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FitnessCity
Get off the couch, and check out what can
get you moving into 2003. And it's not just weights and
jogging, there's a lot more on offer, as Belinda Nash
reveals…
 If
your idea of post-Xmas fitness is rushing from shop to
shop in the frenzy that is the January sales then read
no further as Santa has quite clearly given you a deluded
mind for Xmas and a toned physique is clearly not a necessary
requisite for your new human equation. If, however, you
succumbed to all things Yuletide, you'll be basking in
the halo of constant Christmas grazing (who actually likes
mince pies?) - sadly this halo will be happily nestled
around your waist making a permanent home, unless you
read on.
Sink
not into the depths of winter depression, instead rise
up, go forth and venture into exercise in the guise of
fun. Oh, who am I kidding, it's still exercise. But, if
you're clever, there's actually honing and toning without
the sweat! We've been on a post-festive sweep of the best
the city has to offer when it comes to keeping fit.
If
you're dying for something new to drop into morning tea
conversation and if you find that yoga is frankly, passé,
pilates just might fill the gap. Or if greater pace is
required to relieve the ails of returning to work, kickboxing
might be your therapy. Made famous by the likes of Chuck
Norris, it'll burn off that third helping of Christmas
pud.
If
competitive fighting makes your knees knock, add a little
music and community and the result is capoeira. Emerging
from chained African slaves in Brazil who disguised fighting
with dance, this combines live musicians and singers,
and fighters are encouraged to flow with the rhythm of
the Roda.
If your New Year's resolution involves more peaceful pursuits,
Salsa might just put the sass back into your winter. Made
popular in Fifties New York, originally from Cuba and
Puerto Rico, Salsa lays sexy jazz
textures over Latin and African root music, and dancers
pull each other close in a fervour of tight, accurate
fast-paced dancing. Be warned though, with its hip grinding,
waist swaying action only real men and women need apply.
Salsa doesn't mean sauce for nothing!
We've
covered all the angles, so if to shake the flubber requires
old-school action but the very idea of a gym gives you
hives, there's still a whole ocean of choice available
- just turn the page. Be warned though, whatever it takes,
don't get too complacent, 'tis only six months till you
have to don the bathers for your annual appearance on
Brighton beach!
Swimming
by
Mark Harris
If
you wander down to the beach before Christmas lunch this
year and see some people splashing through the surf, don't
call the Coastguard (or even a psychiatrist), it's just
Brighton Swimming Club's annual Xmas dip. The club was
formed by a group of North Street tradesmen in 1860, at
a time when swimming without a bathing machine was only
permitted between 6 and 8am in the morning - probably
because sea bathing was traditionally undertaken au naturel.
Current members are less likely to be found skinny-dipping
before dawn, opting instead for a daily dip at 11.30am
(10am on Sundays), weather permitting.
The
club is based at Arch 250E, about 80m west of the Palace
Pier, and new members are always welcome. The only equipment
required is a brightly coloured rubber cap for safety,
although swimming costumes have also become common over
the years. www.brightonsc.co.uk.
Personal Training by Christian
Vila
The
reason the rich and famous use personal trainers? Working
with a trainer is one of the fastest, easiest, most successful
ways to improve your health and fitness. Today, personal
trainers are used by people of all backgrounds, to help
make lifestyle changes. Your personal trainer will first
assess your needs and current level of fitness via an
initial free consultation. After setting realistic goals,
you'll get a personal fitness programme. You then agree
to train together as often as you wish. Your trainer should
safely guide you through training sessions, providing
the requisite motivation and encouragment!
When
choosing a trainer, ensure they are certified with YMCA,
ACSM, RSA or Premier Training. Alive Gym and Coral offer
personal training to members.
Dance
Fitness
by Lauren Hogan
Brighton
offers a plethora of classes for those who wish to incorporate
a boogie into their boogaloo. If you fancy yourself as
a bit of a Britney Spears why not try a Street Dance Class,
involving different styles of choreography from funky
to hip hop. (Alive Fitness, Coral Health and Fitness centres)
If you're more of a Shakira, why not go latin and join
a sexy Salsa class (David Lloyd, Alive), try the Tango,
(Alive) or discover the rhythm and passion that is Flamenco,
the gypsy dance of Spain (Evolution).
For
something different, Evolution offer classes in African
dancing, and Hilal, which is contempoary Egyptian, the
only requirements for the course are a willingness to
experiment freely and to dance in bare feet!
