Circuits for Alzheimer's Society

Last night we had a second circuits class at ALD to raise money for the Alzheimer's society.  Turn out was much better than the first time, it seems that news got around!

Feedback has been really positive and really encouraging with many people asking for another performance … of course ALD aren't that keen, since we're doing the circuits class in the car warehouse with lots of shiny, expensive cars around.  But it is pretty spacious and great for the CV elements, so maybe we'll see about another go later in the year and try and raise some more moment for Alzheimer's!

Designing Flyers!

I'm having some fun designing some flyers for my new circuits class - what do you think?

Circuits Fitness Class in Kingswood, Bristol

I'm starting a new Circuits Class!

New Circuits Class

I’m going to be starting a Circuits class on 4th June in St Michaels Church Hall in Kingswood (there’s a map at the bottom of the blog entry). 

Circuits are one of my favourite ways of training with a group – each class is a little bit different from the last and there are plenty of different formats to choose from.  I love the fact that you are never quite sure what you’re going to get: one week it can have a heavy CV focus, the week after it might be more resistance focussed, then the week after it can be a real mixture.  Sometimes you’ll be in pairs, other times on your own.  Sometimes there’ll be equipment and others there will be very little kit.

Classes can be a great way to learn how to do exercises safely and efficiently; I’ll give pointers on improving technique for safety and effectiveness, adjusting the exercise to make it easier or harder for you and giving encouragement and instruction.

The classes can be a great way to meet people who just want to get fit and don’t have any pretensions, just wanting to have fun and sweaty!

Contact Me!

If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, call 0775 663 2646 or you can drop an email to andy@fitnesstoolbox.co.uk

St Michaels Church Hall, Kingswood, Bristol, BS151BQ

View St Michaels Church Hall, Kingswood in a larger map

My Favourite Form of Training

My favourite form of training is largely based around circuits - which is what most Boot Camps are based around. I'll design a set of circuits for myself and stick to them for four weeks; each week I up the volume (the amount of time) and at the end of the period I'll design a new set of exercises as a circuit with an increased intensity (heavier weights, more complex movements and higher heart-rate).

The key thing is having a plan and knowing what I'll do each session before I even get to the gym or studio. I find that if I go without a plan that I don't tend to work as hard as I should. If I have a plan and know exercise y follows exercise x, I can keep intensity as high as I need to and control my rest periods.

The other advantage is I know just has fast and far I should run or cycle and just how heavy and how many times I should lift a weight. I know that the first week of my plan shouldn't feel too tough, but the last week ought to be absolute murder! And all the while I am thinking about what the next four week period will contain.

Lastly, having a plan with consistent activities in it allows me to track progression over the weeks - and for some staple exercises to track progression over the months - and adapt accordingly when I plateaux. It can be incredibly useful to maintain some kind of diary of what you do, when, how much/long/fast/heavy and how you felt afterwards.