By Vanessa, our Fitness Editor
The motto of Optimum Performance Studio (OPS) tells a lot about the concept and vibe there: “Train the way you play”.
This philosophy is the reason why they do everything to keep your workouts fun and dynamic yet innovative and challenging. How? Basic movement patterns with innovative technology to adapt the intensity to work at your own fitness level: move and feel better, faster, stronger!
 
To do so, OPS offers different classes:

• Pavigym Cardio Circuit (unique innovative workout using light, music, pressure sensitive panels)
• High Intensity Pilates (fast tempo mat Pilates)
• Mobility 30 (30 min mobility work focused class)
• Train Like an Athlete (more intense, strength challenged sessions)
• TRX Pilates Circuit (focus on core strength and flexibility for a full body workout)
• TRX Burn (endurance, strength, balance, flexibility and core strength)
• TRX + Power Plate (combination to maximize core stability)

 
After trying the Pavigym Cardio Circuit (PCC), I can confirm; you definitely train the way you play at OPS! Imagine a giant Twister game, with also light and music… The technology is named Pavigym PRAMA and OPS is one of the first PRAMA gyms.
This pressure-sensitive floors and walls system, with integrated LED lighting and sound, guides exercise in a whole new training environment. As color patches light up for you to hit them with hands or feet in a given timeframe, you end up working out hard, without even realizing it.
 
A PRAMA session trains all major muscle groups through nonstop movement, building endurance, strength, balance, speed, agility, reaction time, and overall fitness. The 45 min high intensity, circuit-based workout burns up to 1,000 calories while having so much fun!
 
Now I’m sure you’ve heard about Emily Tan, one of the great fitness figures of the city, their Training Manager. If not, let me fix that! Emily is one of Hong Kong's top fitness educators and has so many talents and skills that it’s hard to introduce her in a few words…
 
With 11 years of experience in the fitness industry, she’s constantly striving for more. Aerialist who performs and instructs aerial silks, she also conducts certification courses for TRX Training, International Pole Dance Fitness Association, Pavigym and soon facilitating NASM courses at OPS. Coach, personal trainer, TV host, Pole Dance Fitness Champion, recently second in her class at her first bodybuilding contest under Bikini division, nutrition student… This woman is not afraid of wearing multiple hats!
 
Her motivation? Trying to change the world, through helping one person at a time. Doing this with the most positive attitude and generous personality, if Emily doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know who will!
 
OPS classes range from HK$150 for a new introduction to HK$250 for a drop in.
You can also get a pack of 10 or 20 credits for HK$990 or HK$1,820 (a 30 min session uses 1 credit; a 50 min session uses 2 credits).
 
OPS has a studio in Central and another in TST.
More info:www.opstudiohk.com

By Vanessa, our fitness editor

Barre was born around fifty years ago and has two kinds. One which is close to a dance and the other closer to Pilates. Barre 2 Barre invites you to discover the latter. I tried the “Barre Amped” class with Mylene, the classical practice, great for stretching and strengthening muscles at the core, all the while burning fat (because we’re not here to mess around!)
 
The workout is considered “low impact”, meaning no risk for your joints. But this doesn’t stop it from being challenging: a constant flow of movement and postures using the fixed barre and weights, listening to fast-paced beats. You’re in for a complete body workout! Classes are limited to 12-15 people, which adds to the experience!
 
Mylene and Karen discovered barre practice in London, through Yoga and Pilates, in fact that’s how they met. Completely taken by it, they slowly became qualified instructors and brought the sport to Hong Kong in 2012. Starting by giving classes here and there in a few dance studios, they then decided to do dedicate their full time to this passion. And that’s how Barre 2 Barre came to open its doors last October. Their charming studio inside a building on Cochrane Street is really inviting and even has a quaint little terrace, and can even be rented for private class events!
 
To wrap up, a class that can be adapted to different levels with varied intensity, great attentive teachers, nestled in a cocoon-like studio in the heart of Central. What else needs to be said?
 
Barre 2 Barre offers a few different kinds of “Barre Amped” classes, varied intensity and difficulty levels, more or less cardio, from 45 to 60 min.
They also have a “Yoga + Barre” class – with 45 min on the barre followed by 30min of yoga, with a different teacher invited every class – and a “Back Rehab Pilates Mat class” – which focuses of abdominal strengthening, specific back soothing movements and improving flexibility/
Every quarter they have a special free evening event: “Barre + Wine”…. You just need to keep an eye on their Facebook page to stay updated!
 
