I bet you think I’m about to discuss Christmas don’t you?  Well I’m not.

I’m in the process of recovering from Richard Callender’s 5 hour ‘Armageddon’ workout.  This was a great mix of intense circuit training, body conditioning, hip-hop dance, combat and stretching which I attended with a friend over the weekend.

Richard Callender is one of the UK’s top fitness instructors or ‘presenters’ as they are known and you may have seen him on tv in the ‘Britain’s biggest loser’ shows.  He was also the real instructor on Jordan’s fitness dvd which, like her or loathe her, is a very good home workout.  As you’d expect from someone who has achieved ‘celebrity-esque’ status through fitness he’s got a great personality, is funny and engaging and an expert at motivating you through a really intense workout.

There are many different types of fitness holidayin the UK.  Ranging from intense bootcamps that really aim to kick start your fitness programme through tough exercise and complete nutritional plans to mind and body retreats at spa hotels where the aims are as much about relaxation and de-stressing as fitness.  These will generally include a lot of yoga and pilates based exercise which are a great alternative or complement to a traditional fitness programme.

Personally I have been to two ‘Fitness Fiesta’ weekends this year at the Pontins holiday park in Camber Sands in East Sussex.  These weekends start on a Friday afternoon and have a mega packed programme of every type of group exercise class you could imagine over the weekend.  Ending with a well earned stretch and relax class.  There is also a ’spa’ on site where you can ease your sore (in a good way) muscles with a range of massages or other beauty treatments.

One of the best things about these weekends though is that they are cheap.  Prices start from £65 per person and for that you get all the classes, the accomodation (which is basic but you don’t go there to stay in bed after all) and the evening entertainment.  I’ll definitely be going on more next year so I’ll keep you informed of when they are coming around and if you’re interested we can make a group trip of it.

I’ve even heard quietly that there will be fitness holidays on the Island starting in 2010 so I’ll keep my ear to the ground for further news on that one for you.

Lewis x

Aquarobics is a great way to introduce variety into your exercise programme and is especially good as a way into exercise for people who perhaps haven’t exercised in a long time or who fear that they don’t have the co-ordination for a land based aerobics class.

One of the great aspects of aquarobics is how safe it is.  Because of the density of water 90% of the body’s weight is supported.  Another way of looking at this is to consider that a person who weighs 16 stone will theoretically only weigh around 1 stone 8 1/2 lb in the water.  This means that the stress that gravity places on the body, particularly the joints and skeleton is greatly relieved.  This benefit alone means that people with back or knee problems or, dare I say it, those whose bodies have been through the University of Life for a while, can enjoy and benefit from this form of exercise in comfort.  Obviously if you do have any health concerns you should always consult your doctor or physiotherapist before embarking on any new kind of exercise programme.

A typical aquarobics class will consist of cardio work i.e. raising your heart rate and therefore exercising your cardiovascular system and in the process using lots of energy to do so (burning calories) and then you will mostly likely do some strength exercises using the water for resistance.  Strength exercises help build your lean muscle and as lean muscle is the only tissue in the body that can metabolise fat you will be increasing your fat burning potential for long after you finish exercising.

In my aquarobics classes I also love to include flotation devices like ‘noodles’ as these are great for spicing up the exercises and are fantastic to play games with.  Yes that’s right, in aqua classes we even get to play proper, have a great laugh, games.

I will be launching my own aquarobics class at the Heights Leisure Centre, Broadway, Sandown, IOW, in early January next year on a Friday between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.  Full details to follow closer to the time.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Did you know that during the course of the next month we will be welcoming more people into our houses than at any time over the past year?  Unless you are a very sociable person of course.  What with the home parties, office parties,  Christmas do’s, Reunions with old friends it always surprises me that people think they should ‘put off’ their new diet and exercise regime until the New Year.  There’s not much point looking great in that little black dress in February when you’re going to want to wear it to death during December.

Another way of thinking about this is to consider that logically – we are going to attend the parties, indulge in rich food (and lots of courses of it probably) and enjoy a tipple or three to basically cheer ourselves up while the dark evenings do their best to make us want to hibernate until March.  With this in mind we are faced with a choice: we can either consume all these excess calories and sit back and do nothing or we can get ourselves off the sofa and into a class, down the gym, into the swimming pool…the choices are endless.  Firstly this will help to negate the effect of any overindulgence and secondly, putting time and work into your body and fitness levels will help to motivate you not to ravage it with double brandy cream on full butter finest richest mince pie between snacks between meals….you know the usual routine.

Obviously if you do decide that this Christmas you’re going to look your best and be the envy of your friends then my classes are an excellent way for you to burn calories and tone up any ’saggy bits’.  As always the emphasis is always on fun as well as fitness and the time will just fly by.

Lewis x

P.s. The Coca-cola lorry has been spotted during television adverts so the run up to Christmas is definitely now on!

On the 22nd of December at 6:00 pm at The Heights leisure centre in Sandown I will be staging my Broadway Spectacular dancerobics class.  This is a brilliant class that is based entirely around Broadway Musicals from start to finish from the music to the routines and will even feature dazzling costume costumes and mini performances from me and another instructor at The Heights.  If you enjoy musicals and fitness then this is not to be missed.

The class is suitable for everyone regardless of current fitness levels or number of left feet so don’t be shy.  Only £4.20 or included if you already have a full ‘One Card’.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Lewis x

Welcome to Isle of Wight Fitness.  The home of the most fun and effective fitness classes on the Isle of Wight. 

I’m Lewis and I run a variety of classes all over the island.  The most popular being the camp Broadway style ‘dancerobics’ class.  This class mixes all styles of dance from Broadway to Rock ‘n’ Roll via everything in between.  With great music and plenty of laughs you’ll forget that you’re actually having a work-out.  Well almost.

On this site I will provide class descriptions, an FAQ about exercise in general and I will keep you updated with what I’m up to on the island via my calendar of classes – which even includes one off classes when I cover them for other instructors.  I will also keep you updated with any current news about my classes or that’s interesting about exercise in general.

If you subscribe to my newsletter then you will also be the first to hear about exclusive masterclasses, special offers and I’ll even give you my fantastic fat melting diet plan for free!

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Lewis ;o)