Tag Archives: abs

Health and fitness, Travel

Personal Training in Barcelona

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Personal training in Barcelona

www.barcelonabienestar.com

Personal Training in Barcelona

There is no doubt that having a personal trainer is the best way to maximise your potential and the best way to achieve your goals. Simply going to the gym or attending group exercise classes is for most people not enough to inspire and motivate them.

If you have an existing injury or problem, then personal training is even more important.

For this reason, Barcelona Bienestar offer personal training sessions in Barcelona. Some of our clients like to train outside on the beach or in the parks in Barcelona. Some like their personal training to be just that, personal. They prefer to work with us in their home or if visiting Barcelona for a holiday or vacation then in their hotel.

We will design a program especially for you to give you the best possible chance of achieving your goals.  This will not only include exercise, but also nutrition and lifestyle.

We use many different methods to challenge the body and the mind. So for our personal training we use TRX suspension training which uses bodyweight in a challenging group of exercises. We also use boxing, jump ropes, exercise bands, exercise mini balls, weighted vest and many other exercises.

We can help you to achieve long-term fitness and exercise goals if you are living in the Barcelona area, or keep your body in the best shape if you are just visiting. We can also help you with weight-loss or muscle/bulk gains.

We also offer group fitness and exercise training sessions which are perfect as a supplement to your personal training sessions with us. Included in our program is Pilates personal training and group sessions and also functional training group sessions.

So, if you are looking for personal training in Barcelona, if you are just starting out on your road to fitness, or you are a long-term fitness person, we can help you reach a higher level.

We are totally professional in our teaching and our business. We teach in English and Russian. Chris is an International presenter and trainer of fitness teachers all over the world. Julia is the current Miss Ireland Sports Bikini Model and a qualified personal trainer. So you will be in very safe hands.

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays all the profits made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

 

Current Affairs, Health and fitness

Pilates, baby tossing and butt training? Alessandra Ambrosio has some explaining to do

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There is something likeable about Alessandra Ambrosio. She is Brazilian, a 33 year-old model and a Victoria’s Secret Angel. But that is not why I like her, honestly.

I like her because she is open and honest, and she loves Pilates. The picture above is of her during a workout last week in a Santa Monica gym. She is also honest about her training and lifestyle. She recently said that she never exercised until after her daughter was born. She said: ‘When I started with Victoria’s Secret at 21, I never worked out. Then when I got pregnant with my daughter, I gained about 60 pounds and had to walk the Victoria’s Secret show three months later. That was the first time I had to really fight to get my body back into shape.’

I am very happy to let celebrities help me to promote Pilates, health and fitness. But I have to say that sometimes their lack of knowledge about training astounds me, and the things they say certainly do not help the public to understand what is important. Clearly sometimes money does not buy good advice.

Alessandra says that she doesn’t “do much” for her arms as she doesn’t think people notice them as much as the rest of her body. ‘When you’re in a bikini, your abs are the most important. I like doing bridges, and I’ll also finish a workout with 100 bicycle crunches. I’ll do three sets of 25 “Superman’s” to tone my back. I don’t really do much for my arms; throwing my kids in the air helps already. Plus, as a Brazilian, I know the last thing a man is going to look at – even after your feet – is your arms! I Spin on Monday, go to Pilates on Wednesday and yoga on Sunday. You have all these other things to put in front of [workouts] that you say are more important, but they’re not. Your health is most important.’

Where to start with these comments…. First let’s start with the positive. Regular Pilates and yoga is of course great, as is a varied fitness regime that includes cardio as well. Also “your health is most important” is clearly a good message to be getting out there.

But in my opinion as a Pilates teacher, a holistic exercise regime is vital, so neglecting any body part is flawed and an inadequate approach to health (throwing children in the air is not a recognisable training method and is probably dangerous and maybe illegal? I am sure that one day someone will try to launch it as a mother and toddler fitness concept…)

The part of this interview that I find most disturbing is the concept of training the part of your body that you think people look at most. Whilst I am sure (and I really hope I am right) that she was saying this with her tongue firmly in her cheek, the idea of training your abs and butt only because that is what men look at is not on any level a good message.

I think I should let Alessandra have the final say on this post: ‘Having a perfect body isn’t everything. I want my daughter to be nice, have a good education and be disciplined. That’s what makes people like her. A perfect butt doesn’t make an amazing person. It’s about feeling confident.’

“A perfect butt does not make an amazing person”. Inspiring words indeed. 😉

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. Read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? for more.

 

Health and fitness

Vanessa Hudgens: Does Pilates create a flat stomach?

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Chris Hunt Wellness

www.chrishuntwellness.com

Pilates brings many benefits, most people know that. In my experience most people come to Pilates because they have an existing issue with their body that they want to rehabilitate from, they want to improve performance and quality of life (especially in a sporting sense), or because they want to change their body shape.

Pilates can achieve all these things. But I think it is always vital that clients understand exactly what Pilates is and exactly how it achieves what it does.

I am often asked the question, “will Pilates give me a flat stomach?” To help answer this question, I will use the example of Vanessa Hudgens, as she is a Pilates fan and is regularly complemented for her great figure. She was pictured this week leaving a Pilates studio in LA.

