Is Ballet Barre For Me?

As a ballet barre trainer there is one question that I regularly get asked, “Is ballet barre for me?”

In my opinion ballet barre and any form of ballet training is beneficial for everyone regardless of your fitness goal. Well of course I would say that, I am a former professional ballet dancer and I helped design TruBe’s ballet barre workout.

ballet barre blog 2

But let’s think about it objectively. Why do we train? The reasons why we train and engage in physical activity are wide and varied. But all of them can be enhanced or achieved through ballet barre training.  There is a reason why ballet dancers are often touted as some of the fittest athletes alongside boxers.

One of the largest barriers we face at the moment when we exercise is poor range of motion. The way the modern westerner lives their life promotes poor posture and tight muscles. Ballet barre is a great way to improve your posture and promote greater coordination between different areas of your body simultaneously.  How often do you hear about dancers with poor posture and limited range of motion? This applies to everyone, most men could add 10kgs to their three big lifts with improved movement patterns.

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Let’s talk about some other fitness goals such as weight loss, tone, core strength, cardiovascular fitness, strength and power. All of these can be drastically improved through ballet barre training. When you think about all of these facets of fitness, ballet dancers display all of them. The beauty of the TruBe ballet barre is that you can achieve these results in the comfort of your own living room, ballet is about moving your body not heavy weights.

To celebrate world ballet day today, why not download the app and try one of our ballet barre sessions using this £10 off promo code:


BALLET10

Matt – @mattino22

Meet Personal Trainer Adam H

As a semi professional football player, Adam is highly experienced in endurance, speed and agility training. These fundamental fitness attributes are hugely beneficial to anyone trying to lose body fat, tone muscle and improve general fitness levels. Check out his Q&A below.

What is your biggest client success story?
A client that comes to mind was a lady who came to me for a gym induction in July last year. During the induction we had a good chat about her reasons for wanting to exercise, in which she explained that she was beginning to feel very self conscious and uncomfortable when out with friends. It got to the point where she began to make excuses so she didn’t have to go out. Before we started training she weighed 12st 12lbs, had no eating routine, did very little exercise and lived an extremely unhealthy lifestyle.

We started with the basics bodyweight exercises and short interval training. We soon then began to incorporate a lot more weight into our HIIT sessions and finished each session off with a good few rounds of tabata (high intensity interval training). In just over 7 months and not without a few bumps in the road just over 3st, now weighing 9st 8lb. During this time I saw her self confidence massively improve to the point where she even wore a bikini on holiday for the first time this summer. Even though she is happy with her transformation and now has a balanced healthy lifestyle I still see her once a week to put her through her paces!

What do you enjoy about being a part of the TruBe Team?
Being part of the first on demand fitness service is one of the most exciting and enjoyable things for me. Working alongside a strong team really drives you on and brings out the best in you as a trainer which has your clients reaping the benefits and getting their desired results.

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What was your last health and fitness obstacle and how did you overcome it?
I’ve have been fairly fortunate as I haven’t really suffered any serious injuries as of yet. My only really health obstacle is attempting to put on weight or bulk up. I have a very high metabolism, coupled with all of my own training this is a real challenge. I have increased my meals and calorie intake daily and I’m slowly going in the right direction. I just try to remind myself that it’s a marathon not a sprint.

Your favourite piece of TruBe equipment?
For me your body is the best bit of equipment and I believe that everyone should be able to push and pull their own bodyweight. In keeping with that I love to use the suspension trainer it is the best piece of kit to utilizing your own bodyweight.

How do you treat yourself?
I treat myself by doing the things I enjoy as much as I can. Football is a big part of my life, playing at semi-professional level from the age of 16. I play matches twice a week, train once a week and squeeze gym workouts in between clients. When the rare occasion to have a lie in occurs I make the most of it with a good breakfast and a brew.

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I do like to let loose every so often on a saturday night after games with a couple of beers….. yes just a couple I promise! 😉

What is your favourite instagram account to follow?
As strange as this may sound to some I’m very new to Instagram as I feel a lot of people’s time is wasted constantly looking down at their phones and the world just passes them by. Having said that my favourite instagram to follow would be @FreshFitnessFood.

What is your favourite motivational quote?
The one I use  during sessions is,  “It’s your workout and you will get out of it what you put in”

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a mentor?
Find what’s right for you by doing what you believe in and train yourself in the same way. Take bits of everything you learn and mould it into your own as you are your own brand and the rest will take care of itself.

To book a session with Adam, download the app and find him as one of our featured trainers.

