THEGAYUK

Tag: Fitness

All the latest breaking news on the Fitness. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Fitness.

  • Giving up on your resolutions? Ten ways to fight that festive flab

    Giving up on your resolutions? Ten ways to fight that festive flab

    Garry Kerr from British Military Fitness should know a thing or two about getting fit. He shared a few of his top tips to fight the Christmas Pudding bulge.

    how to get fit after Christmas
    CREDIT: curaphotography-bigstock

    Nom, nom, nom…extra eating: During the winter and especially over the festive season we typically eat more than we would normally and exercising is a great way to burn those extra calories and keep yourself in shape so when spring finally arrives you’re in tip-top shape! Here are some tips to help you beat the Christmas flab!

    1. Keep a fitness journal!
    A workout log can help keep your exercise routine on track when you’re struggling to stay motivated because it will show you how far you’ve come since you started, and therefore how worthwhile it is to keep going.

    2. Commit yourself.
    Get moving! Just do it! There is no time like the start of a New Year. You’ve got the indulgences of Christmas behind but it’s important you commit. Why not write all the classes you can attend in your diary so they are viewed as actual appointments and you’re less likely to cancel.

    3. Set short-term goals
    Having something specific to aim for, such as losing a certain amount of weight or entering a race / marathon, for example, the Major Series (www.majorseries.com) in the Spring will help you stick to your training plan. But make sure your goals are achievable. Setting and failing to reach outlandish targets will put you off.

    4. Find the fun in it
    Exercise should not feel like torture. After all, you have made a conscious decision to do it. You can take great pleasure in overcoming challenges and progressing with your fitness alongside other people.
    Does that mean that it will be easy? No. In order to change your body, you need to experience ‘overload’. This means that you need to keep challenging your body in order to increase your fitness levels. You will, however, improve your fitness levels if you rest and recover properly after each workout.

    5. Reward yourself
    Once you’ve hit one of your targets reward yourself. By training and committing to your training you’ve earned the right to spoil yourself. Whether it’s a new item of clothing or fitness-related gadgets or clothing – enjoy your achievements.

    6. Use visualisation
    If you don’t believe that you can do that final burpee or make it through those final reps, you certainly won’t be able to but by picturing yourself doing it before you try it, you’ll create a mental template that can translate into success.

    7. Eating right
    Food is 90% of the health and fitness battle. You can make great changes just by making small adjustments to your eating habits alone. While changing any habits may seem like a daunting task, there is a wealth of resources available to guide you. By eating a regular mix of proteins, fats and carbohydrates you will reap the benefits of your physical training routine. You will have both the energy to perform and the nutritional foundations needed for recovery. This exercise and nutrition relationship will help you to achieve your goals

    8. Be realistic
    Rome wasn’t built in a day. Unfortunately, while over-used, there is some truth in that saying.
    A healthy approach is to aim to improve on yesterday. By repeating this process you will start to feel like you have made great improvements over a course of weeks, months and years. It is also important to consider where you want to be.

    9. There is gain without pain!
    While exercise should be challenging in order to encourage the body to adapt and therefore improve, it should not lead to any injuries.
    Many people, particularly those new to exercise can become over-enthusiastic because of the physical changes that they experience. Our bodies can only truly complete exercises at 100% intensity for a number of seconds. Exercises completed over the course of an hour-long session are performed below maximum intensity. You should, therefore, focus more on your technique and try to work as hard as possible but not push yourself to the point of nausea.

    10. Abandon an all-or-nothing attitude
    Don’t think of exercise with an all-or-nothing approach. If you unexpectedly miss a session, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track tomorrow. Remember; exercise and fitness is a way of life, it’s not a destination.

