Want to shed flab? Try BodyPump, a workout that burns fat and builds muscles

In 2012, Sanjay Reddy was 23 years old and weighed 168kg. “Even for my 6ft, 3 inches height, that was obese,” he says. Bored of a gym routine, he joined Cult Tribe, a fitness centre in Bengaluru. That’s when he was introduced to BodyPump, an exercise routine put together by New Zealand-based fitness company Les Mills International. “It was a group workout of 15-20 people with weights, set to the latest DJ songs, with constant motivation by the instructor. The music, the healthy competition within the class and the energetic movement with weights completely pumped me up, leaving me with an exciting, happy feeling,” he says.

Three years later, he had shed the flab and was happy about the way the workout had changed him physically and mentally. In 2015, he participated in a Les Mills workshop in Hyderabad and became a freelance instructor for BodyPump.

Set to a pulsing rhythm of 10 tracks, BodyPump is a workout routine that uses High-Intensity Interval Training (Hiit). It is specifically designed to help build lean muscle and strength, and improve your fat-burning ability, Reddy says. It’s also the ideal workout for anyone who wants to strengthen their muscles without gaining that bulky bodybuilder look.

Several gyms across India today have been certified by Les Mills and are conducting BodyPump classes. Explaining how it works, Amandeep Kaur Ahuja, training coordinator, Les Mills Dubai, says: “It is total body-resistance training using light to moderate barbells and high repetitions, with quick transitions and less recovery between repetitions and sets.” The 60-minute routine, set to a soundtrack of 10 DJ favourites from around the world, is updated every quarter to ensure they are the trendiest. Each track focuses on a different muscle group. The first track is for warm-up, followed by music for squats, chest, back, triceps, biceps, shoulders and core exercises. The last track is for the cool-down, says Reddy.

Overall, each track consists of specific exercises, including squats, chest presses, dead rows, clean and press, press pullover combos, lunges and reverse curls, to name a few. On each track, participants do 70-100 repetitions of a particular exercise. “On the whole, you do approximately 800 repetitions of about 10 exercises with three-four variations each, all with the barbells in hand,” says Kamal Chhikara, master trainer, Reebok India, and owner, Reebok CrossFit Robust gym, Delhi.

In the process, you work out your legs, chest, back, gluteal region, hamstrings, triceps, biceps, shoulders, arms and abdominal muscles. The idea is to tire your muscles so that they do not add bulk, only strength and tone. The routine may sound painful, but remember, the weights you would be using are minimal.

“This high-intensity workout is designed to build pressure within each muscle group, create an after-burn that spikes the metabolism, and help you achieve a toned body quickly,” says Sandeep Dhar, consultant physiotherapist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Bengaluru. “It’s an ideal workout routine for those who are out of shape.”

Why it works

One of the biggest advantages of the BodyPump routine is that anyone can do it. Since the weights are light, and you’re working out in a group, pumping and stepping to music, it’s a great choice for someone who is exercising for the first time. The routine improves your aerobic fitness, helps you shed weight, gain muscle strength and endurance, and gives you a lean body, says Hardik Patel, physiotherapist, Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai.

“Since it’s a group workout, it has the added benefit of being psychologically beneficial too,” he adds. For this group exercise sees the instructor on stage, demonstrating and explaining moves that people then copy. The fact that it’s set to music makes it more alluring.

For people like Reddy, who get bored sweating it out alone, the group dynamics work really well, motivating and inducing a sense of competition. “You make friends, indulge in some healthy competition and go back home with good vibes,” says Reddy. He says an instructor too needs to be more involved—for you’re not just directing, you’re also doing each and every exercise on stage with the group. “It’s exhausting but exhilarating,” he adds.

Then there’s the fact that while most workouts focus either on strength training or cardio, BodyPump does both, making it a great option for people who don’t have time to do these separately, says Mumbai-based fitness trainer Vinod Channa. “The workout combines barbells, dumbbells or your body weight and builds strength with cardio in a fast repetition and fast-set mode. It works on different body parts, keeping you breathless as well as improving your endurance and agility,” says Channa. Since it’s an Hiit workout, a BodyPump class two-three times a week is more than enough to get you results.

Exercise caution

Most facilities certified by Les Mills offer a range of levels for BodyPump workouts. Anyone who is healthy and injury-free—or, in the case of a pre-existing condition, has a go-ahead from his or her doctor—can do it, says Vesna Pericevic Jacob, founder, Vesna’s Alta Celo, a wellness clinic in Delhi. You should, however, avoid the workout if you have had cardiac or respiratory problems, says Patel, adding that it’s best to visit a cardiac rehab centre to get your cardiorespiratory fitness levels checked before you start the workout . “Individuals with musculoskeletal injuries or chronic pain and hypertensive patients should also avoid it,” he says.

Moreover, if you experience breathing problems, giddiness, headaches, tightness in the chest, or pain in the back or knees during a session, you should stop immediately. “Ask your instructor to review your workout regimen to avoid serious injury,” Patel says.

Jacob says there is a greater possibility of injury in a group class where you’re using weights with quick repetitions for over an hour. “It’s a high-risk environment and no matter how good the instructor is, he or she cannot keep an eye on every individual,” she explains. The moment you feel exhausted, she advises, put the bar down. Ahuja recommends choosing smaller weights, doing fewer repetitions and taking breaks, if you feel exhausted. Never add too much weight too early and push your fatigued body.

Pump prep

BodyPump techniques and forms are different from normal gym routines, so it’s important to learn the basic poses before you begin. If you feel your posture is incorrect, consider booking a few private sessions with the BodyPump trainer to correct posture and movement technique. For although it’s a group class, it’s important to establish one-on-one time with the instructor. “He or she can help you achieve your goal and guide you during the workout if you are a beginner,” says Ahuja.

The workout is designed to leave your muscles feeling sore, a feeling that intensifies over sessions as you increase the weights. This is normal, says Chhikara, adding, “Ensure you recover properly after each session by giving your body rest and nutrition.” Your diet should include complex carbs and high protein to rebuild muscles and deal with wear and tear. Dhar reiterates the importance of rest. “Since it is an Hiit, it can cause delayed onset of muscle soreness or cause injury if you’re not alert and lead to anything from a single muscle injury to a ligament tear,” he adds.

What the experts say

u Before signing up, check the class level—is it a beginner-level class or an advanced one? Also, is it affiliated to Les Mills? Choose a class where the group is the same age and has a similar fitness level.

u Find a spot in the class close enough to the front so that you can see the instructor’s full body movements. Pay close attention to how to move your body.

u Stay light with the weights. Remember, you are doing this for yourself, so don’t compete and go heavy. It’s okay if you do it without barbells too.

u Check your posture. Learn the positions and techniques for the moves before you begin. Ask how you should go about the progression and regression in moves, weights and repetitions. Ask the instructor to look at your movements, and give you appropriate guidance and cues during the workout.

u Don’t skip the warm-up and cool-down. Jumping right into a BodyPump workout without a warm-up can shock your body and lead to injury; your body also needs those few minutes to cool off and get back to its normal state.

u Bring a small notebook to class, and record your weight selection every week.