Sweaty yet Social: TUF’s unique style of Bootcamp

Exercise type: Body Weight Training High Intensity Bootcamp

Where? Think Urban Fitness (TUF) meet on Clapham Common, by Holy Trinity Church

When? Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6am – view timetable for other classes

Cost: First session free, from £40 per month unlimited, £10 for one session

Good for: Cardio, Strength, Core, Endurance, Social

---

Think Urban Fitness (TUF) bootcamp has a large and loyal band of supporters. Even 6am on a Monday drew an enthusiastic crowd.

With something as personal as fitness, a large part of the reason we take a liking to one class or another is down to the instructor. And that’s the differentiator here. Christian doesn’t just motivate – he inspires – brimming with energy, humour and knowledge.

As ex-Army, you’d expect him to be much less nurturing than he is – but he’s built this business up into a fitness family – and that’s why people genuinely enjoy being here.

For a very young company (founded in 2014), it’s remarkable that TUF’s following is so developed. But then Christian’s passion for what he does is infectious – he’s constantly thinking of ways to improve and expand on what TUF offers.

And it’s a holistic approach. One of TUF’s explicit aims is to “educate as well as train” – empowering you to take your fitness into your own hands. This spills outside of classes – from socials once a month to taking part as TeamTUF in the Rough Runner obstacle course on Clapham Common in September

But back to the Bootcamp. A novel aspect is that it’s split up into 15 minute segments. You can complete as much of the class as your ability permits and gradually progress to take on the full hour in all its intensity. The philosophy behind this is that it’s better to come along and try 15 minutes, than be dreading the full hour and avoid coming at all.

The vast majority of the Bootcamp consists of high intensity interval training (HIIT): burpees, mountain climbers, squats and sprints. Followed up by Boxing and then Kettle Bells, keeping you energized and engaged.

From speaking to the TUF members, it’s the unique energy, sociability and fun of the sessions that got them hooked. If that sounds like a fit for you, book your free session here.

Silly, social and surprisingly effective: Join the Rabble

Exercise type: Games

Where? Clapham Common Bandstand

When? Tuesdays 19.30 and Sundays 12.15

Cost: First session free, £30 per month unlimited, £70 for 10, £10 for one

Good for: Cardio, Social

---

Rabble is fitness for the social, silly and fun loving – for those who hanker after their childhood days. But don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s ineffective – you’ll definitely feel it afterwards…and in places you didn’t even know existed.

Styled as “the backlash against boring exercise”, each session is built around a game – and it definitely doesn’t feel like a workout. Try keeping a straight face when the warm up sees you skipping about maniacally, trying to tag your opponents, followed by what I can best describe as “animal tag” – I’ll let your imagination run with that one. Then netball played with a huge balance ball and a tiny toy rocket? Absurd.

But such silliness breaks down barriers, facilitating another important aspect of Rabble – socialising. The warm up is followed by a game whose sole purpose is to learn each others’ names. And if you’re going to be on a team with (or against) these people, it does help to know who they are.

So then comes the main game. Ours had the mysterious title “The Great Escape” – none of the regulars had played it before, but were unfazed by this – whatever the game, they were certain it’d be fun. And it was.

We were divided into teams – prisoners (rounded up in the middle) and guards, protecting the outer perimeters. All demarcated by cones. Each round lasted about 3 minutes, and evolved steadily to include increasingly bizarre elements – a bell carrier, balance balls with which to hit people etc.

The premise may sound ridiculous, but that didn’t lessen the competitive fervour it inspired. Here we were – twenty or so adults playing a children’s game, with all the intensity that might be expected from a more “serious” sport.

And because we ARE adults, we can bring that extra special something to child’s play – alcohol. After all, what better way to reward ourselves for our exertion than with a trip down the pub?

To try this and more bizarrely titled games like “Stag Stalker”, “Gladiators” and “Game of Thrones”, sign up for your free session here.