    British Military Fitness (BMF) is the UK’s number one provider of outdoor fitness classes. BMF was the first, it’s the biggest and it’s the best. Come rain, shine or snow, BMF runs over 400 classes a week in over 120 parks and outdoor spaces across the UK. www.britishmilitaryfitness.com

  • INTERVIEW | Ray Houghton

    Meet Ray. He’s nearly 60 and he’s got pure fitness game. In fact’s he’s a celebrity personal trainer and he’s here to show you regardless of your age you can have the body you want.

    It’s clear that you take good care of your body… what motivates you to do this?
    The ageing process motivates me to take good care of my body. I want to do all I can to live a long and active life and to remain independent and fulfilled. Sure, Vanity is a big part too! I will be 60 in November and I look at other people, many half my age, and most are overweight, have joint problems or are stressed. I will do everything I can to remain agile, flexible, strong & healthy and happy. I was born to be different, to stand out in a crowd and to inspire others.

    When did you start? Have you always been a keen gym goer?
    Fitness became a big part of my life from about the age of 12, in the way of home gym equipment. But I started proper gym training from the age of 16. I had joined the Boy’s Junior Army Service and therefore gym training was available and I loved it. I was never an academic at school, I wanted to do physical things instead: Braun not Brains! When I first moved to Spain from Manchester UK, I had a 12-year gap from Body Building and that is the only time you didn’t see me in a Gym. The Gym is my life and I love it.

    What do you say to people who say that the body goes downhill after the age of 35?
    People say that after the age of 35, the body goes down hill… well, yes it does, due to the natural ageing process, our bodies stop producing the Human Growth Hormone (HGH). And eating habits have changed over the years, fast foods instead of natural produce. Alcohol is cheap and has become a normal social activity. Stress is a huge problem and all these things accumulate in aiding us to get old quicker. Weight Training is essential, especially as we age. We must work our bodies to do even the simplest things in life such as climbing stairs, carrying shopping, manoeuvring in & out of the bath…the list goes on. Education in Life Fitness is key and this is one area I feel I am qualified to address. How do celebrities stay looking so young and energetic? Google: Celebrities taking HGH and click on images, you’ll be amazed at who you see!

    You’ve said that quite a few of your admirers are gay guys? How do you feel about this?
    Many of my admirers are indeed gay guys. I really don’t mind at all. In fact, I am flattered! There are not many muscular guys around, especially at my age. ‘Super Hero’ movies are very popular at present… I can be a fantasy in their mind? I respect anyone’s sexual preference.

    Ray Houghton

    Ray Houghton

    Are you in demand for more exposing photoshoots? Would you do any?
    Yes, I get asked for exposing photos and yes, I wish to do another professional photo shoot. I would love to do more photo’s ‘on location’ (outdoor shots) and also using different props to show more of my character and sense of humour. I would like to fill my potential as a ‘Celebrity’ and if it gives pleasure and inspires, then it is all good.

    Tell us something that surprises people when they learn it about you…
    People are surprised to learn that I am indeed aged 59. I have a muscular physique, good skin, a young outlook on life, I like to dress in my own unique style. I am an optimist and very positive. I am a quiet man, somewhat shy at times BUT I can come out with some life stories that surprise people. Also when I say I have a FULL BODY SUIT of Tattoo’s, people are shocked. I have a wealth of body building/fitness knowledge – all simple common sense stuff and people (many of them Personal Trainers) love to learn from me, The Master.

    What are your top workout songs?
    I don’t workout to music (I never use headphones). I only listen to one important thing….MY BODY! I have such a Mind/Body connection, that all background noise (songs), simply disappear. However, there is music playing in my gym, mainly 70’s & 80’s music, which I like. My favourite songs are ‘Kinky Boots’ by Nancy Sinatra, ‘Money Talks (Dirty Cash)’ by Stevie V, ‘Perfect’ by Fairground Attraction, ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone.

    Ray Houghton

    How many days do you work out – and what’s your general routine?
    I workout six days a week. I usually concentrate on training one body part per day: Back, Biceps, Legs, Shoulders, Chest, Triceps. I like to do Body Weight Training: Push Ups, Pull Ups, Tricep Dips etc. I don’t use heavy weights, instead, I concentrate on keeping good form throughout the exercise and higher reps too. I have always been injury free (which is virtually unheard of with most body builders), due to keeping good technique. The only Cardio I do is walking my 3 dogs daily.