Get the Rugby body without the gym

Rugby is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. Strength, speed, agility and power are just some of the key attributes possessed by those elite athletes playing in the London Rugby World Cup.

You’d be hard pressed to find a player with a physique that most men wouldn’t dream of having. It is true that off the field, rugby players go through some of the most gruelling strength and conditioning training but fear not you too could be well on your way to looking like Sonny-Bill Williams and it doesn’t necessarily require a gym! All you need is a suspension trainer, a GripR/Dumbbell, a speed ladder and most importantly your own bodyweight.

Follow the workout below for your on demand rugby body;

1A – Deep squat hold pulse – 3x45seconds
1B – GripR overhead walking lunge – 3×8/side 

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Rest: 1 min

2A – Suspension trainer split row – 4×12
2B – Ladder press up crawling – 4×4/side 9 (Crawl forwards and side to side, do 1 push up with every step)

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Rest: 1 min

3A – Wide squat jumps – 3×10
3B – Suspension trainer press – 3×10

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Rest: 1 min

Follow this routine 2-3 times per week and combine with good nutrition and HIIT cardio to get the rugby physique that you seek.

To book a strength session with me, download the TruBe app.

For more information on fitness and nutrition follow me on Instagram @benhowardPT

Ben – TruBe Strength and Conditioning specialist

Hugo’s TruBe Transformation

We are excited to announce that we are taking Hugo Taylor through an 8 week transformation. Hugo has completed two marathons over the last year and is now looking to convert his lean runner’s body into a defined muscular physique.

We have provided Hugo with a special TruBe 8 week Transformation pack. This includes specific nutritional advice and planning, a full 8 week training guide and exercise sessions that you can complete in your own home! You can follow Hugo’s progress and see his results by following us on Instagram, @TruBeApp.

But wait, we have some even more exciting news! You can also download your very own TruBe Transformation pack and join Hugo’s journey! This will be specifically designed around your training goal be it weight loss, building muscle, getting stronger or for an event.

This will be available for you to download, on the 13th of September, for FREE! However we are only offering this amazing pack to the first 100 sign ups. If you would like to be one of the exclusive few to receive one of these, signup below.

Five Quinoa Recipes You Need to Try

We recently featured quinoa as one of our Quick and Easy Healthy Proteins. Quinoa is the perfect carbohydrate to eat straight after a workout as it replenishes the muscles and is a complete protein that will repair the impact of training.

Here are five quinoa recipes for you to try after your next workouts.

Quinoa, Broccoli and Chickpeas

quinoa broccoli
With three of the cleanest sources of protein, this recipe is the ideal post-workout meal. Just one cup of broccoli will provide you with 100 percent of your daily intake for potassium vitamin C and vitamin K, all of which help to keep muscles and bones strong.
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/04/09/crispy-quinoa-patties/


Quinoa Patties

quinoa cakes
These patties go really well with almost anything to make a nutritious meal. You could add salmon turning them into fish cakes or simply have them with a few portions of vegetables. This recipe will make around 20 patties so you can save some for another meal or even use them for a healthy snack.
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/04/09/crispy-quinoa-patties/


Beetroot and Quinoa Burgers

quinoa and beetroot burger
Finding a healthy burger that tastes great is like discovering a fine wine that leaves you feeling fresh in the morning. This beetroot and quinoa burger is exactly that. Beetroot is also another great super food packed with antioxidants. If you suffer from gluten intolerance you can swap the burger bun with portobello mushrooms or slices of sweet potato.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/beet-and-quinoa-veggie-burgers/


Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

quinoa cereal
Breakfast is one of the hardest meals of the day to keep healthy. It is very easy to sacrifice but is also one of the most important ways to start your day. Cereal is well known for how quick and easy it is to prepare, but it can quite often be packed with unhealthy sugars. This quinoa cereal recipe, once made, can be prepared in the mornings within minutes. You can also use almond milk to keep it lactose free as well as add any extra fruits. We tried banana and blueberries which hit the spot nicely.
http://cookieandkate.com/2011/breakfast-quinoa/


Quinoa, Chickpea and Spinach Salad

quinoa spinach salad
Salads are perfect to take to the office for lunch. The beauty of a salad is that you can add extra vegetables to enhance the nutritional content. This recipe will give you the perfect base for you to add in your own favourite ingredients.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/quinoa-chickpea-and-spinach-salad

Let us know what you think of these recipes using the comments section below. Alternatively you can connect with us via Twitter or Instagram.