“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn
What better way to burn off all my excessive and let’s face it indulgent overeating than a new exercise class. The lovely people at The Body Company invited me to try an Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training class at their studios here in Abu Dhabi.
Always up for trying something new, I accepted their kind offer and roped in the teenager too, she was it’s fair to say a little hesitant about in her words being ‘electrocuted’. So what is EMS training you may be wondering? The scientific explanation is that it’s the elicitation of muscle contraction using electric impulses, in layman’s terms impulses are delivered via electrodes within a specially designed suit placed on specific muscle areas which causes them to contract as if they are actually moving, intensifying natural muscle activity.
We were given a breathable cotton top and three quarter length trousers to wear under our EMS suits (there is no direct contact with the skin) and we were ready to start. Not going to lie we were both quite alarmed to see our suits being sprayed with water, you know the old saying electricity and water don’t mix but we were assured that this is to allow the electrodes to perform more efficiently. The suit was not as heavy as it looked but the sensation of getting into a wet suit was quite bizarre.
We were taught by the very friendly and enthusiastic Julie in a private room designed for two people. First things first, we had to be plugged in and then the class, which was very well explained step-by-step by Julie, began with a series of exercises designed to work the major muscle groups, each time the impulse was turned up for that area and turned down for others. A series of squats, lunges, bicep curls, ab crunches and twists were all part of the class, the impulses increased or decreased according to our tolerance of that particular area, not painful at all just a tingling sensation which intensified as the pulses got stronger.
The classes are really good for anyone looking to increase their general fitness and flexibility. Perfect for ladies looking for body shaping, fat reduction, weight loss and tackling problematic areas like cellulite as the impulses activate blood circulation and burn fat. For men it can also act as a weight loss and fat reduction tool and increases muscle growth and endurance levels.
The Body Company was introduced to the capital by Lena Dobschall and Christian Deerberg who are originally from Germany where EMS also originates from. Their facility here in Abu Dhabi has two modern studios, one mixed and one for ladies only both with larger spaces for classes or private rooms. Different classes are available for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels targeting body shape, muscle growth and weight loss with both male and female trainers available according to individual preference.
EMS works your whole body, allowing optimum results with a minimum amount of time as the twenty minute sessions offer an intense workout that increases the muscle activity by eighteen times, equivalent to hours of conventional training in the gym. Our DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) for the few days following the class were certainly conducive to having worked out! Olympic athlete Usain Bolt is an EMS fan, that’s quite an endorsement I would say!
The Body Company
Location: Floor 2, Centro Capital Centre, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (near ADNEC)
Telephone: 056 334 2286
E-mail: info@thebodycompany.eu
Website: www.thebodycompany.eu
See The Body Company class schedule here
I was invited to participate in this EMS class. All views are my own. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2016. All rights reserved. Reception photo used courtesy of The Body Company