     

    All photos (C) Ray Houghton / Used with permission.

  • UK’s first all-male naked workout gets new class date

    The UK’s first all-male naked workout is about to start again, with a new class launched in April.

    NKDTraining, the UK’s first all-male naked workout has a new group session booked, for the 2nd of April at The Gym Clinic in Chiswick, west London. Speaking about the group, Paul, who founded the class, writes,

    “This is a group training session for men in West London. We usually get between 10 and 20 guys for our group sessions. You’ll get a structured fitness class designed to give you a fun but challenging workout. Sunday afternoons at 4pm.”

    So what is naked training like? Well, according to the website it’s all about being “free from the restrictions of clothes” and to be more “in tune” with our bodies.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Paul spoke about the benefits of naked training from a personal trainer’s perspective,

    “As a trainer, there are a lot of benefits. I can see more of the muscles that are working and I can see if there’s an imbalance, say when they’re doing a chest press. You don’t just see the bar moving, you see the muscles that are working, the ones that aren’t and the ones that should be. And it builds a bond, being naked. I don’t know how to explain it.”

    We were so curious, we sent our very own Nick Baker to a class to try it out. What did he think?

    “It was definitely a unique experience for me, but one that I really wanted try. Not so much to see hot naked guys (again, yes there are plenty of them there) but to come more to terms with my own nakedness. Gay men are often plagued with insecurities about our bodies and the act of stripping off completely in a bold attempt to better yourself takes balls and not just the ones on display.”

    Read his full article here.

    So what are the class requirements? Well, every participant needs a towel and for health and safety footwear must be worn. You’ll also need to fill out a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire before the class.

    Find out more about the class here.

     

  • So what’s it actually like to work out naked in a room full of other naked guys?

    Yeah, it’s a thing. Exercising and group training in the buff is a relatively new concept (no, those “squats” you’ve been doing do not count as training) and NKD Training’s founder Paul was kind enough to invite me along to try it out.

    I’ll be honest, this whole endeavour started as an excuse to ogle hot guys working out veiled under the thin disguise of journalism. As the day of my naked group training drew closer I began to have some serious doubts. What if the group was full of creepy fat old men? Or worse, what if it was full of hot young men and that I would actually be the creepy fat old man?! As it turns out, there was a healthy mix of both. NKD Training is run at the Gym Clinic in West London, a small but well equipped (that’s what they say about me … sorry, too many penis jokes) gym not far from Gunnersbury tube station. The main entrance is closed off during naked training so you have to enter through the back door (not saying a word) into the clean and professional workout space. That just happens to be full of naked men exercising.

    The session is divided into two parts: the first is an hour of free gym time in which you are invited to use the facilities as and how you want, dressed in as little as you want – as long as you’re wearing trainers. You can wear shorts during this time, as I did, but you will be silently yet harshly judged by the guys training in the altogether.

    The second half of the session is similar to a circuit class, during which Paul takes you through a warm up – set to your favourite drag queen lip sync music – and then through a solid 45-minute workout. Newcomers are likely to feel strange and probably a bit uncomfortable when first stripping off, but after a while of lunging and crunching and curling, you almost forget that your dick is hanging out while you do it. Almost.

    There were some aspects to naked training that were more complicated than I had anticipated. Running on a treadmill was obviously more uncomfortable than I’m used to, but trying to do squats without giving the guy behind you an eyeful of ass-crack, that was damn near impossible.

    I can certainly see the appeal of naked training and, as Paul explains, the benefits of a personal trainer are significant. “As a trainer, there are a lot of benefits. I can see more of the muscles that are working and I can see if there’s an imbalance, say when they’re doing a chest press. You don’t just see the bar moving, you see the muscles that are working, the ones that aren’t and the ones that should be. And it builds a bond, being naked. I don’t know how to explain it.”