Postnatal play at Battersea Yoga

Exercise type: Maternity Yoga

Where? Battersea Yoga, 2 Kite Yard, Cambridge Road, London SW11 4TA

When? Tuesdays 9.30 to 10.45 (Mum and Baby Yoga) and 11.00 to 12.15 (Postnatal Yoga)

Cost: Introductory offer 10 days unlimited for £25, Classes from £13.50 in a pack of 20 to £15 for a drop in class

Good for: Postnatal fitness, Flexibility, Core, Stress Relief

---

A cross between support group, exercise class and crèche, Battersea Yoga’s maternity classes are deservedly popular. The creation of Nadia Raafat (herself a mother of 4), she brings her expertise in motherhood and Yoga together to foster an environment of supportive calm – even amidst the chaos of a dozen babies.

They offer two types of class for mums and their babies: Mum and Baby Yoga, which concentrates on fostering the bond between mother and child through Yoga and play, and Postnatal Yoga which focuses on strengthening the mother’s post birth body.

Mum and Baby Yoga

Postnatal Yoga

Each class starts with an invitation to share your current situation – where you and your baby are at the moment and any challenges you may be facing. Nadia listens attentively, offering feedback, advice and noting down anything significant.

It’s clear that she cares deeply about their welfare – and that’s why I would term this a support group as much as a forum for exercise. It’s a nurturing, safe haven – you instantly feel at home. Have to change a nappy or breastfeed? No problem. You needn’t feel sheepish for popping off to placate a hungry child.

Devised by Medical Anthropologist and yogini Dr. Françoise Freedman, Mum and baby Yoga is playful and lighthearted. It combines massage, yoga postures, and movements with lifts, songs and rhymes. There’s a lot of laughter. You can join once your baby is 12 weeks old.

If you’re keen to get back to your pre baby body, then give Postnatal yoga a try. Available to mothers with babies of 6 weeks and older, it stretches and strengthens the body post birth. Your babies are still involved here, but Nadia plays slightly more of a nanny role so you can concentrate on your poses.

And she’s a natural multitasker – doubling as teacher and crèche supervisor, seamlessly issuing instructions, demoing postures whilst holding babies and – at one point, unfazed – mopping up sick. She is calmness and serenity itself.

Making parenthood as stress free and rewarding as possible is a passion for Nadia. As well as pregnancy Yoga classes, she runs courses for couples to prepare for birth and parenting along with other mindfulness based workshops. Book in for one here.

Hanging out with the cool kids: Flying Fantastic, Battersea

Exercise type: Aerial Silks

Where? Flying Fantastic, The Wilditch Centre, 48 Culvert Road, Battersea, London SW11 5BB

When? Monday 19.40, Tuesday 18.30 and 19.40, Wednesday 11.00, Thursday 18.30 and 19.40. See the full timetable for all Battersea classes here

Cost: From £17 per class for a pack of 8, £22 for drop in

Good for: Strength, Core

---

You’ll feel like you’ve joined the circus when you enter Flying Fantastic’s Battersea home at the Wilditch Centre. This is a full body workout with a twist – suspended by aerial silks a la Cirque du Soleil.

I would say it’s not as easy as it looks, but then it doesn’t look easy. Running the London Marathon a few days after, my friend didn’t thank me – we both ached for days afterwards. Now that’s what you want from a workout.

Now 4 years old, Flying Fantastic was brought over from Argentina by husband and wife team Chris and Edel who, on finding a dearth of places to continue their training in London, created their own.

The emphasis here is on having fun – they frame this as a happy alternative to the gym. And it is – you’re so hell bent on getting up the silks or finding the perfect form that you don’t realise what a workout it is – until the next day.

I couldn’t believe how much progress we made in an hour and a half. This was definitely due, in a large part, to our instructor Hannah’s boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Starting with tactics for scaling the silks, by the end – as if by magic – we could manage a mini routine. We were pretty chuffed with ourselves…until we glanced over at the regulars, cutting balletic figures with effortless elegance…we realised we still had a very long way to go.

All this mid air cavorting requires a fair amount of effort, and you’re working most muscles. My shoulders certainly felt it the next day. But Flying Fantastic’s Aerial fitness repertoire extends beyond silks. Turns out you can do many things suspended from the ceiling including Yoga, Hoops, Slings and Trapeze.

