With summer sun a distant memory turn your thoughts to snow. If you are heading for a ski or snowboard holiday get in shape first with the Roxy Sno Fit class.
What’s it all about?
This brand new class has been designed by the experts at Virgin Active health clubs along with professional snowboarder Lesley McKenna.
For many people their annual winter sports holiday can come as quite a shock to the system with back to back days of intense activity. Even if you are pretty fit you may not necessarily be using the same kind of muscles in your usual fitness regime as you do when you are on the slopes. So for many of us by the end of day one it means aching limbs and sore muscles that stay with you throughout the week. Injuries are also a risk if you are not fully prepared.
“I think the class is really good, and I think it’s the kind of class that if you went to regularly before your skiing holiday it would help you make the most of your trip,” Lesley tells me afterwards. “It’s going to help your body cope with all the pressures of skiing and snowboarding and ultimately help you to have fun.”
Getting started?
The group class begins with some energetic warm up exercises. The instructor incorporates alpine elements into her instructions as we are encouraged to run to the chair lift, head for the chalet or sit down on the sledge. Lunges, squats and jumps are all incorporated.
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So what exactly do I do?
The main section of the class is divided into a series of circuit style moves. These include a number of different sprint interval sessions to increase power and strength in your legs. We also use Gliding Discs – these disks can be attached to the hands or feet. The sliding motion engages your muscles through a full range to strengthen and lengthen the major muscle groups of the body. We used them no our feet, doing short sharp movements back and forth which really worked your upper legs and bum. Then it was on to the ViPR, this weighted rubber functional training tube can be used for whole body training, and we worked our arms and core with it.
The final cool down section took us through some basic yoga moves to fully stretch our muscles, increase our flexibility and warm down after the energetic session. It was a really good way to end the class and most of the women taking part commented on how they preferred this to the usual stretches done in a cool down.
What are the benefits?
This workout focuses on both your aerobic fitness and strengthening your core and lower body as these are the key elements needed for snowboarding and skiing.
The next day I could really feel that I had worked areas that don’t get as much use with my usual running, cycling and swimming workouts.
Who does it suit?
Virgin Active’s national group exercise manager, Gillian Reeves thinks that this class is the perfect winter warmer, “We’ve teamed up with professional athletes to develop a class that addresses the needs of winter sports enthusiasts but is also suitable for those wanting to have fun whilst getting in shape.”
Where can I do it?
Roxy Sno Fit Workout is available to members in all 71 Virgin Active Health Clubs nationwide from 11th October 2010. Please visit www.virginactive.co.uk to find your nearest club and the time of the session.
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
