On the other side of 40 and feeling older than that still! Let’s go back to teenage Emma, she was a team player, a hockey player. I would train several times a week and never had enough of hockey. Then I started sixth form and went on to Uni and my hockey stick stood propped up in the corner. I didn’t have the confidence to join the uni team and it is something I regret immensely because I have never found a team or a level of fitness since back then.
Over the years I have done a few things, I even ran / fast walked a half marathon a few years ago. But I’ve never got a buzz from running and I have never really felt the adrenaline running through my veins doing any fitness or sports. Until last week.
Last week I stepped into a gym that seemed alien to me. Alien but it sounded like something I would enjoy. It is group training and it is tough. Like way tougher than anything I have done before.
What is Iron Zuu?
Founded through training athletes, special forces and sports teams, ZUU classes use a mixture of weights, body weight and zuu movements. The new gym will be the first official franchise for the company in the UK. Chris Bradley said ‘IRON ZUU’s small group personal training sessions focus on culture by bringing people together while finding an “entry point” for ALL fitness levels to start their journey towards better health and mobility through movement.’
Where is my entry point?
For me, and imagine for others even crossing the threshold and finding the door is an entry point. I was worried that I would feel intimidated and that everyone else would be proper buff, toned and fit. The reality is different, of course there are those that have been doing it a while who are toned and buff and they deserve to be, they have worked bloody hard to be like that. But I am at the start of my journey and I haven’t compared myself to the middle of their journey and neither has anyone else.
Infact the opposite is true. I feel part of a team again and the support everyone offers each individual motivates and inspires me. One of the key elements is mutual support, the sessions can get loud as every single person congratulates and keeps the energy flowing. When someone wants to pause, the others will pick you up and keep you pushing yourself.
What happens in a session at Iron Zuu Gloucester
The session starts with some stretches designed to loosen you up and open up the hips. There are three types of classes Iron Zuu, Zuu and Taki. So far I have taken part in Iron Zuu and Taki.
Taki is a mixture of weights, body weights, zuu and boxing.
Iron Zuu is rather addictive as I enjoy weights! It includes 45 seconds of a weight exercise, a 45 second rest followed by 45 seconds of a zuu movement. Each exercise is done three times. There are 4 exercises in the hour-long session. We finish off with a good stretch and a high five.
The programme runs over 12 weeks and you can pay monthly or for the 12 week plan. You are advised to train three times a week and this is what I am aiming for. This type of training is best compared to having a personal trainer a number of times a week.
If this all sounds like something that would challenge you, come along and try it.
I am going to blog my 12 weeks on plan and share the changes it makes. Watch where this goes!
One Response
Hi Emma,
I was trying to explain Zuu to a friend and found this, hope you don’t mind that I shared and will probably look again to see your blog.
See you at Zuu soon