So if you want a full body strengthening workout with a difference, I strongly urge you to try this class – it’s fun and deceptively hard work. At the very least, it’s a talking point which will make your gym going friends envious. To book a class, follow this link.

Progress…though not looking quite as fancy as the lady in red silks…yet

Box yourself fresh at 12 Rounds, Clapham Junction

Exercise type: Boxing

Where? 12 Rounds Boxing, 1A St John’s Hill, Clapham Junction, SW11 1TN

When? Weekdays 7am – 10.30, 6.30pm – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 2pm, Sunday 11am – 2pm

Cost: Free Taster session, Fundamentals course £135 for 12 sessions, membership starts at £88 a month

Good for: Strength, Agility, Co-ordination, Cardio, Stress Relief

---

12 Rounds is so much more than a boxing gym – its aim is to improve all aspects of your life. The creation of husband and wife team Kat and John Bryson, they’re passionate about empowering people to reach their goals inside and outside of the club.

It’s built on the maxim that if the exercise isn’t enjoyable – if it’s a chore instead of a joy – you’re never going to stick to it. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why there’s currently a waiting list for membership.

As soon as I arrived, I felt like I’d crashed a fitness party – the place teems with energy and endorphins. What I had actually walked in on was the penultimate session of a group on their Fundamentals program, the entry level to becoming a member – 12 sessions with the same group, learning the basics of boxing. Hard at work, having a great time, the session ended in a group photo.

I stayed clear of the group (they looked intimidatingly capable) and got to grips with total basics led by Jackie, a PT brimming with positivity. I was surprised at how much of my body I worked – really everything from the top down.

But it isn’t just for rookies like me – they cater to a whole gamut of capabilities. If you want to star in the ring, try their 10 week Train2Fight programme, readying you for a real fight at the end of it all. Membership comes in Middleweight or Heavyweight packages according to your experience.

So how does such a combative sport bring people closer? 12 Rounds believes in making a true difference to people’s lives – they’ve created a vibrant community that really cares about each other. The extension of which can be seen in Kat’s 10 day boxing and life coaching retreat in Thailand: Box to Believe.

If you’re looking for something more than just a place to lose a few pounds, 12 Rounds offers a fun, supportive framework in which to stretch your limits and try something new. And with the sunnier weather, they’re now running outdoor sessions on Clapham Common.

Kat and John. Fierce.

Firm up your foundation at Pilates Sanctuary, Clapham

Exercise type: Pilates

Where? Pilates Sanctuary, Balance Performance Physiotherapy, 113-115 Gauden Road, Clapham North, London SW4 6LE

When? Monday to Thursday 7.30am – 9pm, Friday 8am – 5pm, Saturday 8am – 3pm

Cost: Group sessions £26, £125 for a block of 5 classes, Private sessions £65, £290 for a block of 5

Good for: Flexibility, Core, Rehabilitation, Posture

---

Pilates Sanctuary promises to help you “achieve pain-free flowing movement”, but I learnt that there’s more to their practice than this. Being above a physio clinic makes for a strong set of rehab clients – though there are just as many who come to work on their foundational strength and form. Their varied clientele come from a spectrum of ages, with special focus on dancers and maternity care.

Pilates conditions and strengthens your body for anything from sitting at your desk all day to running a marathon. Pilates Sanctuary’s studio classes are tailored to your area of improvement and lifestyle goals, assessed on a 1:1 basis beforehand. Capped at 5 people per class, it’s an hour concentrating on improved movement, strength, flexibility and posture customised to you.

Alice Croucher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And they can read your body like a book. I brought a Saxophonist and runner friend, who Alice rightly surmised must have terrible neck problems. She worked on this and prep for her marathon, whilst I concentrated on strengthening my blighted back.

We’re taken gently and expertly through each exercise – Alice adjusts by the millimetre. They’re passionate about what they do here, and empower you to take these practices outside of the studio and into your daily life.

