The benefits of Tai Chi

Muscle Strength - Tai chi strengthens both the lower and upper extremities and also the core muscles of the back and abdomen. It has proven to improve daily activities and strengthen postural muscles which will influence correct posture.

Flexibility - Staying flexible is great for healthy joints, muscles and bones. Studies have shown that Tai Chi can significantly boosted upper- and lower-body flexibility as well as strengthen joints.

Balance - Tai chi improves balance and has shown to reduce the risk of falls. Tai chi helps train the body’s sense, which makes it easier to recover from a stumble. Fear of falling can make you more likely to fall; some studies have found that tai chi training also helps to reduce that fear.

Aerobic conditioning - Depending on the speed and size of the movements, tai chi can provide some aerobic benefits. It is a great low impact alternative to traditional cardio workouts such as running or aerobic classes which can be damaging to bones and joints. 

7 benefits of Circuit training

1. Get Maximum Results in Minimum Time

Nobody has hours a day to spend in the gym. Circuit training is the perfect workout for anyone with minimal time but wanting maximum results. The whole body approach of circuits means that you can fit it in an effective, total-body workout whether you have 15 minutes or an hour.

2. Challenge Your Whole Body

Ever found yourself just wandering around the gym floor and making up your route as you go along? By incorporating individual "stations" as part of a whole-body circuit, you're guaranteed to hit every muscle group.

3. Mix Cardio and Strength Training

You love cardio but know you should do weights too (or vice versa), and forcing yourself to do an entire workout you don't enjoy can be tedious. Circuit training offers the best of both worlds by allowing you to combine intervals of high-intensity cardio with weight lifting for toning and strength.

4. Send Your Metabolism Soaring

Thanks to the many benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and heavy weight lifting, circuit training kicks your fat-burning furnace into high gear. You'll burn more calories in 20 minutes than you would in an entire hour on the cross trainer or bike reading a magazine. Plus, the afterburn effect will have you crushing calories for up to 48 hours after your workout ends.

5. Never Waste another Minute

Waiting in line for your favourite machine or trying to avoid conversation in the gym are fast ways to kill your motivation. With circuit training, it's easy to swap out one station for a different exercise and still get the same great workout.

6. Try All the Latest Fitness Tools

Have you ever been curious about a new piece of equipment but weren't sure how to use it? Circuit training allows you to mix traditional body weight exercises with cutting-edge gym tools so that you can get comfortable with new equipment in a supervised environment.

7. Beat Gym Boredom

Because circuit training is such a flexible format, the options in how you set up your workout are limitless. Whether you like to stick to one routine for a while to measure your progress or prefer mixing it up every time you go to the gym, having a plan will make you more confident and efficient. 

Benefits of Core Conditioning

The “Core” is a word which can often be heard in the gym and fitness studio, but what does this mean?

When people think of Core Training they think of sit ups and six packs, however the core is far more complex than many realise. Core training refers to all muscles which stabilise the spine, pelvis and lower extremities, hence the importance of core strength in everything that we do.

For years, exercise techniques such as Yoga and Pilates which challenge and strengthen the core muscles have proved hugely beneficial in injury prevention, posture improvement and many other health improvements. 

For individuals who spend excessive hours sat in a chair core training can be beneficial in preventing lower back pain and other postural repetitive strain injuries. It has also proven beneficial in enhancing athletic performance as many professional sports clubs now openly embrace core training for their athletes.

Below are 8 benefits of core training

1. Tightens the abdominal structures.
2. Aids in the prevention of injury.
3. Strengthens and improves the torso’s stabilization.
4. Can improve respiratory function.
5. Improves weight distribution and postural alignment.
6. Improves movement efficiency, balance and stability.
7. Improves general strength.
8. Tightens and flattens the tummy.

Want to give it a try? Core Conditioning is available to all staff at the Stratford campus Wednesdays 13:30-14:00 and at  Docklands Thursdays 13:15-13:45 and Friday 12:00-12:30.

For more information email healthycampus@uel.ac.uk