FILEX 2015
PRESENTER
MAKE YOUR
TUMMY, HIP AND
THIGH CLASS
TRULY EFFECTIVE
By incorporating functional and multi-planar movements into your tummy, hip and thigh class you can
rejuvenate the format and enhance its effectiveness.
WORDS: MARIETTA MEHANNI
ummy, hip and thigh classes are the
second-to-longest running group
exercise modality, after ‘aerobics’,
which was conceived by Dr Kenneth Cooper in
the late 1960s. This group exercise format has
outlived most other programs due to its
popularity with female members of the general
public, many of whom believe that it will burn
fat in ‘those problem areas’. It is well known
within the fitness industry that this is not a
possibility, yet the classes maintain a strong
attendance and frequently make a ‘comeback’
to timetables that may have previously
discarded them in favour of more
challenging and current programming.
T
Effective or not?
The humble tummy, hip and thigh class has
had to defend itself against several issues
other than perceived ineffectiveness. Lack of
variety, lower heart rates and minimal upper
body conditioning are the main concerns.
Traditionally, the class format started with a
low impact warm up, followed by stationary
standing exercises, before progressing,
eventually, to exercises on the floor that
culminated with a stretch. It would also
include exercises that would require several
repetitions before the specific muscle group
would feel fatigue. This obviously held little
appeal to those who wanted to get ‘sweaty’
during a class.
It is interesting to note that a lot of
‘traditional’ tummy, hip and thigh exercises
appear in Pilates classes. Did they originate
in Pilates or is it a blending of exercise styles
which is now becoming more and more
popular? The answer will depend on the
focus of the instructor, and how the exercises
are taught and ‘sold’ to the participants.
NETWORK AUTUMN 2015 | 15