The studio atmosphere is calm and friendly. Alice is handing over to Claire whilst she goes on maternity leave, so I’m given a glimpse into how well they know their clients and their progress. As they hug Alice farewell, it’s evident they’ve been coming for a good while.

In addition to the studio classes, Pilates Sanctuary also offer beginner and intermediate matwork classes – many clients combine both. You can contact them to book in for a 1:1 session, studio or matwork class by emailing info@pilatessanctuary.co.uk.

Dojo disciplinary: Kenshukai Karate, Clapham

Exercise type: Karate

Where? Kenshukai Karate, Oak Lodge School, 101 Nightingale Lane, Clapham South SW12 8NA

When? Tuesdays 7.45-9pm

Cost: Free introductory session, £8 per class thereafter

Good for: Flexibility, Strength, Core, Co-ordination, Stress Relief

---

Far from the low-intensity, graceful workout I was expecting from this class, Kenshukai Karate will make you sweat. Led by charming Police Officer and Sensei Kevin, it’s home to a loyal group of devotees from the age of 12 to 50, most of which have been coming for years.

Sensei Kevin

The group may be made up of seasoned Karateka, but as beginners we were wholeheartedly welcomed. There’s a broad range of abilities and belt colours – from yellow to black, and Kevin keeps a keen eye out for those of us who aren’t quite getting it.

Before attempting any Karate, we were taken through an intense warm up. Lots of jumping, followed by a particularly gruelling burpee/push up combo (55 in total). And – when we thought that was it – we were blithely handed a skipping rope and told to skip as fast as we could for 4 minutes.

I must say I was pretty relieved when the warm up came to an end and Karate began. But the intensity doesn’t drop off from there – the pace is varied throughout. Along with the Strikes, Blocks, Stances and Kicks that make up Karate, the class incorporates a brilliant mix of stretching, strengthening, core work and cardio. All in all, it’s just over an hour of constant and diverse activity, punctuated by polite bows.

The benefits

So, apart from looking pretty cool in Karategi and having the skills to defend yourself on the mean streets of London, what are the benefits of Karate?

Kenshukai Karate gives a neat summary in the illustration below:

More anecdotally, from talking to the class, it’s also a huge stress reliever. I spoke to one member who says he feels more relaxed and rejuvenated after Karate than when he runs or cycles. And this makes sense – as with many Martial Arts, you have to concentrate so much on co-ordination and breathing that it’s practically a moving meditation.

Then there’s the motivation of being rewarded for your progress with obi. Apart from giving you clear benchmarks to strive for, I’d imagine there’s a fair amount of smugness that comes with donning a fresh colour in the dojo. It’s like getting a new badge at Brownies or Scouts, but far more street.

And after all the posturing, punching, kicking and sparring is done, they’re a sociable bunch who don’t take themselves too seriously. Once we’ve taken the final bow, an animated buzz descends on the hall as the group catch up, some even peel off to the pub.

So if you’re looking for a challenging and rigidly structured discipline that’s a workout for both your body and mind, Karate could be for you. You can book in for a free introductory session at Kenshukai Karate here.

The ultimate warehouse workout: In2CrossFit, Clapham

Exercise type: CrossFit

Where? In2CrossFit, Unit 3H, Clapham North Art Centre, 26 – 32 Voltaire Road, Clapham SW4 6DH

When? Classes from 6am throughout the week – see timetable. Taster classes on Saturdays at 11.30

Cost: Free taster class, Elements course (12 classes, with an extra month’s membership) £350. Thereafter membership from £135 per month. Click here for full details.

Good for: Strength, Endurance, Cardio

---

When I thought of CrossFit, the words tribal, extreme and – frankly – scary, came to mind – as well as images of workouts like this:

But if I’ve learnt anything from writing this blog, it’s that everything’s worth trying once – I’m almost always pleasantly surprised. And that’s certainly true of Clapham’s CrossFit “box”, In2CrossFit.

Far from the machismo infused, maniacal atmosphere I had come to expect from videos like that above, it’s relaxed, friendly and very welcoming.

Who’s it for?

