Break a sweat! (Body Training Systems (BTS) Body Attack – Les Mills)

Member Name: GuruOnAMountain

Product:	Body Training Systems (BTS) Body Attack – Les Mills
Date:	16/05/08 (807 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Class environment keeps you motivated, good music used.

Disadvantages: Routines tend to be quite similar even when a new release is introduced.

I'm almost allergic to exercise, after all those horrible years in dark, gloomy High School PE halls being forced into playing netball, or worse yet, out in the hockey pitch where I would discover just how violent some girls could be become when wielding a large, wooden stick. Needless to say, being glad to leave those days behind me, I hadn't been in a rush to become a fitness fanatic. I'd tried gyms and although I did actually tend to use the gym fairly often, I wasn't exactly the type to push myself and after a letharic attempt at a jog on the treadmills and a little shot on the rowing machine (if I was feeling adventurous), I'd often slink off back home just as unfit as I was before I went.

Anyway, I decided it was about time to change this year. Luckily, there was some free trial classes in my local area of some of the Les Mills Body Training Systems classes, one of these being Body Attack and so I went along.

BTS originally hailed from New Zealand but has since become a worldwide phenomenon. All exercise classes work on 3 monthly 'releases' so that the workout and music is constantly changing so that regulars don't get bored. Music is upbeat, of course, and tends to be popular and recognisable. Instructors are verified as official BTS instructors and attend courses run by BTS to hone their skills. They tend to be confident, lively and full of enthusiasm for what they're doing.

From the moment a class starts, the music starts pumping. Body Attack tends to have different types of tracks that are always in the programme, although the music and the routine for them might change eg. a warm up track, a running track, an interval training track and an agility track. Depending on the length of the class, certain tracks may need to be cut out by the instructor.

Body Attack is designed to be a cardio workout and to the uninitiated observer probably looks a little like aerobics on steroids. It utilises many aerobic type movements, but is also so physical, the no man would need to feel embarrased about attending this class. It does require a fair amount of coordination, but this is something that comes over time. The more difficult movements in the routine are gradually taught over the course of a track and you build up to doing the difficult movement, to give you a chance to get it, plus options are usually given for the less fit and coordinated among us (and that includes me)!!

Although it is in essence a cardio workout, you'll also tone your arms, legs and stomach during the workout. There is usually an upper-body track that generally consists of doing pushups in time to some music and the class usually ends with a bit of toning of the lower body where you can expect lots of lunges and stomach crunches. Also, many of the cardio routines include a lot of star jumps, squatting etc. so you'll feel those legs burn all the way through!

It is a high octance class and could be advised for anyone wanting to increase or maintain their fitness levels, although its important to remember that if you're not used to exercising, you will need to take things slower and maybe take more breaks than others in the class, but within a few weeks you'll be completing the whole workout and feeling a great sense of achievement!

The good thing about Attack is that you can more or less work at whatever level you're comfortable with. The super-fit among us can push themselves to the max doing each track with a lot of energy, but the beginner wishing to start out easy can choose to do lots of easier, less tiring options and can take things at a gentler pace (eg. jogging instead of running during the running track). I find that working out in a class environment like that helps motivate me to continue since I don't want to look like the big, unfit, lazy one! In this respect, its a far better option for me than going to the gym.

Body Attack classes are included in my gym membership, but normally cost £4.20 at my gym for an hour. Prices vary from gym to gym, however. There's bound to be a class near you, though, since BTS classes are now so popular.

The one minor fault I can find with the classes is that they are all a bit 'samey'. Even though they refresh the music and routines every 3 months, the routines tend to be rather similar and use the same techniques, so after you've been going for a while, they may start to seem a little dull. However, for me, the routines aren't quite as dull as a trip to the gym.

Its definately worth giving Attack a try if you're looking for something to keep you fit. You'll definately break a sweat and feel great afterwards for it!

Summary: A fast-paced Cardio workout from Les Mills.