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We’ve all been there... that last 5-7 minutes of class... the day was long, the kids need to be picked up, what will you have for dinner, how much sooner do I get out of here if I beat my classmates to the showers?... RIGHT? So what’s wrong with skipping the cool down? Take the next five minutes to consider it and hopefully re-think the value of the last five minutes of your favorite class.
1. BLOOD POOLING: The arteries carry blood rich with oxygen from the heart to the muscles. During vigorous exercise (think RPM®, BODYATTACK®, BODYSTEP®, BODYCOMBAT®, or BODYJAM®) that blood enriches the muscles with oxygen and nutrients and is then returned to the heart by the veins... much more slowly. If such exercise ceases suddenly, the valve system within the veins lacks sufficient ability to “pump” blood back to the heart. This leaves volumes of blood in the extremities and deprives the brain of vital oxygen and blood flow. This can lead to passing out, head aches, dizziness, and other symptoms that in some individuals can become quite serious.
2. CRAMPING: Another semi-serious condition that can be prevented by indulging in the cool down is post-exercise cramping. Such discomfort can range from mild to intense and may be local to muscles in the extremities or in the stomach, side, and/or abdomen. While cramping is often resolved quickly with a rub, stretch, or even slap... the greater concern is how will the muscle recover post-cramping? Will the muscle be sore or injured? Typically, neither will occur, but the more often you fail to allow the muscle to recuperate, the more likely a serious consequence will occur.
[Read More]
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Like most Les Mills instructors, James Sampson likes to sing along to tracks during class, but in BODYPUMP® 71 he’s taken that to a whole new level – one of the songs is his!
James’ song "Magnetized" has been chosen as the Warm-up Track for the latest release of the program.
The Denmark-based singer and BODYPUMP® instructor of six years was in his kitchen listening to the song and thinking about BODYPUMP® moves when he realized the exercises worked well with his tune. “I thought, why don’t I send my song to Les Mills?” he says. It turned out to be a great idea.
Originally from California, James got his big break as a singer in 2001 when he won a singing contest on Danish television after his father-in-law encouraged him to enter.
“I have always loved singing, but I was a bit shy about my voice,” he says.
He started singing as a two-year-old and as a child he toured the globe with the choir Children of the World. But then the singing stopped. It wasn’t until he had met his Danish wife and moved to Denmark to be with her in 1999, that he sang in public again.
Shortly after his relocation he was hired as a backup dancer for Cher, who was going on a tour in Scandinavia. When the crew caught the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, James sang karaoke in the bar.
“That was the first time in a long time where anybody heard me sing” he says.
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To coincide with the worldwide breast cancer awareness month in October, BODYSTEP® 77 celebrates those who have survived breast cancer, and those who fought bravely but lost the battle.
We encourage clubs around the world to take this opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer. This is what Les Mills did for the filming of the BODYSTEP® 77 Masterclass:
- Before the class, each participant was given a lantern on which to write messages and names of loved ones who have survived breast cancer or fought it but lost the battle. At the end of the class, the participants placed their lanterns on the stage – a touching way to end the class.
- A cancer survivor, Helen Clark, who is also a BODYSTEP® instructor, came up on stage to shadow-teach one tracks.
- We contacted the Breast Cancer Society and organized for a donations box and pink ribbons and bands on the day.
- Participants were encouraged to wear something pink.
[Read More]
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FREAKS: Fierce Reliable Exciting Amazing Kickin Students
Do you LOVE the launch kits Les Mills Midwest offers free on the web? We hope so, and some enthusiastic users are quoted below. For the October launches, our theme is make more FREAKS! We took this idea from a contest Les Mills International promoted in which one of the Midwest’s own placed as runner up!
Tanya Heller told us all about her entry:
“The club within a club idea I had is something I've been doing for a while, we now call it Club Fed. I teach RPM® Monday night time slot at 5:15...15 bikes averaging 4-5 participants. I took the challenge took over the time slot and starting inviting everyone I knew to the class. Most of the invites were turned down for the usual variety of excuses, "I'm too tired after work to workout", “ It's too late after work to workout and then I have to fix dinner". The people who were coming told me they weren't getting the results they wanted. I questioned their routine i.e. weekly workout habits, commitment, diet, sleep habits. The culprit, fast food stops on the way home from workout simply because they were hungry and in a hurry. Solution to all those excuses Club Fed. After the 1 hour RPM® class I bring a sample of a low carb high protein snack idea or meal. I include nutritional value, budget, and recipe. I started out with a demo but it evolved into everyone sharing recipes, asking health questions..."
[Read More]
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One TRIBE! The Midwest added some amazing tribe members in July. Look whose Les Mills NOW!
NEW CLUBS:
YMCA Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc, WI.
Health Fitness Corporation Aramark of Minneapolis, MN
NOW WITH THE FIGHT OFFERING BODYCOMBAT®
Peak Sports Club in Loves Park, IL.
Peak Fitness Rockford in IL.
THE PARTY’S IN THE HOUSE WITH BODYJAM®
at Club Fitness 24 by Powerhouse in Kokomo, IN.
THE CALM IN THE STORM OF BODYFLOW®
HAS DESCENDED UPON Five Points Washington in Washington, IL.
Power House Gym-Portage in Portage, MI is now STEPPING IT UP WITH BODYSTEP®!
...AND THERE WILL BE MORE WISE HEADS ON HOT BODIES IN FARGO, ND AS BODYVIVE® takes hold at the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties (downtown).
STAND STRONG TRIBE... AND TURN IT UP! [Read More]
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