Guest post by Paul Atkins

Around the world  fans of Les Mills Body Pump were elated to find out their favorite cardio Body Pump class could now be accessed via an in home workout program. The Les Mills PUMP Beachbody workout is first of a kind workout, and bridges the gap between group class style exercises and in home “do it yourself” fitness DVD based videos.

Although only being a few weeks old, the Les Mills PUMP Beachbody workout  seems to be doing very well and especially among female exercisers. This is not much of a surprise as the major demographic for Body Pump is women. However don’t think this workout is anything but a heart pumping, 1,000 calorie per hour total body burn. The Les Mills Pump Beachbody program is much more and is ideal for the person who desires Body Pump class results but would rather skip the crowds and get their fix at home.

The Secret To Les Mills PUMP Beachbody Workout

The secret to this program lies in the balance between high repetition exercises and low barbell weight. No more than 20 to 25 pounds in total weight are used in the base kit of the Pump workout. The term used to describe the technique behind the program is called The Rep Effect.  This effect works contrary to typical weight training exercise. Instead of bulking you up, the combination of lower weight and higher reps helps get you lean, strong, and sculpted. The constant change in pace and tempo is also at the heart of the Rep Effect. By continually changing the speed at which you exercise you push your muscles to the point of fatigue while at the same time staying in a high heart rate zone.

What The Les Mills PUMP Beachbody Workout Comes With

Like all Beachbody fitness programs the Les Mills Pump workout comes with everything you need. You not only get the 7 workouts on 7 DVDs and a bonus core workout only available through certain sites, but you also get just the right balance of equipment. There’s not too much equipment; it’s comprised of a barbell that’s easy to fold away and two sets of plates weighing five pounds and ten pounds respectively. The deluxe version of the program comes with an extra set of ten pound plates and a step platform that comes with four risers plus three additional DVD’s.

Whether you get the base kit or deluxe kit you will get a nutrition guide called “Get Lean” along with a calendar that’s easy to follow, and an exercise guide that defines each move you do in the workout. All of these materials are useful because they keep you on track and help propel the results you will already be getting from the program. 

The ideal person for Les Mills PUMP is someone who may have heard of Body Pump before, may have even attempted a class or two, but because of a lack of confidence or inability to keep pace with classmates felt like Body Pump wasn’t for them. This in home version of Body Pump was designed to start you off slowly and allow your body to build up strength which in turn will help you build confidence. When strength and confidence are built up, the hope and expectation of both les Mills International and Beachbody is that anyone who uses this workout will then be able to try Les Mills Body Pump classes. If you think les Mills Pump will help you in achieving your fitness goals, why not give it a shot?

Guest post by Elaine Hirsch

Working out can be overwhelming for many people. Stepping into a weight room, you'll find a plethora of weights, machines, and contraptions which can cause more confusion than the training they provide. Today, a shift towards working out with less equipment and free-flowing techniques, such as Zumba are becoming prominent. Another source of inspiration comes from the workouts used by prisoners, where according to Criminology Degree, the number of prisoners continues to increase year-over-year.

MIND
With little to do yet many spare hours to occupy oneself, a mental rigidity towards the training of your physical body is a natural outcome of this harsh environment. The best inspiration for creating a rock-hard body is staying alive. Borrow this mindset from the inmate and you will begin to sculpt a healthy body.

BODY
The best part of the prison inspired exercises is that they are all weight bearing. Meaning, one does not need barbells, dumbbells or big costly machines to create a solid steel body. These exercises use one’s own body weight and a space range of no more than 3' by 5.'

Pull-Ups
Find a sturdy bar that is higher than your own head and grasp tightly. Let your arms straighten as you hang. Then, slowly pull your chin up to meet the bar. Be sure to keep your elbows close to your body when you bring your chin up to the bar.

Seated Triceps
Sit on the floor with your legs in front, knees bent and feet on ground. Place each hand on floor alongside your buttocks with fingers pointed straight ahead. Situate yourself so you can lift your body up so only your hands and feet are touching the ground. With arms slightly bent, dip your body down and then up as you straighten arms.

Squat Jumps
Standing, bend knees and place hands on ground as if you are in a crouching position. Jump straight up and upon landing immediately resume the starting position. Attempt to touch the ceiling on your jump. Attempt to become as small and tiny as possible on your crouching position.

Push-Ups
The classic push-up must be a part of the prison inspired workout. If you ignore all other upper body exercises, do this one every day. Push-ups work all the muscles in the back, chest and arms so daily sets of about 15 reps will work wonders for one’s state of rip-ness.

Plank
Yoga has given the exercise world some pretty great things but the Plank may be the ultimate exercise of all times. Begin the Plank as though you were attempting to do a push-up but do not dip down. Alignment is everything with the Plank so aim for a totally straight body in which your buttocks are not higher than your back or dipping towards the floor.

SOUL
When one’s body is tended to, one’s soul becomes calmer and more at peace. The prisoner knows all too well the soul searching that is undertaken during those long periods of isolation. Carve out time every day to experience this soul work. Isolate yourself from the world around you, if only for 20 minutes. Finally, take time to give thanks for the freedoms you do have to do these workouts in your own space.