FAST FITNESS
THE FOUR-MINUTE WORKOUT
It sounds like a too-good-to-be-true fitness fantasy: a workout that’ll bestow the equivalent of about 45 minutes of weight training and 30 minutes of running, plus 20 minutes of stretching—all in only four minutes. According to H.I.T Fitness (TD Centre, 77 King St. W., Toronto, 416-869-1448, hitfit.ca), its range-of-motion machine—equipped with an 85-pound flywheel and a centrifugal brake—will do just that. The harder you exercise, the harder it gets. To focus on your lower body, you stand and do vertical lunges as the resistance grows (and grows). Toning your upper half involves sitting down and pulling, then pushing as the resistance grows (and grows). The four minutes feel like four weeks, but judging by the club’s beehive activity, H.I.T’s clients are in it for the results, not the novelty. “If you don’t have time to exercise for four minutes, you don’t have time to exercise,” says director of operations Julie O’Brien, whose toned arms testify to the program’s effectiveness—as does the fact that 40-plus locations are slated to open across Canada in the next five years.
—Laura deCarufel
GOOD VIBRATIONS
Resembling a supersized doctor’s scale, the Power Plate is based on technology created to help Russian astronauts retain muscle and bone density while in orbit. As you stand, squat or do tricep dips and other moves, it uses vibrations to flex your muscles for you (up to 50 times per second), targeting every inch of your body and granting a serious workout—no sweat necessary. “Normally, in a workout, you tend to use your muscles at about 45 per cent of their capacity,” explains Nicole Maille, spa director at Médime (6100 du Boisé, Montreal, 514-739-7444, medime.ca). “This machine forces muscles to work at 90 per cent.” Fans reportedly include Madonna and Heidi Klum, not to mention pro athletes.
—Shauna Hardy
BEAT GENERATION
DIVA DANCE
“Music is designed to evoke an emotional response that increases the benefits of a workout,” says instructor Sarah Jamieson, who brings over 10 years of yoga and dance experience to Diva Dance, a cardio meets Zen-style workout at Studéo 55 (1114 Alberni St., Vancouver, 604-684-0544, studeo55.ca). The class warms up with Hatha yoga to increase elasticity, then swivels and grooves with Bollywood-style Bharatanatyam moves to Buddha Bar tunes, but it’s Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian belly dancing) that truly tests your rhythmic mettle. We feel energized, refreshed—even ready for a night on the town.
—Aita Elisseeva
LATIN FEVER
With young women vying to be the next Pussycat Doll, it’s no wonder that exotic dance moves are a fitness craze. Latin Fever, one of the SuperFly Dance Fitness classes (superflydancefitness.com) offered by choreographer Sophie Luxton at Stretch Fitness Boutique (194 Bloor St. W., 2nd floor, Toronto, 416-922-4205, stretchcanada.ca), involves rapid vibrating and gyrating set to salsa. “You have to train yourself to use new muscles,” says Luxton. But can it help us firm up? While you wouldn’t guess it from the class’s name, these moves are thinly veiled squats, lunges and stomach crunches. And when we have a hard time getting out of bed the next morning, we’re believers.
—Jacquelyn Francis
