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After being asked to present on ITV's Garraway's Good Stuff last September, it was an honour for HYPE Fitness to be asked back again by the production company to present Step Fitness for a fantastic new program, Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show.
You might have remembered that last time she was on TV, HYPE owner Hannah guest taught on the show at 6 weeks postpartum. There must be something in the water, as she's pregnant again and Oti Mabuse is also expecting, who you may know well as a judge from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
Highlighting the popularity of a classic fitness favourite, Hannah put presenter Oti and special guests Katie Melua and Vicky Pattison through their paces in a fun Step aerobic workout whilst highlighting the importance of keeping fit and active during pregnancy.
At 5 months pregnant, Hannah demonstrated how the classic fitness class is making a comeback in gyms and studios all over the UK and is suitable for absolutely everyone as adaptations can be made to make sure classes are safe and accessible. But the most important thing is to promote your mental wellbeing, and celebrate the feel-good factor that regularly exercising can bring as well as the physical effects!
Whether you’re a fitness addict or just starting out, Step fitness can absolutely be either a simple or challenging class depending on how hard you want to go for it. Check out in the clip below to see just how much fun it can be:
Trying out Step Fitness for the first time can be daunting if you’re totally new to it, so here’s our top tips on how to get the most out of your class:
Stick to lower impact at first. A good step instructor should demonstrate new moves by layering them in gradually with plenty of repetitions, all whilst keeping low impact so that you can follow and understand them easily. After several repetitions they’ll up the energy and ramp it up to high impact for more experienced steppers in the room, but don’t feel you have to join in too! If you’re struggling to remember the combo or feel like you have two left feet, you’re more likely to be get a good workout if you keep it lower so you can keep going without having to stop/start if you get lost.
Don’t be afraid to ask for the combo again! Your instructor should put in plenty of water breaks in the class so take this as an opportunity to ask for them to show the combo again if you need a bit of extra help nailing the routine.
Familiarise yourself with the deck. You should be able to raise or lower the height of the step platform deck by adjusting the risers. You’ll definitely get a harder workout the higher the deck is, so wait until you’ve been to a class or two before you start copying others and raising you deck up high. Also, make sure that you are aware of your foot placement on the deck at all times so that you don’t mis-step. Before class starts, adjust your deck to the height you want, make sure there’s plenty of space around you and have a few practice steps to check you’re happy with everything.
Expect to sweat! Step fitness is a cardio class so don’t forget to bring a small towel, but most importantly plenty of water to stay hydrated
Good footwear is a must. Don’t expect plimsoles or cheap trainers to be ok. Your lower body will feel the burn and to protect your joints you must wear good, supportive trainers. They don’t have to be expensive, but any trainers with a good level of grip and arch support are ideal- an affordable pair of running trainers are perfect!
Have fun and don’t pressurise yourself. Remember that you’re at the class to exercise in an enjoyable way, so relax, smile and have fun. If you mess up a move or combo, who cares? As long as you’re being safe on the deck, freestyle it out!
Thank you to everyone at Cactus TV and ITV who made our appearances possible!