Aerobics
by Lauren Hogan
Aerobics has come a long way from the days of Jane Fonda.
There is now a bewildering array of classes on offer,
so to make sure you know your Boxercise from your Spinning,
here's a quick guide to the latest crazes available in
the city. Popular with the lads because it doesn't sound
too wimpy, Boxercise incorporates a number of boxing moves
and techniques without the physical contact. Similarly,
Kick-fit incorporates Kick-boxing moves and is especially
good for the legs. Body Pump is a mixture of aerobic exercise
and weights that gives you a better posture, reduces your
body fat and increases muscle tone and definition without
the bulk. Aqua aerobics, is as it sounds, aerobic excercise
in the water. Slide exercisers put on some slippery booties
and slide back and forth on a three-foot slick surface.
It's sometimes known as "ski conditioning', because
the motions vaguely resemble skiing. In Spinning the class
sit on a special bike, following the instructions of their
trainer. The 'spinners' cycle for between 30 minutes and
an hour on a special programme to build fitness.
For details of aerobic-type classes, contact your local
gym or sports centre.
Kickboxing by Mark Harris
You don't need to be a martial arts expert to start kickboxing,
and there's a variety of classes available from absolute
beginners to black belt masters. Kickboxing evolved out
of karate in the late 1970s, combining traditional boxing
hand techniques with kicks and moves from a variety of
Oriental martial arts. As well as its obvious use in self
defence, it's become popular as an exciting way of improving
strength, suppleness and general levels of fitness. The
oldest kickboxing club in Brighton is Kicks Martial Arts
club, founded by the first (and undefeated) British PKA
Champion Chris Kent in 1982. Kicks encourages its members
to enter local and national competitions at a variety
of levels, and has been home to many amateur and professional
champions over the years. They also offer women's only
classes and even one-to-one tuition. David Lloyd also
offers kickboxing classes, or you can sample more fitness-oriented
'kickbox fit' classes at Alive and the Coral Centre.
Kicks
Martial Arts, 185 Lewes Rd, 01273 673680
David Lloyd Centre, Brighton Marina, 01273 666401
Alive, 24 Castle Street, 01273 739606
Coral Centre, Nevill Rd, Hove 01273 731262
Capoeira
by Lauren Hogan
The second-most played sport in Brazil, after soccer,
capoeira, is big in Brighton. An intriguing combination
of martial art, dance, music, gymnastics and a culture
reaching back over many hundreds of years, capoeira provides
a workout for both the mind and body. "You can practice
capoeira as a dance, as fighting, as a philosophy, as
a culture," says teacher Valdir Alves Gomes.
For
almost 400 years capoeira was taught and practiced in
secret among the African slaves in Brazil. Slaves were
not allowed to train to fight but the calm, graceful acrobatics
of the players or "capoeiristas" helped disguise
the art as a dance. Accompanied by drums, singing and
the distinctive twang of the Berimbau instrument, the
capoeiristas pitch gravity-defying moves against each
other in a battle of wit, speed and force. It has been
said that the world of breakdance has incorporated many
capoeira moves into its repertoire. You can try it yourself
in Brighton on Monday, 12.00-1.30pm at Alive, 25-27 Castle
Street, beginners welcome.
For
information on other classes in Brighton and Hove phone
Tim Mayhew 07971 050316, or Ed Wade-Martins 01273 880902.
TOP
5 TRAINING TIPS
by Christian Vila
RESOLUTION
MOTIVATION:
If you've pledged that 2003 is the year you'll slim down
and shape up, tell others and write down your fitness
goals: you'll be more likely to stick to them.
HYDRATION:
Unless you're working out for longer than two hours per
day, you don't need high-energy drinks or bars. Instead
drink plenty of water before, during and after training.
AEROBIC
TRAINING:
To maximise fat burning, perform cardio work-outs using
high intensity intervals, preferably first thing in the
morning.
RESISTANCE
TRAINING:
To tone muscles; use a 12-15 repetition range for 3 sets
of each exercise. To increase muscle size, 6-8 repetitions
for 3 sets are best.
ABS:
Been doing sit-ups but still see no sign of a six pack?
You must do regular aerobic exercises and watch your diet
to burn away the covering layer of fat for abs to really
show through.
Christian
Vila is Health & Fitness Officer for Brighton &
Hove City Council, at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in
Hove. He can be contacted on 01273-290290.
copyright The Insight 2002
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