Exercise and Fitness | Virgin Active Articles

EXERCISE

Hard-Core with TRX

by James Trevorrow

Celebrate the sunshine with some summer preparatory core-busting exercises from our National Fitness Manager.

EXERCISE

London Triathlon: Come On, Dive In.

by Andy Gardner

For first-timers, swimming always seems to be the ‘scariest’ of the three triathlon disciplines but with the right amount of preparation it can easily be turned into the most exciting.At Virgin Active health clubs, our swimming pool facilities are second to none. We have a range of 17-25 meter pools, both indoor and outdoor, to suit all levels of ability and swimming preference.

EXERCISE

Want to burn more Calories? Work out with a friend...

by Andy Gardner

A recent study commissioned by Virgin Active has shown that exercising with a friend can be better than working out on your own.

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HIIT the Health Club

by Andy Gardner

With 35% of adults claiming to only have time to exercise for an hour a week, HIIT (High Intensity, Interval Training), is a great way of ensuring time spent working out is beneficial. In addition to Fast Classes (20 minute instructor-led intensive sessions on the gym floor), last year Virgin Active launched 30 minute studio classes at its clubs.

But what exactly does HIIT involve?

Swim Better: tips from the professionals

EXERCISE

Top Tips for Swimming Success

by Shani Whittaker

They always say you should jump straight into the deep end, but when it comes to actual swimming, there's a bit more to consider than that. Here's our top tips on how to improve your stroke, beat your personal best and get the most from your next swim.

EXERCISE

Whatever Gets You Going

by Andy Gardner

Freshen up your workout and feel like a winner by trying something new to get you going this January and February.

EXERCISE

Top six TRX moves for an all over workout

by Laura Edge

TRX stands for Total Body Resistance Exercise, it was invented by Navy Seal Randy Hetric. The strap means the body uses gravity and suspension to make huge improvements to strength and flexibilty together. Here are six simple moves that will give you a complete body workout.

EXERCISE

Power up with Kettlebells

by Chris Bradley

If you want to improve power, tone up, better your cardio, keep lean and drop body fat, then a kettlebell workout will help you get faster results.

Freeweight area at Virgin Active Health Clubs

EXERCISE

Ultimate leg workout

by Steve Whittle

Look around any gym and you rarely see people doing leg exercises. Men often think that leg muscles are not showy enough, let's face it, I have never heard a woman say "flex your quads". But both male and female will benefit from working those leg muscles. Here's why.

EXERCISE

Summer Shape-up Plan

by Gillian Reeves

Make the most of your summer wardrobe and get those legs and arms in shape. Our specially designed workout tones and trim your whole body till they’re beach, pool or party ready. Fabulous!

Fast class strength training at Virgin Active

EXERCISE

5 Integrated Core Exercises

by James Trevorrow

‘What great abs exercises do you know of?’ is the question often asked, and while there is not one answer we can give to that question, we can offer up 5 top core exercises that will challenge your abs in a variety of ways.

Virgin Active London Triathlon Hydration and Training Advice

EXERCISE

The London Triathlon: staying hydrated

by Team Freespeed

When training for, building up to and sweating it out on the day of the Triathlon, it’s important to make sure you’re always properly hydrated.

Virgin Active member using the indoor running track

EXERCISE

Interval Speed Running

by Mike Watson

We've got a great interval speed runnning training programme, showing you how to run short and long intervals as well as how to warm up and stretch properly afterwards.

EXERCISE

Avoiding a marathon struggle

by Mike Watson

When making the decision to take on a marathon, people do so understanding the effort that’ll be needed to get in shape for the big day. Sadly, for a good number of these brave souls, the ‘peak condition’ they achieve will be undermined by a failure to do the right things when the race itself is upon them.

Virgin Active London Triathlon 2012 - Running

EXERCISE

The London Triathlon: preparing to run.

by Nick Hudson

The run leg of a triathlon is the part that most people worry least about. Nightmares about getting through the swim or having the oldest bike in transition are commonplace - but everyone can run, right?

Pilates classes at Virgin Active Health Clubs

EXERCISE

Yoga triples the time that men last in bed

by Julie Lousley

You’ve probably heard that yoga’s great for slashing stress levels, building strength and getting toned triceps like Jennifer Aniston. But did you know there’s an even bigger benefit? A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that guys who practised yoga for 12 weeks tripled the length of time they lasted in bed –from 7.3 minutes to 22. Om-azing! So now you just need to find the style of yoga that suits you (or your man) best. Luckily we’re here to help.

Personal Training at Virgin Active with qualified personal trainers & fitness instructors

EXERCISE

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

by Mike Watson

At some point in our lives, almost all of us have made the decision to get into shape. Less promisingly, though, the vast majority of us have swiftly followed this up by sliding back into our familiar old ways. Staying motivated is tough – but it needn’t be.

EXERCISE

Yoga Scorpion Sequence

by Gillian Reeves

This is a great workout for the whole body, improving flexibility while helping you become stronger. There are 3 main movements – the Downward-Facing Dog, the Scorpion and the Upward-Facing Dog.