    It was definitely a unique experience for me, but one that I really wanted try. Not so much to see hot naked guys (again, yes there are plenty of them there) but to come more to terms with my own nakedness. Gay men are often plagued with insecurities about our bodies and the act of stripping off completely in a bold attempt to better yourself takes balls and not just the ones on display.

    For most of the men in that room, being naked was the most normal and natural thing in the world. It was the realisation that whether your body is perfect or not, it’s the only one that you’ve got. So learn to love it while you work to make it better. And go on, have a sneak peak at yourself training naked in the mirror. You may be more impressed than you thought.

    NKD Training takes place every Sunday in West London and costs £15 per session.

    You can also book naked personal training sessions either in your home or Paul’s.

    Contact paul@nkdtraining.co.uk or visit nkdtraining.co.uk for more information and to book.

  • 10 ways to fight the festive flab

    10 ways to fight the festive flab

    Garry Kerr from British Military Fitness should know a thing or two about getting fit. He shared a few of his top tips to fight the Christmas Pudding bulge.

    how to get fit after Christmas
    CREDIT: curaphotography-bigstock

    Nom, nom, nom…extra eating: During the winter and especially over the festive season we typically eat more than we would normally and exercising is a great way to burn those extra calories and keep yourself in shape so when spring finally arrives you’re in tip top shape! Here are some tips to help you beat the Christmas flab!

    1. Keep a fitness journal!
    A workout log can help keep your exercise routine on track when you’re struggling to stay motivated because it will show you how far you’ve come since you started, and therefore how worthwhile it is to keep going.

    2. Commit yourself.
    Get moving! Just do it! There is no time like the start of a New Year. You’ve got the indulgences of Christmas behind but it’s important you commit. Why not write all the classes you can attend in your diary so they are viewed as actual appointments and you’re less likely to cancel.

    3. Set short-term goals
    Having something specific to aim for, such as losing a certain amount of weight or entering a race / marathon for example the Major Series (www.majorseries.com) in the Spring will help you stick to your training plan. But make sure your goals are achievable. Setting and failing to reach outlandish targets will put you off.

    4. Find the fun in it
    Exercise should not feel like torture. After all, you have made a conscious decision to do it. You can take great pleasure from overcoming challenges and progressing with your fitness alongside other people.
    Does that mean that it will be easy? No. In order to change your body, you need to experience ‘overload’. This means that you need to keep challenging your body in order to increase your fitness levels. You will however improve your fitness levels if you rest and recover properly after each workout.

    5. Reward yourself
    Once you’ve hit one of your targets reward yourself. By training and committing to your training you’ve earned the right to spoil yourself. Whether it’s a new item of clothing or fitness-related gadgets or clothing – enjoy your achievements.

    6. Use visualisation
    If you don’t believe that you can do that final burpee or make it through those final reps, you certainly won’t be able to but by picturing yourself doing it before you try it, you’ll create a mental template that can translate into success.

    7. Eating right
    Food is 90% of the health and fitness battle. You can make great changes just through making small adjustments to your eating habits alone. While changing any habits may seem like a daunting task, there is a wealth of resources available to guide you. By eating a regular mix of proteins, fats and carbohydrates you will reap the benefits of your physical training routine. You will have both the energy to perform and the nutritional foundations needed for recovery. This exercise and nutrition relationship will help you to achieve your goals

    8. Be realistic
    Rome wasn’t built in a day. Unfortunately, while over-used, there is some truth in that saying.
    A healthy approach is to aim to improve on yesterday. By repeating this process you will start to feel like you have made great improvements over a course of weeks, months and years. It is also important to consider where you want to be.