First of all, if you are not familiar with Vanessa, she is a 25-year-old American actress and singer. She rose to prominence playing Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical series and has also appeared in various films and television series for the Disney Channel.

So, back to the question, will Pilates give you a flat stomach? The simple answer is it will help for sure if it is done properly, as the abdominal muscles are trained as part of the holistic exercise system. But, and it is a big but, exercise alone is not enough. I like the saying that flat abs (or even a six-pack) is creates 20% in the gym and 80% in the kitchen. It’s an obvious fact that we all have a six-pack, of course some are genetically blessed with a head-start, but we all have one! The problem is some people’s six-packs are a little shy, they like to hide behind a layer of fat! This is why diet is vital.

I think it is important not to simply equate a stronger core with a flatter stomach. For most people, flatter abs means weight loss as well as exercise. I do not think that Pilates teachers should advertise Pilates simply to get flat abs, as this demeans the whole system. It makes me very angry when I see headlines like “5 Pilates exercises to get a six-pack”. What we should be saying is that Pilates is a holistic system that will make your body stronger, more flexible and healthier. A nice side-effect of this is often a slimmer more toned body and in turn a flatter stomach, something that is also helped by the improvement in posture that Pilates will bring. If most people simply learn and are able to stand up straight in a neutral position, then hey presto their stomach will often flatten.

Also, Pilates is about how to use your body and body awareness. This is what I really stress through NLP and mindfulness when I am teaching my system, Pilates EVO. Pilates can give you swagger!

Something that many gym goers are unaware of is that the abs should also be flexible. It’s a dangerous myth that to be strong and look good muscles should be tight. Nonsense. Every muscle needs flexibility. If we have no flexibility and balance in our bodies then eventually our bodies will break-down, often not in the area of the inflexibility.

As always, if you want more advice on anything Pilates, or about how exercise and diet can help change your figure, then please drop me a line via my website, Facebook or the form below.

 

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Prince George will keep Pilates in the family

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The latest picture of Prince George and you can really see how much love there is between him and the family dog Lupo. I think he will make a good King. The future of the Royal Family looks bright! :)

And I am sure that his mum will introduce him to Pilates as soon as he is old enough as Kate is such a big fan, as is her sister Pippa. Kate attended 3 Pilates classes a week whilst she was pregnant with George in Fulham, London, and she is also reported to like using dumbells and a Swiss ball for an hour every morning as part of her regular gym workout.

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Health and fitness

Victoria’s Secret? Pilates say Behati Prinsloo & Alessandra Ambrosio

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Victorias Secret

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Victoria’s Secret Models Behati Prinsloo and Alessandra Ambrosio have a secret way to shape up for bikinis this summer. But the secret is now out!

This week Victoria’s Secret held their annual swim preview, and Alessandra and Behati gave some thoughts on exercise and preparing for summer.

Their favourite pre-swim workout? Pilates of course. “I usually do Pilates,” Ambrosio said. “There’s this place in L.A. where they have these reformers. You get a good workout and you burn a lot of calories. And I do like the Soul Cycle spinning classes. They’re fun, it’s 45 minutes, and you sweat like crazy.”

Prinsloo added “What helps me if I don’t really feel bikini-ready and it sort of sneaks up on me is some self-tanner lotion. Not orange, but just that summer glow that always makes me feel a little better. And then obviously, some Pilates or yoga or go run on the beach. Cut out sugar and salt too. When I do the show or right before a shoot, I just try to cut out a lot of sweets and salt, which cause a lot of water weight.”

Wise words indeed….

Stay tuned for my Bikini Workout to get your body in perfect shape this summer. And a bit of orange tan in sight!

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Health and fitness

Criss Cross Exercise Chris Hunt Pilates

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My latest Snap Video is Criss-Cross, which focuses on the abs and especially on the obliques, all essential if you want to be the best boarder of skier that you can.

Lie on your back with a neutral spine. Bend your knees and bring your shins up so that they are parallel to the floor. Place your hands behind your head. Keep the neck relaxed and your elbows nice and wide. On the out breath curl the chin and shoulders up to the base of the shoulder blades. Keep your arms relaxed, let the abs do the work. Take the right shoulder towards the left knee ensuring a good rotation, then on the in-breath return to the starting position. Repeat on the left.

Current Affairs, Health and fitness

Miley Cyrus, half-naked thanks to Pilates

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Miley Cyrus

www.chrishuntwellness.com

A quiet Sunday evening in Milwaukee? Not when Miley Cyrus is in town!

The 21-year-old singer pop star says that she didn’t intend to step out in nothing but her underwear to perform the song “23” during a show, but that is exactly what happened when. She said on twitter “Not a new outfit for 23. I didn’t make my quick change and I couldn’t not come out for the song so I just had to run out in my undies.”

She is no stranger to controversy, and is she also no stranger to Pilates. It’s a regular part of her workout routine, including the sidekick series on the Cadillac for legs and butt, then plenty of ab work.

Where you love Miley or hate her, one thing is for certain that she can go on stage in nothing but underwear with confidence!

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Health and fitness

Chris Hunt bodyFUNC TRX training

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bodyFUNC TRX workout
bodyFUNC TRX workout

Chris Hunt bodyFUNC TRX training

Here is a little look at me training. I’m using some of the training techniques I use when teaching my system bodyFUNC, a system designed to be functional and of course fun!