HK$ 250 per class
HK$ 2300 set of 10 classes
HK$4200 for 20 classes
Monthly memberships also available.

Barre 2 Barre Studio
4/F Cheung Hing Commercial Building, 37 Cochrane Street, Central - (852) 9688 3503
www.barre2barre.com
www.facebook.com/barre2barre
  

If you're trying hard but can not get rid of those spare tyres and other podgy areas, then you need to try the Lagree Fitness Method at H-Kore Studio in Central. Believe us, our muscles worked so hard we were barely able to type on our keyboards when we came out of the session! We have to admit we had to take a couple of breaks because it was so tough! For the lowdown, this sport is a mixture of a gym workout and Pilates. If you're sporty, this is for you. We guarantee you'll have a goddess physique in no time! After battling it out with your machine, you'll be as defined as a figure skater! Abs, arms, thighs and buttocks- nothing gets left out. The exercises are all done on the machine, with or without bands around the feet or hands, and the number of reps depends on how hard you want to work, then it's over to your muscles to do the rest. You work your strength, endurance, cardio, balance and flexibility all at once. The instructor watches and corrects you if you're in the wrong position, and they will also encourage you too- which is very important when you're about to give in! This all happens to the sounds of energetic workout music which helps boost you even more! One last word about the studio design (and the cleanliness); you would think you were in a New York! All in all, this is a really good new sport to try out (if you're not a wimp of course!)

 

Take part in our new competition to try to win free admission to a H-Kore class!

From today until 12th April 2013, any Hong Kong Madame reader who ‘likes’ the H-Kore Facebook Page will automatically enrolled into a lucky draw to win free admission to one of the 10 classes available (limited to 1 free class per person).

To participate in the lucky draw send your personal contact details (name, phone number and email address) to the H-Kore ‘INBOX’. Please mention that you are participating in the Hong Kong Madame - H–Kore competition. All information will remain confidential. The results will be announced on 15th April 2013 on the H–Kore Facebook Page.

 

H-Kore

3/F Wincome Centre, 39 des Vœux Road, Central, +852 2441 9000
Facebook page
h-kore.com

If you don’t have the budget (or the courage) to hire a personal trainer, we’ve got a good sporty alternative: Estelle from Anhao Wellness has just opened a studio on Ladder Street, Mid-Levels. There are classes to suit everyone from bums and tums and aerobics to yoga and Pilates (including pre-natal classes) and even Bootcamp and TRX classes for the serious ones amongst you! Estelle is available for private lessons if you’re looking for a personal trainer and she also runs the Bootcamp and TRX classes. The other classes are taken by other instructors, and we tried a LIA class (Low Impact Aerobics) which gets you working hard in a nice environment. Then before you know it, you’re done and depending on the time, you can head back to work or out for dinner… So simple!
 
Anhao-Wellness Center
3/F, 5 Ladder Street – Sheung Wan/Mid Levels (via Caine Road)
 
Membership: promotion until 1st September 2013: 200HKD instead of 450HKD!
Price per session: from 200HKD depending on the number of sessions purchased.
Free trial classes available.
 
anhao-wellness.com

Girls, if you want a dream body, then you’re gonna have to get moving because the magic spell idea just won’t work! So, let us introduce you to your new flab - fighting friend: the Xtend Barre. It’s like a Pilates class, a dance class and a gym session all mixed together into one workout - and it‘s no laughing matter! You start off with some warm up exercises, followed by arm toning using weights. Next, you line up at the barre(with almost as much grace as a ballerina, except you’ll probably be feeling a bit tired!), take a ball and practice your plié and relevé ballet moves. Then, do the same exercises again, this time without the ball – it goes without saying that after a few sessions of this you should be able to wave goodbye to any upper leg wobble! The class finishes with a good round of ab exercises… then you can reward yourself with a sofa session for the rest of the day! We’ll warn you now, you’ll probably be pretty stiff after the first few gos, but remember the saying: “No pain, No gain”!
 
Xtend Barre classes are exclusive to Flex Studio
Flex Studio 1st Floor Regency Centre Phase II, 43 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen

www.xtendbarreasia.com