    9. There is gain without pain!
    While exercise should be challenging in order to encourage the body to adapt and therefore improve, it should not lead to any injuries.
    Many people, particularly those new to exercise can become over enthusiastic because of the physical changes that they experience. Our bodies can only truly complete exercises at 100% intensity for a number of seconds. Exercises completed over the course of an hour-long session are performed below maximum intensity. You should therefore focus more on your technique and try to work as hard as possible but not push yourself to the point of nausea.

    10. Abandon an all-or-nothing attitude
    Don’t think of exercise with an all-or-nothing approach. If you unexpectedly miss a session, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track tomorrow. Remember; exercise and fitness is a way of life, it’s not a destination.

    British Military Fitness (BMF) is the UK’s number one provider of outdoor fitness classes. BMF was the first, it’s the biggest and it’s the best. Come rain, shine or snow, BMF runs over 400 classes a week in over 120 parks and outdoor spaces across the UK. www.britishmilitaryfitness.com

  • 6 ways to get rid of your moobs

    6 ways to get rid of your moobs

    Moobs. Dear god just how do you get rid of them?

    Did you know that moobs – the man boob, is actually called gynecomastia in medical circles? According to the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, it impacts around fifty percent of all men.

    We share some advice to help you get rid of those man bumps that have been bugging you.

    Lose some weight

    Sorry guys but some weight loss is necessary if you want to see those man boobs disappear. After all, they are made out of fatty tissue. Depending on your body type you might not need to lose that much – half a stone – if you’re currently overweight could be the perfect start to  seeing a noticeable reduction.

    Cut out drink

    Cutting back on alcohol can help you reach a moob-free existence. According to Drinkaware.co.uk, some pints of beer contain around 250 calories per pint – which is the equivalent of a small bar of chocolate. Meaning that in one night’s drinking you could be stacking on an extra 2500 calories. Ouch!

    Alcohol can also reduce the amount of fat your body burns for its energy.

    Drinkaware’s website warns,

    “Our bodies can’t store alcohol. So when you drink alcohol your body wants to get rid of it. All of your body’s other processes that should be taking place, like burning fat, are interrupted while it does that.

    “To burn off the 180 calories you’d find in an average pint of lager (4% ABV) a typical man would have to spend: 13 minutes running on the treadmill or playing football; 15 minutes cycling or 20 minutes swimming or half an hour on the golf course.”

    Get your clothes right

    If you’re looking for a more ascetic rather than fitness approach to hiding your chest maybe you could take a look at your clothing. Thinner fabrics will highlight the outline of your chest. So opt for chunkier fabrics like flannel or wool. Great for the winter time, not so good if it’s in the height of summer.  Shirts are also good to hide a bigger chest rather than t-shirts. Opt for more rigid cuts using thicker material.

    Get spanx

    Not just for women, you know. Spanx has a variety of contour control garments like the Zoned performance V-neck t-shirt, which comes in black and white. Very slimming and gives you a great silhouette.

    Exercise

    CREDIT: curaphotography-bigstock

    Getting friendly with a bench press will help shape that chest to a more masculine form. Matt Plowman, nutrition and supplement advisor from Cardiff Sports Nutrition says,

    “Mixing HIIT training with weight training and plyometric moves will enable you to burn more body fat. Reducing fat will restrict oestrogen (it’s) a great combination for this problematic area. You can reinforce these efforts by increasing the protein in your diet, this isn’t necessarily about taking protein supplements, although this helps, it’s about making smart choices to eat lean protein sources and green vegetables.

    “Taking supplements such as Glutamine and Carnitine will also enable the body to burn fat more efficiently. We recommend taking a protein powder 30 mins prior and immediately after your workout to take advantage of the anabolic window and build lean muscle.”

    He suggests the following exercises:

    Push Up – You know what a push up is!

    Plyo press ups – Get yourself into a press-up position, and lower yourself onto the floor, as you come up, explosively push yourself up powerfully so that your body and hands raise up off the ground – clap your hands as you are off the ground if you feel brave!

