Liven up your workouts with new kit that
will help you get stronger, fitter and faster
Spring has finally sprung, and to help you
to break free from the gym and take your training outside, we’ve picked the
best fitness kit to help you burn calories and have fun. “Changing and mixing
up your kit and training is guaranteed to get results as you challenge your
body differently, working your muscles harder,” says mind and body confidence
coach Kim Ingleby (energisedperformance.com) “Plus, studies show outdoor
workouts strengthen your muscles and ligaments, and improve your balance as
your body, responds to its environment.” The spring sunshine will also work
wonders for your skin and mood.
Resistance parachute
Great for:
livening up your cardio
Parachute training is great fun. To work
with a ‘chute, strap the belt to your waist or chest and let the parachute
billow out behind you when you run. The higher wind-resistance will slow you
down and increase stress on your leg muscles. The faster you run, the more drag
you’ll feel, and this will build your explosive power and acceleration, making
you faster and burning more calories per session.
“To use” chutes effectively you need to
activate your core muscles, keep a strong posture and make efficient use of
your arms when running,” says Ingleby. “A base level of fitness is advisable if
you’re going to enjoy this piece of kit. It will definitely give you a
challenging, varied workout, and you’ll end up faster and stronger than
before.”
Try this:
The “chute will create around 25lbs of drag, and comes in a handy bag so you
can carry it conveniently to the park. From $44; escapefitness.com
Alpha bag
Great for:
all-over toning
Alpha bags are the latest sandbags to hit
the fitness world, and a brilliant piece of kit designed for functional outdoor
training. Six handles are placed around the bag for easy handling, which makes
them perfect for running, throwing and lifting. Because the sand shifts inside
with each movement, your body is constantly off-balance, increasing the number
of muscles used. This versatile piece of kit can replace barbells and
dumbbells. And it’s fun – you couldn’t throw a barbell, could you?
“Training regularly with a weighted bag
such as the Alpha bag, will help increase your muscle tone, strength and power,
while working all your muscles together,” says Ingleby. “It’s also perfect for
boosting running speed and efficiency, because it improves your power output
and overall body strength.”
Try this:
Alpha bags come in different weight to suit all levels, and start at $124, from
jordanfreeweights.com. Powerbags are similar pieces of kit and are great for
lifting and throwing around when training outdoors. From $93:
heatwavefitness.co.uk.
