Body Pump: a good beginning?
Yesterday a co-worker stopped by and mentioned, off the cuff, that she was in "extreme pain." I asked what was wrong and learned that the pain was the result of having just begun participating in Body Pump classes at a local gym.
I’ve done Body Pump–most recently three years ago–and written on the topic. A male reader commented negatively to one of my old posts because he thinks Body Pump is lame. Well, sure, if you’re preparing for a bodybuilding or figure competition or trying to develop strength, Body Pump is lame.
Is it lame for my friend, a good-looking, energetic 30-something woman who wants to lose post-baby fat and get back in shape? I don’t think so.
Serious lifters are too ready to criticize the measures ordinary people take to get in shape. For my colleague, Body Pump is a great introduction to a number of strength moves. The class incorporates squats, bench presses, push-ups, military presses, and more. If it weren’t for the class, she certainly would not be learning these moves.
As she pointed out during our conversation, if you’re not paying a personal trainer, the gym’s employees are not willing to spend very much time helping you. Body Pump’s weakness is wearing people out with high repetitions at low weights–but isn’t that better than doing no strength training at all?
If people have been sedentary, any activity they enjoy is good. Those who want more from their workout will gravitate to more challenging programs. Today my friend and I talked about the different stances for squats, and she’s now experimenting to find her optimum foot placement. And her second-day soreness indicates that Body Pump has presented her muscles with a challenge. It’s a great beginning.
