Want a Great Shape? Get Out of the Gym!

“Most people exercise cause they want to look better naked.” (We’ll credit that quote later). Maybe nudity is your motivation, maybe you are looking for a new way to sweat or perhaps you just need a work out change—no matter the reason Prague offers a lot of options beyond the simple gym.

“It prepares you for life, we help people to meet their goals,” he said. “We aren’t focused on athletes, I like that, and we are able to light the fire with people, even if they haven’t done anything like this before.”

According to Weig, CrossFit combines movements from different sports like power lifting, gymnastics, running and rowing. There’s a workout of the day which may be task-oriented, or perhaps focused on strength or body control and balance. Members can go in and do the workout on their own time which makes it convenient for those who would rather not to commit to a weekly class time.

“I saw photos of people who did CrossFit and I wanted to know why I didn’t look like they did, even though I was exercising,” he said. “For me, it’s fun, it works and we can make people stronger, faster, improve balance by using fairly basic tools.

You can do either cardio or strengthening and upon walking out I was deemed too thin for cardio and did the strengthening workout. Electric impulses are sent to your muscles every four seconds meanwhile you are doing squats, lifting weights and doing sit-ups. It was amazing how the pulses intensified as soon as you started to use your muscles. Or a sad statement on how weak my muscles are. The cardio workout includes more aerobic-like movements. 

“EMS technology allows you to work efficiently 90% of muscle mass every time you train,” explained Seen Aquin, director of BodyBody. “The professional trainers develop a training program based on physical conditions and biometrics; the regime is adjusted every four weeks.”

I was surprised I felt a bit shaky afterwards; it was a more intense 20 minutes than one would think. I had a little soreness in my arms a few days later, but otherwise was none the worse for wear. BodyBody opened its first Czech studio in Anděl in November 2013 and in Karlín in January 2014. Aquin said he sees BodyBody as a time efficient method that was missing in Prague.

“The lifestyle here, it’s fast, hectic, time is in short supply, but you can’t lose the ability to exercise.”

“Come have a chat and get information on how to start training,” Lím said. “You can rent equipment because a triathlon requires very specific equipment, you are doing three sports in the same day and if you are starting out you don’t want to spend heaps of money.”

You can become an Endurance Club member (price varies on if you want a triathlon license or not), and swimming lessons are only 200 CZK. Membership offers discounts to the shop as well as invitations to trainings and other events. More intense weekend camps are organized and their overall goal is to be a hub for those who do triathlons.

“We want people to have fun, set goals. This is a niche group of people who do triathlons,’’ he said. “People tend to get scared by a triathlon but it’s about having fun with friends versus going against the clock.”

Even if you are not an athlete, but work out regularly, injuries are something to fear. Twisting a knee or screwing up an ankle can see your exercise regime and fitness level quickly go the way of your previously fit muscles. Trigger Point Therapy aims to put and keep your body in a condition able to handle any exercise or sport.

There’s a range of equipment used in the therapy and after a few lessons learning the correct way to use it (especially if you have problem areas) you can do the workouts at home. Simple looking rollers of different sizes, balls and other muscles specific tools are rolled over specific muscle points.

I met Lunga while I had an ankle injury and he did an impromptu session which proved what he had said earlier – an injury prevents flow and the effects can be triggered in other parts of the body. My ankle didn’t bother me a bit when Lunga was working on it, however there was some major pain in the bottom of my foot and mid-calf. After a few rolls though, my foot felt…lighter. It’s the only way to describe it. And sure enough, some of the leftover swelling did go down.

While men and women can register online for TPT sessions, Ladies Fit Club is obviously only for the ladies. They offer TRX, Bosu, Flowin and Vipr, all great strengthening alternatives. As Lunga said, TPT is for daily life, like brushing your teeth, and changes how to prepare your muscles both before and after exercise.

“If you are moving good, you can do anything.”

“We place a large focus on wellness and relax spaces,” said Dagmar Nášelová, Balance Club’s marketing coordinator. “The fitness area has lots of windows, for energy and space.” The large pool area too is surrounded with windows, there’s a whirlpool and saunas. For those who really need a mid-week escape, sneak up to the Japanese-style rooftop terrace for a bit of sunbathing. The sheer hugeness of the complex makes it easy to slip away for some private me-time. There’s lots of variety in the classes on offer including ladies kickboxing, Zumba, yoga and body styling (a new schedule is being planned for the autumn).

Brumlovka is also one of the few places in Prague that offer aqua spinning, a cooler way to get a pretty intense workout. Lenka’s class was full of energy and fun with lots of arm work in addition to the spinning. Warning—the bikes are really heavy, and coordination is needed. Yes, I actually fell off a stationary bicycle…