CrossFitters will say that it’s for everyone – and it is, in terms of ability. All the exercises are scalable and so cater to the novice as well as the athlete. Their focus is broad – they don’t concentrate on any specific muscle group and promote ‘constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement.’

Coach Hoody demonstrates the clapping pushup. Easy.

And yet, this isn’t the kind of place you can just pop into now and again, prance around, check yourself out in the mirror (there are none), and have a couple of chats by the water fountain. If you want to train here, you have to be dedicated and determined to improve. And if this is your mindset, great – they make reaching your goals collaborative, fun and difficult to shirk.

The CrossFit framework is perfectly formulated for the competitor in us. From the centralised, online system on which people can share their performance to the worldwide CrossFit Games, the sky’s the limit when it comes to progression.

But far from just competing, people collaborate to improve – there’s a real sense of community and camaraderie. Tight knit groups train together and cheer each other on through the ever-changing WOD (Workout of the Day).

The WOD

Our WOD was perfectly designed to motivate through collaboration. Working in pairs, one held up as much weight as they could (in our case, 25kg) whilst the other rowed 250 metres, swapped and repeated 3 times. The beauty of this is that we were each motivated to row as intensely as possible to prevent our partner’s collapse. And if your partner does collapse or stop, so do you – you start and finish as a team. I love this kind of training – I’m so much more likely to push through the pain barrier when I have to save face.

We attempt the WOD

It’s this kind of practice that fosters the friendly, supportive community atmosphere of In2Crossfit. And far from feeling pushed into taking on more than you can handle, they’re sticklers for mastering technique before anything else. In fact, if you do join, it’s compulsory to go through their Elements course – 12 sessions over 4 weeks, getting to grips with the skills needed to tackle all the workouts CrossFit can throw at you.

I can see why CrossFit has become such a phenomenon – growing from one Californian box founded in 2000 to over 10,000 worldwide today. It’s a professionally run, cohesive community which has become a way of life for many – you can even date CrossFit.

It’ll always be home to those super ripped athletes I found so intimidating – “Forging Elite Fitness” is their motto after all. But it’s been delightful discovering that this isn’t the only face of CrossFit – it can cater to those of us who just want to be stronger and move better.

So if you work best in teams, relish competition, variety and real structure to your workout, then book onto one of In2’s free intro sessions.

Keen to find out more about CrossFit? Check out Tim Ferriss’ brilliant podcast: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of CrossFit.

Apparently seeing how high you can swing isn’t what the bars should be used for…

Pliés and Pilates at Fitness Fusions, Clapham

Exercise type: Barre Concept and Reformer Pilates

Where? Fitness Fusions, 122a Stonhouse Street, Clapham, London SW4 6AL

When? Barre Concept: Tuesdays 9.30am, 6.30pm, Thursdays 12pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm, Saturdays 2pm, Sundays 3pm. Reformer Pilates: Every day of the week, mornings and evenings – see timetable here

Cost: Introductory offers of 5 classes for £25, first Reformer class for £6. Membership from £39 per month

Good for: Flexibility, Strength, Core, Posture

---

Fitness Fusions, tucked behind a row of houses opposite the Stonhouse pub – down a trail of stepping stones – is like a secret little den. A former artists’ studio spangled with fairy lights, it’s airy and light by day, intimate at night.

You’ll find both heated and unheated classes here – and the studio’s size dictates small numbers, which means lots of attention and correction. I’d been having back pain, so I signed up for two of their low impact, core enhancing offerings: Barre Concept and Reformer Pilates.

Barre Concept

A blend of Ballet and Pilates, Barre promises you the lithe physique of a dancer. I was just excited to revisit some long forgotten ballet moves – but it’s more than pliés and points – this is a thorough workout for your core, abdominals and glutes.

The first half of the class uses the barre as balancer whilst we move through different positions, working our legs and glutes, keeping our core engaged and maintaining the long, tall posture of a ballerina (or in my case, struggling to). For the second half, we hit the mats and grabbed some weights to work on abdominals and arms.

