscle groups at a feverish pace. As we made our way though each round, the number of reps increased so we were working harder and faster. Recovery was a 200 metre hill sprint between rounds and a 30 second breather before doing it all over again. The session finished with warm down, high fives and stretches. Exercises to look out for in the session I went to were:

Crocodile – drop down into low plank position and move forwards and backwards by shifting shoulders and feet forward parallel to the ground.

Froggie – low squat, swinging your arms clasped at the hands through your legs so your whole body is rocking back and forth.

Explosion – ah! something we do in ballet! – jump straight up in the air and crisscross your feet together before landing.

Would I recommend this fitness workout to a friend?

Yes – if you’re looking to go hard and have a sound level of fitness already i.e. can do squats and push ups/planks. Being bendy too also helps and this is where the dancer in me helped get through.

The session I attended was ‘Primal’ at Science of Fitness, 19 McDougall Street, Milton. Great trainers, great environment, definitely a place to kick some fitness goals and really push yourself.

What I liked: high impact, challenging, new moves, comradery, group dynamics, sweat factor

What I didn’t like: sore muscles (calves and hamstrings) for the next 48 hours – not quite DOMS, but I reckon I was pretty close. And being one of the oldest there, though I held my own!

How do I rate this style of fitness workout out of 5?

Fitness 5/5                    Strength and toning 5/5

Weight loss 5/5             Wellness (mind body soul connection) 3/5

What’s a track on this fitness workouts playlist?

Guns N Roses – Sweet Child o’Mine

Has this review inspired you to ramp it up? Let me know in the comments box below!

If you’ve got a fitness workout you’d like me to review, drop me an email at hello@askthatfitgirl.com.

Until next time,
Maryanne K