OneBody-technology-provides-insights-on-body-composition-for-Body20-Clients

Powering up for BodyTwenty Strength Workout

 – Learn what electronic stimulation do for your workout at BodyTwenty!

After nursing sore quadriceps for a couple of days after my introductory workout, I arrived at Body20 for my strength workout with a little trepidation. What would a full 20-minute workout do to me? I was met with a new instructor who was more like a Drill Sgt. and put me through an intense, non-stop workout, checking in to see how high she could raise my electronic stimulus—making sure that I could handle it the charge up to about an 8 on a 1-10 scale. The instructors are very cognizant of your ability level and reaction to the current, so they are not trying to “electrocute” you but want to be sure you are getting the maximum “charge” from your workout. Type A people will GO for it while those who are bit more reticent to “push it” may slack off a bit. Regardless, your muscles are getting more than you can give them in over an hour, so you are feeling the benefit—all in 20 minutes.

In the cardio session, you get a more mild current the entire time; in the strength session, you get bursts of 6-second current with 4-second breaks. You are doing exercises with very brief rest intervals, so your muscles are working, supplemented by the electrical “push.”

I begged for one more day workout but was told only one, strength and one, cardio class per week was enough to start. Instead, I got a “rest” day, where I suited up and just relaxed on the mat while my muscles got zapped to about an 8 level. It was like getting a massage and I enjoyed a 20-minute meditation break while my muscles got a mild workout. My thighs stopped screaming too.

By the second week, I am psyched to workout at Body20. I am still teaching yoga, cardio/strength training and going to the beach to do my own upper

body workouts (pull ups, pushups, etc.) and runs, but the Body20 thing has gotten me hooked. I did some research, as I don’t jump into anything without knowing its scientific and medical benefits and drawbacks. I had done some of this research previously while looking into another medical device that professional athletes were using for muscle recovery, so I was already “on” the topic. But now, I delved into more research, wanting to know what science said about this particular type of workout. I saw several positive studies and that a similar system had been reviewed by The Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 

which said that both elite athletes and untrained subjects could benefit from EMS training.  The study concluded that, “EMS offers a promising alternative to

traditional strength training for enhancing the strength parameters and motor abilities in athletes.” I felt vindicated—I was not jumping off the deep end or grasping at straws—I was trying something that had roots in science, medicine and sports.

I am still experiencing fatigue in core exercises, which surprises me and proves that perhaps my abs were not as strong as I thought they were! I am also seeing small changes—like the skin on my biceps seems to be tighter, so the increase in muscle mass must be happening—or maybe it’s wishful thinking!? I can’t wait until my next InBody evaluation to see any progress on paper!

Stay tuned as I bring you more news on Body20 and how it could work for YOU!