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Make fitness fun by training together

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Helping hand: Betty Doyling, right, and Andrea Jackson show us that group workouts are fun as they “Plank Walk” uphill (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Andrea Jackson and I had a lot of fun at the Arboretum, forming our own workout together.

Below are a few you should give a try and remember, B-Active For Life!

Betty — B-Active For Life:

I love to use Tabata in my group training classes.

Tabata training includes a 20-second high-intensity work interval followed by ten seconds of rest, repeated eight times in a row.

This allows everyone to work as a group, but at their own pace. For example, beginners may start moderately paced, while fitter participants may start at a higher intensity. The class performs all the exercises at a moderate-fast pace, doing as many repetitions as possible while maintaining proper form.

The teeny-tiny intervals force the body to keep moving before it actually recovers from the previous set.

The class seems to give me that extra push because it’s only 20 seconds. Occasionally when I participate with them I am very thankful for the 20-second interval as well!

Sometimes I will put a spin on it and make it 30 seconds of work and ten seconds of rest. A few of the exercises that I use to make up a tabata workout are burpees, push-ups, planks, wide squats, kettlebell swings, upright rows and high knees.

Andrea — Absbydre:

I’m a personal trainer but even I sometimes need the extra push and motivation.

When this occurs I look to work out in a group rather than solo. The idea of group training provides me with the added push, encouragement and motivation. I enjoy this entire lifestyle. I love it. Every workout presents a challenge that is exhilarating.

My favourite group exercise at the moment is what my clients call “one and done”.

Each person completes one rep of an exercise; an extra rep is added each round. We set the limit, “one and done”, until ten. It’s great knowing that you’ve done your five reps while your partners were counting and encouraging you ... and now you become part of the cheering squad.

This method can be applied to every exercise. Squats, lunges, push-ups, mountain climbers, pull-ups, sprints (whether 50, 100 or 200 metres) ... anything. Also, you can apply this in multiples of any number. This method presents you with the amazing challenge of overcoming muscle fatigue in a unique manner.

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than nine years of experience. Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/B.ActiveForLife. Also look for Andrea on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Absbydre.

Pushing each other on: Betty Doyling, right, and Andrea Jackson do some kettlebell exercises at the Arboretum (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
High fives: The two fitness instructors are all smiles during their workout (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Hill sprints: Betty Doyling, left, and Andrea Jackson train together to keep each other motivated (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Betty Doyling, right, and Andrea Jackson show that group workouts are fun (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Betty Doyling, right, and Andrea Jackson show that group workouts are fun (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)