    Elevated Push Up – elevate your feet using a bench or box, lower your down counting to 3, and raise yourself back up. Be sure that your back doesn’t sag at any point. As your strength increases, you can wear a weighted vest.

    Deadlift – stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place your hands on the bar shoulder-width apart too. When you start your arms should be straight and knees slightly bent, keeping your chest and head up, pulling up the bar, driving down through your heels and push your hips forward until you are standing tall.

    Dumbbell Bench Press – Lie on a flat bench with your feet flat on the ground and a dumbbell in each hand using an overhand grip. Press the weights straight up driving your heels into the ground and lower them slowly.

    Get medical

    There are a number of medical procedures that are available to reduce and claim to get rid of your excess chest fat. There’s the VASER Liposuction which is performed at The Private Clinic of Harley Street by Dr Dennis Wolf. In the treatment, which starts from £2,800, a patient’s fatty tissues are liquefied with ultrasound energy. The fat is then removed through a gentle aspiration process. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, while you’re still awake meaning that recovery time is much shorter. Dr Dennis Wolf has performed 1,800 VASER liposuction procedures.

  • Running man | 8 top tip if you’re planning to start running again

    Running man | 8 top tip if you’re planning to start running again

    If you are looking to get back into running after a break here is advice from Lewis Manning, Senior Sports Physiotherapist at BMI The London Independent Hospital

    running tips and jogging rules
    CREDIT: Maridav-bigstock

    Gradual training

    The most important thing you need to remember when getting back into running after a break, especially if you’re recovering from an injury, is to increase your training gradually. All other interventions are secondary to this and if you get this wrong, you are much more likely to get injured. This is because both your cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems take time to adapt to the new load that is being put on them.

    Slow increases

    The general rule when running is that you should only increase your training load by 10% a week (unless your longest run is less than 4 miles, then you can increase things a bit more quickly).

    Have a good pair of running shoes that suit you.

    Everyone is different and it doesn’t have to be the most expensive pair that are the best.

    Be careful about starting to run if you are significantly overweight.

    It may be helpful to begin with low-impact exercise such as walking or cross training to begin with.

    Warming up

    Warm up by running a bit slower for the first 5-10 minutes is important on the higher intensity (especially interval) runs. However, general static stretching before running has been shown to not reduce the chances of injury. It may be important to stretch specific muscles that are tight on you, but this should be done throughout the week, not just before a run.

    Running on softer surfaces

    Surfaces such as grass or a treadmill are a great way to get back into training as they put less force through your body. However, if you are competing in an event that requires road running, you will need to do some training on the road too.

    Eat correctly

    (again, this is another topic in itself) and drink when you need to. Don’t be obsessed by drinking, whether it be water or sports drinks, however. Your body will tell you when you need to drink and drinking too much can cause as many problems as not drinking enough.

    Listen to your body.

    Your body will generally ache a bit when returning to running. However, if niggles become persistent and are worsening, you should nip this in the bud early by getting advice from a physiotherapist.

     

    This article was taken from Issue 2. Subscribe now

  • REVIEWED: Naked Fitness Training in West London

    Yeah, it’s a thing. Exercising and group training in the buff is a relatively new concept (no, those “squats” you’ve been doing do not count as training) and NKD Training’s founder Paul was kind enough to invite me along to try it out. ★★★★

    I’ll be honest, this whole endeavour started as an excuse to ogle hot guys working out veiled under the thin disguise of journalism. As the day of my naked group training drew closer I began to have some serious doubts. What if the group was full of creepy fat old men? Or worse, what if it was full of hot young men and that I would actually be the creepy fat old man?!As it turns out, there was a healthy mix of both.

    NKD Training is run at the Gym Clinic in West London, a small but well equipped (that’s what they say about me … sorry, too many penis jokes) gym not far from Gunnersbury tube station. The main entrance is closed off during naked training so you have to enter through the back door (not saying a word) into the clean and professional work out space. That just happens to be full of naked men exercising.

