Virgin Active health clubs and Powerade® have launched four new ‘Virgin Active Powerade® Zero Fast Classes’ across all of Virgin Active’s 71 United Kingdom health clubs locations.
Every 20-minute class features a ViPR , V-Core, Power Plate or a Heptathlon workouts designed by Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis. The launch ties in with the release of Powerade® Zero, the world’s first-ever zero-sugar, calorie-free fitness drink.
The classes take place on the gym floor, rather than in a fitness studio, and offer a total body workout in less than 20 minutes. A focus on fast activities such as ViPR and Power Plate makes the classes perfect for those short of time, but who are also keen for a quick, effective and, above all, fun workout. The workouts are specifically designed to cater all fitness levels, and are ideal for people not used to traditional group exercise.
The ViPR , V-Core, Power Plate and Heptathlon workouts launched on Nov. 10, with each class timetabled at least once a day and access is included as part of a Virgin Active membership. A Virgin Active personal training expert leads each of the four classes.
Heptathlon features moves inspired by key heptathlon sports such as shot putt, long jump, javelin and sprints. The class was designed by European and World heptathlon champion, and Powerade® Zero ambassador Jessica Ennis.
“It was a lot of fun putting together this unique class. It’s a really good taster of the type of fitness heptathlons demand and the exercises I do every day,” she said. “Plus it is a really effective workout for the whole body and it only takes 20 minutes to complete, so anyone can do it.”
ViPR centers around the highly popular, kettle bell-like product ViPR, a weighted molded rubber tube that can be lifted, rotated, thrown and jumped over to work and tone each part of the body.
V-Core exercises target the ‘core’, the highly important group of muscles in the abs and back and which support the spine and keep the body stable and balanced.
Power Plate class features a range of exercises incorporating Power Plate, a vibrating platform that stimulates muscle groups to increase their performance whilst exercising.
Virgin Active health clubs head of product for the U.K. Andy Birch said, “We know that what we’re offering; a really effective, total body workout in under 20 minutes is what our members are looking for, and perfect for those pressed for time. Having Jessica Ennis help design the heptathlon class is fantastic. We’ve predicted ‘athletic fitness’ as a key trend for the coming year – this doesn’t necessarily mean training at an elite level, but providing a fitness challenge, and effective workout, which is exactly what the class entails.”