The key differentiator for a Barre workout (apart from the Ballet bit) is the emphasis on tiny, incremental movements as a way of strengthening muscle. These isometric contractions are lower impact on your muscles than larger movements whilst still having similar – if not more – strength gains. As you’re spending a while working a particular muscle, you’re likely to get the shakes (I certainly did) – which is apparently a good thing – it means you’re truly working and strengthening it.

If you’re looking for a fun, novel and low impact strengthening class, give Barre a try. The Barre and ballet positions force you to engage your core and sort out your posture – it isn’t easy to emulate the elegance of a ballerina. Check out this video for a better idea of a typical class:

Reformer Pilates

I thought I knew what was in store for me here. I’d used reformers a few years ago when having rehab on my back – these were nice, gentle restorative exercises. You didn’t even break a sweat.This was a very different experience.

I was soon to learn that there’s a huge difference in intensity between rehabilitative Pilates and Pilates proper. Turns out Reformers can be pretty formidable instruments – I felt the effects on my abs and thighs for days afterwards. But, like Barre, this is low impact so perfect for alleviating and preventing back pain.

Cheryl (the owner) took us seamlessly from movement to movement, and – between puffs – I marvelled at the range of exercises the reformer makes possible. The varied functionalities of the moving carriage, springs, straps and footbar combined with the fact that you can be sitting, standing or sideways means there are countless variations of intensity and form.

The main target here is your core, with the added benefit of working your glutes, abdominals and thighs. With deep breathing all round, this made for a much more satisfying session than the gentler run I’d envisioned.

Interested?

To see these classes and others they offer, have a look at their timetable. In addition to this lovely little studio, they’re opening another on Clapham High Street in a couple of months. They even do Bootcamps from Spring to Summer. And if Clapham’s not your locale, they have classes in Battersea and Chiswick too.

Try something different: RAW at Reach Fitness, Clapham

Exercise type: Functional Training (RAW)

Where? Reach Fitness, Unit 7B, Clapham North Art Centre, Clapham SW4 6DH

When? Mondays 7pm, Thursday 6.30pm

Cost: Free introductory session, membership from £70 per month

Good for: Flexibility, Strength, Core

---

Clapham North Art Centre doesn’t look like a setting for your average gym – and it isn’t: Reach is remarkable. As soon as I walked in, the energy of the place smacked me full in the (figurative) face.

Small and vibrant, it feels like a cross between a social club and a gym. It’s an informal, functional set up – they’ve pared facilities down to the essentials. But this doesn’t mean it’s low budget, they’re just laser focused on results.

Reach attracts clientele who are serious about their overall fitness and want to train differently. Their focus is on functional training, and you won’t find the usual roster of LesMills classes here. All proprietary, they’re designed by owner and Personal Trainer Richard Tidmarsh, who promises “you have never trained like this before”.

In my case, he’s right. Before you try any of the classes at Reach, your free taster is session will be RAW. I found it refreshingly different. Split into 3 parts: mobility, Animal Flow and circuits, we go through a series of exercises, most of which I’ve never encountered before.

There are many yogic elements to the mobility bit. Priming you for the rest of the session, you feel lithe and ready for action. At 15 minutes, this is pretty thorough – even our wrists got a good stretch.

Animal Flow sees us hit the floor and scamper across in all sorts of embarrassing positions. Hilarious, and surprisingly hard work – this is designed to condition every muscle in your body.

We pair up for circuits and work our way round kettle bells, medicine balls, skipping, TRX, 2 minute planks and Battling ropes (which I could barely get to move – definitely need to do more arm stuff).

RAW gives you an overview of the key elements of training at Reach, but I get the impression it’s a shadow of the intensity of the other classes. There’s a reason they say you should do this for the first 8 weeks of your membership before moving on to the others.

You get the feel that they really care about the progression of each member. One guy I spoke to only intended to have a few sessions in prep for Tough Mudder, but signed up as a full member after the event because he loves the way they train. This seems typical of the members here – they stay because they find it refreshingly different.

So if you’re after something new,  perhaps Reach is the gym for you. To book in for your free RAW trial session, click here.

Follow them on Twitter: @ReachFitnessGym