    The session is divided into two parts: the first is an hour of free gym time in which you are invited to use the facilities as and how you want, dressed in as little as you want – as long as you’re wearing trainers. You can wear shorts during this time, as I did, but you will be silently yet harshly judged by the guys training in the altogether.

    The second half of the session is similar to a circuit class, during which Paul takes you through a warm-up – set to your favourite drag queen lip sync music – and then through a solid 45-minute workout. Newcomers are likely to feel strange and probably a bit uncomfortable when first stripping off, but after a while of lunging and crunching and curling, you almost forget that your dick is hanging out while you do it. Almost.

    There were some aspects to naked training that were more complicated than I had anticipated. Running on a treadmill was obviously more uncomfortable than I’m used to, but trying to do squats without giving the guy behind you an eyeful of asscrack, that was damn near impossible.

    I can certainly see the appeal of naked training and, as Paul explains, the benefits as a personal trainer are significant. “As a trainer there are a lot of benefits. I can see more of the muscles that are working and I can see if there’s an imbalance, say when they’re doing a chest press. You don’t just see the bar moving, you see the muscles that are working, the ones that aren’t and the ones that should be. And it builds a bond, being naked. I don’t know how to explain it.”

    It was definitely a unique experience for me, but one that I really wanted try. Not so much to see hot naked guys (again, yes there are plenty of them there) but to come more to terms with my own nakedness. Gay men are often plagued with insecurities about our bodies and the act of stripping off completely in a bold attempt to better yourself takes balls, and not just the ones on display. For most of the men in that room, being naked was the most normal and natural thing in the world. It was the realisation that whether your body is perfect or not, it’s the only one that you’ve got. So learn to love it while you work to make it better. And go on, have a sneak peak at yourself training naked in the mirror. You may be more impressed than you thought.

    NKD Training takes place every Sunday in West London and costs £15 per session.
    You can also book naked personal training sessions either in your home or Paul’s.
    Contact paul@nkdtraining.co.uk or visit nkdtraining.co.uk for more information and to book.

    Bravely reviewed by Nick Baker

  • REVIEW: Domyos Expander

    Lightweight weight training kit on the go. Domyos expander – fit for purpose?

    (more…)

  • LGBT Yoga teacher Josetta Malcolm: “It is not about isolation, but putting yourself back into the world”

    Growing up in Brighton, where the lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender (LGBT) communities are big, Josetta Malcolm thought, that starting an LGBT Yoga class was a natural thing to do.

    She wanted to create a place, where lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people would be at ease with their bodies and soul, and find calmness. Just using changing rooms can be a barrier to joining a mainstream class for trans people, (there are cases of people being asked to leave changing rooms/gendered toilets and questioned about their gender), so she is teaching in a trans sexual health clinic and gender neutral settings where this is not an issue.

    “Day-to-day negative experiences or micro-aggressions can weigh heavy on people from the LGBT community,“ she said, adding that Yoga is a great way to relax and calm down.

    PACE, a UK-based LGBT mental health charity, where Josetta worked as a Senior Manager, recently published a report that the suicide rates within young gay or transsexual people are considerably higher than within straight/non trans people of the same age – so she wants to offer support.

    Coming from a social and mental health background she strives to reduce isolation and increase physical and mental wellbeing in these communities, to “put them back into the world“.

    Everyone – of any age, body shape or background – comes to visit her LGBT and trans Yoga classes.

    “I have a problem with the stereotypes that only people from African or Asian communities are being rejected by their families when coming out – many of my white gay friends had very similar experiences,“ said Josetta Malcolm.

    After years of practice and teaching in Brighton, Berlin, and now London she has managed to make a living out of her passion even though she generally avoids teaching in mainstream fitness studios.

    “Yoga is not only for toned and skinny bodies in fancy fitness studios“

    She teaches NHS classes on mental health wards, at LGBT festivals, Black and Asian settings, in community centres and is working with a Women’s Health Project, where she will teach Yoga in female prisons and with former prisoners. Such classes are often free to the students or offered at reduced rates, thanks to a few well-paying private clients or NHS funding.

