Fitstreet - Mobile Personal Training in Surrey that guarantees results

The 5 Elements of Your Training Program

Your training program will see you move your body in ways you may not have deemed possible in recent years. You are about to embark upon an exercise program that will rebuild your body to move efficiently, effortlessly and without discomfort or pain.

Each session will bring you closer to a better performing body - one that can stand up to everyday life and survive, whilst displaying pleasing aesthetic change. You will display greater flexibility, an improved range of movement, more energy and increased strength.

Flexibility: Stretching the body is crucial to better mobility and reduced injury. Overworked muscles tend to shorten, leaving them prone to tightness if not regularly stretched. Whether an office worker seated all day, or a regular exerciser, you will gradually lose flexibility as you get older unless you follow a regular stretching program. Start stretching and feel the benefits. Your posture will thank you for it.

Posture: Good posture is the difference between looking old and tired, and walking taller and freer in your own body. Most people suffer from poor posture in one form or another, even top athletes! Bad posture places stress on joints and muscles, causing the body to fall out of line, leading to pain and discomfort. In most cases these problems are subconsciously created through your everyday activity.

The corrective exercises that follow will have a significant effect on how you hold yourself on a daily basis. If you are to make good headway you should aim to make them part of your DAILY routine. Postural change can take time, which is why it is important that you stick with it.

Functional Strength: Functional strength involves exercising your body to better handle everyday tasks. This element of the program will focus on stability and strength, developing a strong yet lean body, with no muscle 'bulk'. You will work on muscular endurance, allowing you to work for longer without tiring. The more lean muscle you build the more calories you will burn, and the more 'fat-burning' potential your body will have. By working your muscles to temporary fatigue over a greater number of repetitions you will burn fat not only from under the skin, but also from within the muscle fibres. This leaves you with a sleek, toned body that doesn't resemble that of a pumped-up bodybuilder!

Core Stability: Soldiers go into battle wearing body armour for protection, saving them from injury. You too go into 'battle' every day, fighting your way through crowds and traffic to make a living, but most of you aren't using your body armour. You make a sudden move or turn to pick something up, and 'ouch!' You hurt your back.

We're talking about your body's 'core' - the deep abdominals and small low back muscles in particular. Working together, these muscles help protect your spine from injury and strain, and stabilise the lumbar area - the small of your back. The problem we face today is that long hours of sitting have caused these muscles to become lazy, because they don't have to work. Instead our bodies rely on the backrests of our seats for support - we slouch. Then when we find ourselves standing, needing spinal support in an everyday situation, these muscles are nowhere to be seen! Over the years, your armour has started to 'rust up'.

Every move you make comes from your core, not your arms and legs. It supports your spine, helps you balance, and acts as a bridge between your upper and lower body, through the spine. When used correctly these 'inner' muscles help pull the stomach in and tighten the lower back, a bit like a corset. Without the support of these muscles you are left with what we call a 'naked spine' - open to injury.

Interval Cardio: During your training sessions you will begin to practice and learn the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, alongside your resistance and stretching program. Cardio is important for the health and function of your heart and lungs, and of great benefit to those of you looking to control your weight.

For those of you new to exercise, cardio is any activity that gets the heart rate up for a prolonged period of time. In a gym environment this can include jogging, rowing, cycling or swimming. Outside of the gym, brisk walking, hiking and playing sport or games with the children all count. Each one has its benefits, and certain activities require more effort and technique than others.

Together we will concentrate on good technique in 2 forms of cardio that we will use throughout your training sessions - indoor rowing and power walking / jogging (depending on your goals and current weight). By teaching you good technique in both disciplines you will have the opportunity to practice between sessions, either at the gym or at home. Your goal at this stage will be to maintain a steady pace for a set period of time. Once you prove yourself efficient at this task we will progress to a higher pace, shorter rest periods and greater distance, all dependent on your goals and capabilities.