These fitness programmes will have you looking toned and terrific for your big day
Illustration courtesy of Paulina Ortego
Whether you love the spotlight or dread it, on your wedding day there is no escaping it: all eyes will be on you. This makes for fantastic motivation to kick-start a new health regime.
Luckily, Hong Kong’s fitness scene is flourishing. Over the past few years, new boot camps, MMA (mixed martial arts) classes, spinning studios and women-only workouts have taken off, offering more choice than ever before.
Of course, you can’t expect a sexier silhouette overnight, which is why trainers suggest beginning a fitness and nutrition regime at least six months ahead of your wedding day. To get you started, we’ve found a few of the city’s most effective workouts to help you slim down and tone up before you walk down the aisle.
BounceLimit
This is not your average trampoline session. The fast-paced, challenging classes at BounceLimit will work your body from head to toe, and everywhere in between. Using a “rebounder” mini-trampoline, BounceLimit is ideal for those who are worried about pressure on joints or tendons—rebounders are surprisingly low-impact and absorb 85 percent of shock.
And if you’re worried about getting bored just bouncing up and down, think again—there is a wide range of classes to keep things interesting, from TabataBounce to CombatBounce, PilatesBounce, DanceBounce and TRXBounce. Depending on the class, you could work on strength training, agility, flexibility, metabolic conditioning, coordination—or a mix of everything. BounceLimit training isn’t just about toning your limbs, either. Working out on the rebounders will also activate your core, enhance blood circulation and improve posture, helping you to exude confidence on the big day.
Epic MMA
Stress-prone brides will love mixed martial arts, which combine strength training, metabolic conditioning and agility for a well-rounded fitness regime. Epic MMA & Fitness is home to one of the most comprehensive MMA training line-ups in the city, offering everything from Brazilian jiu-jitsu to Muay Thai, boxing, judo and Krav Maga. In these super-charged martial arts, every part of your body is used to push, pull, punch, kick, squat, grapple and jump.
As you perfect your punches, MMA training simultaneously facilitates weight loss and muscle toning thanks to high-energy cardio and hyper-efficient calorie burn. For even more structure and motivation, there is Epic Body Fit—an eight-week, women-only programme that combines MMA fitness, weight training, conditioning, yoga and nutrition.
XYZ
The dimly lit studio, hip-hop tracks and dance-inspired sessions have made XYZ one of the most popular spinning spots in town. Perfect for time-poor brides, each 50-minute session is just long enough to offer an exhilarating cardio workout that is sure to be a welcome reprieve from work, wedding planning and family obligations.
Spinning, of course, works your legs the hardest, but you can expect your abdominal muscles to firm up too since cycling also engages your core. Wearing a sleeveless dress? Not to worry: XYZ also incorporates weight-lifting tracks for your upper body to ensure a full-body workout. Aim for at least three rides a week and you’ll be on track for your wedding day.
F45
Australian brides-to-be will probably already know about F45, an addictive training programme that focuses on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in a team environment. Each 45-minute workout involves a fast-paced circuit of weight resistance, agility training, functional movements and core work. Alternating between full-body cardio and weight-resistance workouts, F45 promises a unique session every day—all programmed by experts in Australia using a database of more than 2,500 exercises. F45 also runs regular nutritional programmes to motivate members to develop healthy long-term habits in the kitchen.
Bikini Fit
Does exercising with like-minded women outdoors every morning sound more appealing than going to the gym? Enter Bikini Fit. Over 12 weeks, the Bikini Fit programme takes a holistic approach to health and fitness, with six outdoor training sessions a week plus nutritional workshops, healthy recipes, travel support, stress management tips, sleep advice, supplement insight and emotional support. Bikini Fit is all about education, arming women with knowledge to make long-term changes that will hopefully last well beyond a wedding day. As for the workouts, most take a high-intensity interval training approach, incorporating a demanding mix of weight training, body-weight exercises, resistance training, core work and mobility. After just a few weeks of consistent training, you will notice improved endurance, firmer limbs and, in many cases, noticeable fat loss.
H-Kore
If your picture-perfect wedding day body requires toned arms and a sexy back, H-Kore should be your first stop on the fitness circuit. Often referred to as “Pilates on crack,” H-Kore is one of the most effective ways to fine-tune your physique. The unique Lagree Fitness workout employs Megaformer machines to work muscles that you never knew you had.
Though the slow, controlled movements might look like a breeze from afar, H-Kore is anything but easy. The constant tension in each exercise will elevate your heart rate and keep you sweating, while simultaneously improving strength, flexibility and even posture—an essential part of looking your best on the big day. With consistent attendance about three times a week, combined with due regard in the kitchen, H-Kore can help you achieve dramatic results that will have you looking amazing in a strapless or backless gown.
CrossFit 852
Many women shy away from CrossFit for fear of bulking up, but it’s actually one of the most effective fitness programmes for slimming and toning. The workout is “cult-like” for a reason—it works. Embracing a constantly varied approach to fitness, CrossFit incorporates gymnastics, weightlifting and metabolic conditioning for great results. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle then you will probably quickly see an improvement in your core, back and leg strength. And anyone can do it—CrossFit workouts are tailored to your fitness level.