    “Yoga should be affordable for everyone and it shouldn’t be a luxury, because if so, people have forgotten or don’t realise what Yoga is about,“ she said.

    Its roots are in Asia and Africa, but in the Western World, Josetta found, it became very mainstream, mainly for white, toned and skinny bodies.

    “I love working with any kind of body shape and very often you’d be surprised about the flexibility of a 70-year old or stronger-built person,“ she said.

    For now she is very happy and wants to continue the path she’s on. Being a freelance teacher is not always easy, but she wants to make Yoga truly accessible for everyone, especially people who would usually feel in “normal“ lessons alien or out of place.

    by Amelie Heuls

    I am a Franco-Austrian, aspiring journalist, who is about to finish an International Master program in London. I am very interested in politics and human rights and am naturally very curious about life and the world I live in. I enjoy getting to know new people, who have a story to tell, an interesting point to raise or who make me think differently and push my thoughts

  • REVIEW: Hypoxi, How I Lost Inches Of My Body and Half A Stone In Weight

    Low slung jeans and vest tops, that’s all I’m rocking this summer and it’s all because of a wetsuit, some piping and a lot of science. Okay, it’s a lot more complicated than that…

    The before and after….

    When the press release about Hypoxi hit my inbox my cynical journo brain kicked in. What was presented seemed yet another weight loss system that promised the world but probably would deliver nothing, but with celebrity fans such as Victoria Beckham and Katie Price and a wealth of science and research committed to the system, who am I to ignore the call of snake hips? So off I popped into their South Woodford branch where the ultra friendly Sylwia and her team greeted me.

    Essentially, you step into a suit, take a 30-minute walk and lose weight without trying. Sounds too good to be true, but within just 6 sessions I could tell it was working.

    I have to say as you’re squeezed into the neoprene patented Hypoxi suit and step on to the treadmill that weight loss is the furthest thing from your mind. My first thought was ‘okay, where is the camera?’ I felt I was going to turn up on Candid Camera or You’ve Been Framed, but when the suit is hooked up to the vacuum system, your thoughts turn from Candid Camera to Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, as around 125 compression cups suck and massage at your abdomen, lower stomach and love handles – all those problematic areas which tend to be the most difficult areas to shift fat from.

    It’s not that unpleasant, but it’s certainly a strange feeling as you take a stroll at a leisurely pace on the treadmill hooked up to a machine that breathes life in and out of the vacusuit suit.

    The suit causes a vacuum to draw out the fatty acids from your body. It makes you sweat. A lot. There is relief as you’re peeled from the suit, looking a little sweaty, but the technicians at Hypoxi have seen it all before and you can take a shower on site if you need.

    After the session you may be left with red marks over your body – this is completely normal Sylwia tells me and shows where the compression cups have massaged your body. The therapy, created and developed by Dr. Egger in Austria, promises to combat cellulite and “stubborn fat deposits and poor connective tissue” resulting in a targeted body shaping experience.

    The next morning after my first session I woke to find I actually felt thinner. Could this actually be working?

    After six sessions I’m definitely thinner and my butt has all but disappeared, my Levis are now low slung. Bravo. At my sixth session weigh in I’ve lost weight.

    My halfway results show that my hip bones have made a welcome return and I have lost nearly half a stone and I’m told I’ve lost 13.5cms around my upper body.

    I’m hooked. Along with my normal health regime (with cheat days) I have managed to achieve something that months of normal gym visits would have accomplished but in under 3 weeks.

    It’s a little pricey, around £50 per session or around £500 for 12, but if you look around you can get a good deal and it’s well worth considering if you, like me, have tried and failed at losing those last few pounds or that pad of fat that just doesn’t seem to want to shift.

    Find out more at Http://www.hypoxiwls.co.uk or call 02089892700.