demonstrations. A really cool feature is that if you are travelling
you can always visit the local F45 studio in the area and know you
can walk in and do the exact same class as if you were in your own
studio back home.
The combination of interval, cardiovascular and strength
training has been proven to be the most effective workout method
for burning fat and building lean muscle mass. But the reason I
personally love it is because it is just so much fun, it is challenging
and it is ever-changing so there is never a chance of becoming
bored like I used to when I went to the gym to do my own
strength sessions.
So what does ‘functional training’ actually mean?
There are always ‘buzz’ words being thrown around in the training
world but, simply put, functional training is any exercise that
mimics or recreates every day movement, for example, lifting,
squatting, jumping, twisting, pulling, rowing and biking. These
are movements that we perform every day. The workouts at F45
are designed to unify the muscle groups of the body to enable
you to perform better in these movements. The better and more
efficiently you can perform a movement, the less energy
it requires.
How can F45 help improve your performance in triathlon?
The sport of triathlon involves predominantly forward movement
only. As such, over the years, we often develop muscular
imbalances and weaknesses. This can result in injury and time
away from the sport we love. By incorporating F45 into your
weekly training program (in particular the strength sessions)
you can prevent, or at least greatly reduce, the chances of injury
occurring. It is also a great rehab tool for those coming back
from injury.
It is incredibly time efficient, with all classes being 45 minutes
in length, so really easy to incorporate into your weekly training
program. How many times have you turned up to the gym to do
a strength session, which in theory should only take you 30-40
minutes, but ends up taking over an hour? You often get there,
not sure what exercises you should be doing, how many reps,
what weight to use…… At F45 the classes are already set up for
you when you arrive, the instructors are there to make sure your
technique is spot on and you get to work out in a fun, motivating
and positive environment.
I have seen amazing results over the past year and it has
definitely crossed over to my swim/ bike/ run. I am doing a third
of the run mileage I used to do back when I was racing as a
professional athlete, yet, I feel I am able to hold good run form for
a lot longer these days. I haven't had any injuries or even niggles
since regularly attending class.
I believe that the greatest benefit is that by reducing muscle
imbalances and greatly improving your overall strength (in
particular your core strength) it enables you as an athlete to hold
good form for a longer period of time. Efficient moment equals
better overall performance.
If you think that F45 is something that would be of benefit to
you and you would like to try it contact your local F45 studio as
most studios have a one week free trial.
Alternatively you can check out the official website
www.f45training.com to see where your closest studio is.
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