EXERCISE

Giving it a Tri

by Mike Watson

The Virgin Active London Triathlon rolls into town on the weekend of 22nd-23rd September. While we all know that there’s a swim, a cycle and a run involved, for a lot of us, this is pretty much all we know about the sport.

Virgin Active Health Clubs Puma Usain Bolt Fast Class

EXERCISE

FAAS and furious - a class apart

by Mike Watson

With the demands of modern life, squeezing in time for a workout is becoming more and more difficult. But fear not – the new Virgin Active PUMA FAAS CLAAS has arrived.

Virgin Active Health Club Abdominal Workout

EXERCISE

No Crunch Abdominal Workout

by Gillian Reeves

We all know how tricky achieving the perfect stomach can be. Luckily, it’s just got a whole lot easier. Read on to discover our fantastic new series of simple, fun ways to tone up your tum.

EXERCISE

Have you got willPower & grace®?

by Maisie Jeynes

Don't worry if the answer's 'no'. You can discover both in our new barefoot group exercise class (because training with trainers is so last season).

EXERCISE

Prepare for the bike leg

by Nick Hudson

The bike leg of a triathlon is usually the longest part of the race for most athletes. So it’s important to prepare well for this section.

EXERCISE

Discover the Great Indoors!

by Maisie Jeynes

Now that winter’s arrived, it doesn’t mean you can use the cold weather as an excuse not to exercise! Read on to discover how to make the most out of exercising indoors.

Virgin Active member using the power plate

EXERCISE

If you have 20 minutes

by Laura Higginson

How many times have you avoided working out because you haven’t got time? For most people, the answer to that question is 'a couple of times a week'. But what if, sometimes, you could just do an intense burst of activity; really go for it for 20 minutes in a way that genuinely makes a difference? Good news: there’s plenty of stuff you can do in 20 minutes that will leave you toned, fit and full of energy.

EXERCISE

How a Personal Trainer can help you.

by Maisie Jeynes

If your exercise routine needs an overhaul, consider the benefits of working with a Personal Trainer. It might be the support you need to help you realise your health and fitness goals.

Virgin Active member with personal trainer

EXERCISE

Impromptu Exercise Tips

by Laura Higginson

SNEAK SOME EXERCISE INTO YOUR DAY. Long days in the office, long queues at the bus stop – the workweek is full of them. The trick is staying healthy and active, even when your schedule demands the opposite. Try these impromptu exercise tips from our Virgin Active experts. They can make all the difference in the world to your health, your posture and your performance at work.

EXERCISE

Keep on Running

by Maisie Jeynes

Don't wait for the New Year to make your marathon resolution. Seize the day. Start training today. So, if you’re planning on trying a marathon, half-marathon or even a few 5K or 10K fun runs, take a look at some key training tips and techniques to help you go the distance.

EXERCISE

Winter blues clouding your motivation?

by Maisie Jeynes

Don’t let the grey winter weather mess up your exercise routine! Get out of the house and into the gym with our guide to staying active during the rain, wind and snow.

EXERCISE

Open Water Swimming

by Glen Heidke

So you have signed up for the Virgin Active London Triathlon then the realisation hits you that you have to swim 1500m in the River Thames. Which let’s face it is a pretty grim prospect. The swim seems to hold the biggest fear factor for those taking part in a triathlon, but as with everything training is key. The more you practice the less fearful it becomes.

EXERCISE

Preparing to Make a Splash

by Maisie Jeynes

It may only represent a third of the triathlon, but the swimming leg can make or break your entire race. To help set you up for some potentially choppy waters ahead, here are a few pointers on how to get into merman or mermaid-like shape.

EXERCISE

Run Better

by Alan Holl

We all know how to run, right? Not necessarily. Go to your local park and watch people running and you’ll see a million different styles. There’s the shuffler, barely picking up their feet. There’s the twister, their whole upper body twisting with each step. The list goes on. Now watch a 7-year-old run. They’ve probably got it about right because they haven’t learned any bad habits yet.

EXERCISE

Swim Better

by Glen Heidke

Everyone swims differently, from the splashy crawler to the old lady with her head out of the water in full make up. Quite a few people find front crawl extremely tiring, or worse, don’t do it at all. A few pointers can make a world of difference. Improve your style and it can feel effortless and graceful, not to mention the fact that it could make you swim significantly faster.

EXERCISE

Top 10 Tips for a Smooth and Time Saving Triathlon Transition

by Nick Hudson

Have you been concentrating so hard on training for the swimming, cycling and running that you haven’t even thought about what needs to be done during the transition between the three activities?

Well fear not. Here at Virgin Active we’ve come up with a list of top ten tips for a smooth and time-saving transition during the triathlon.

EXERCISE

Get going with a friend in March

by Andy Gardner

Enjoy a month's free membership on us when you refer a friend in March and they sign up to a 12 month membership.

EXERCISE

12 Days of Christmas

by Sarah Staples

The nights are drawing in and the days are getting colder and maybe the duvet is a little more inviting than it was, so at Virgin Active we think it's time you reinvigorated your training by trying out our alternative 12 days of Christmas workout.

EXERCISE

Seasoned Pro or Spring Chicken

by James Trevorrow

Tackle your own personal marathon in your own sweet time with our April in-club challenge.

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