A workout to make you wobble

High Tech Fitness Suite

BEING someone who prefers to workout without the help of gizmos and gadgets, a sweat-soaked adventure at the Barnstaple gym was not something I was relishing the thought of.

Luckily, keen amateur cyclist Jon Bowen was willing to road test a selection of the 50 pieces of equipment on offer in the new air conditioned gym on my behalf!

Soon Jon was discovering the joys of climbs, sprints and anaerobic limits as health club manager Tim Shapland put him through his paces on the various exercise bikes.

Seeing Jon subsequently try out treadmills, steppers and rowing machines (that's without even getting on to the fitness balls, static weight machines and free weights) left me truly exhausted — good job there were two giant plasma screen TVs to distract me from my guilt.

Starting a new fitness regime is the most popular New Year resolution with January being the prime time to take out gym membership.

The hotel has improved its gym facilities and whether you want to concentrate on burning a high number of calories, giving your cardiovascular system a blast, upping your game in your chosen sport or toning your muscles, Tim and his team are all very friendly and informative and they really do go out of their way to help you get the most out of the machines and equipment.

Power Plate

FOR an eye-wobbling workout (literally in my case) that doesn't take quite so much effort (that sounds like me), head to the pulsating Power Plate at the far end of the gym.

This piece of equipment is said to be so powerful it sends out good vibrations to your whole body leaving it strong, toned, supple and — hear this girls — cellulite free.

This 'miracle' machine has been something of a hit on the celeb circuit with Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Claudia Schiffer all said to be big fans.

Great claims are made about the Power Plate (apparently you get the same results you would get from a strenuous 90-minute workout in just 15 minutes) so I was pretty keen to try it out.

To do the workout you have to stand on a platform which vibrates at three different frequencies.

The vibrations speed up the rate of muscle contractions in the body to a frequency that is not naturally possible (up to 50 times a second). This is said to make the workout more time efficient.

Tim got me to stand or lean on the plate and perform a series of 'postures' and moves that worked different muscle groups.

These were all relatively simple postures to hold (think squats, bicep curls or stomach crunches). The curious thing was I didn't work up a sweat and there was no straining — apparently the vibrations were taking care of all the hard work for me.

Tim got me to hold the poses on the machine's vibrating platform for up to 60 seconds at a time.

What does it feel like having all your wobbly bits 'all shook up'? A lot of fun, actually. A bit like standing or leaning on the washing machine in the tumble dry section (I imagine!). The only thing that I found slightly odd was that I couldn't always focus my eyes which sometimes wobbled in their sockets.

The best bit for me, undoubtedly, was using the fast vibration setting during a relaxation session. This really performs a wonderful massage to the muscles and soon has you yawning. Bliss!

The idea of vibration technology was initially developed by NASA to help prevent astronaut's muscles wasting away in space. Three short sessions a week are said to improve muscle strength, muscle tone, flexibility, balance, co-ordination and relaxation.

It is also said to reduce the appearance of cellulite (that's because you can target particular problem areas of the body where cellulite is prone to linger such as your bottom or thighs).

Does it work? After one session I couldn't really give you a definitive answer to that question but the claims for the Power Plate are so promising it has to be worth a try, especially as one session could easily be fitted into a lunch hour.

The one thing I did notice was that my posture had opened out and my body felt 'pulled in' but relaxed. What I really liked about the workout was that it was gentle, low impact exercise — suitable for all levels of fitness, physical ability and ages.

Relaxing Swimming And The Chill Out Sanctuary

ARE you sitting comfortably? The answer was undoubtedly: yes. Gentle heat radiated from the ceramic hot stone lounger below me and sun streamed through the patio windows on top of me.

Dozing, chatting, reading magazines and listening to soothing music in the Chill Out Sanctuary, needless to say, was my favourite part of my visit to hotel's Health and Leisure Club. If you find yourself busy and bothered a spell in the sanctuary could be just what you need.

The hotel also boasts extremely muscle-relaxing warm (92°F) indoor and outdoor swimming pools which, in my opinion, make swimming a luxury experience.

No hesitant toe dipping — immerse yourself and enjoy.

Food Glorious Food

IF, like me, you dread the thought of opting for lunch at a health club for fear of being given celery sticks and Ryvita to nibble on, rest assured.

While there are lovely light meals like grilled salmon to enjoy, not to mention a healthy selection of juices and smoothies (think Energy Refueller or Detox), you can also tuck into the likes of a hearty steak and tribute ale pie or a nut roast (the latter I can vouch was delicious).

Sandwiches (toasted if preferred) come with a good selection of fillings including gammon ham; west country roast beef; maize fed chicken and goats cheese; or Somerset brie and cranberry.

However, if you really want a bit of indulgence look at the pudding list: warm gingerbread slice, Eton mess, fruit salad and more. Quick — head back to the gym!

Membership

Inclusive monthly memberships are available from £30 to £38. There is a 'pay as you use' option with a £30 joining fee. To find out more phone: 01271 341602.