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New Year’s Resolutions Hype: The Soma Fitness Approach to Long-Term Success

As the calendar turns to January, the air is filled with resolutions and promises of a fresh start. Gyms are bustling with enthusiastic individuals, eager to transform their bodies and lifestyles. However, at Soma Fitness, we understand the pitfalls of the typical New Year’s resolution mindset and advocate for a more sustainable approach to fitness.

 

The January Hype:

It’s no secret that January sees a surge in gym attendance as people embark on their New Year’s resolutions. The motivation is high, but unfortunately, it often proves to be short-lived. The initial burst of enthusiasm tends to fade, leaving many individuals discouraged and back to their old habits by February.

 

Understanding the Psychology:

At Soma Fitness, we believe it’s crucial to delve into the psychology behind resolutions. Setting ambitious goals without a clear plan can lead to frustration and disappointment. Rather than succumbing to the temporary January motivation, we encourage our clients to outline their goals and understand the steps required for long-term success.

 

Consistency is Key:

While the hype of January can be motivating, it’s consistency that truly yields results. Training intensely five times a week for a month might provide initial gains, but it’s the sustained effort of 2-3 sessions per week throughout an entire year that leads to lasting transformations. Our philosophy emphasises the importance of building a fitness routine that aligns with your lifestyle and can be maintained over the long term.

 

Lifestyle Changes and Personalisation:

Achieving fitness goals often necessitates lifestyle changes. At Soma Fitness, our personal trainers work closely with clients to outline the journey toward their objectives. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all, and our trainers tailor programs to suit individual needs, considering factors such as fitness level, preferences, and time constraints.

 

Structure and Guidance:

Embarking on a fitness journey without structure is like stepping into an unknown land with no maps, you would have to navigate a whole city to find out where everything is you will likely get lost a few times and perhaps your walk into the wrong neighbourhood and get robbed. To ensure our clients stay on course, we provide the necessary structure and guidance needed for success. Whether you prefer face-to-face coaching or our newly introduced online coaching with a unique app, Soma Fitness is committed to offering a personalised experience.

 

Introducing Online Coaching:

Recognising the need for flexibility and convenience, we now offer online coaching through our exclusive app. This service extends to both our face-to-face clients and those seeking a digital approach. With Soma Fitness, you can access expert guidance, personalised workout plans, and nutritional advice from the comfort of your home or wherever your journey takes you.

 

As the excitement of January resolutions subsides, the team at Soma Fitness encourages you to shift your focus from short-term goals to sustainable, long-term success. Consistency, personalisation, and guidance are the cornerstones of our approach.

 

Whether you choose face-to-face coaching or our online services, we are here to support you on your fitness journey. Reach out to us, and let’s outline a path to success together.

 

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2024!

Merry Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, our Personal Trainers at Soma Fitness extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for your continued support. We are honoured to be a part of your fitness journey.

From our entire team at Soma Fitness, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May your homes be filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments with loved ones.

Thank you for being a part of the Soma Fitness family.

We look forward to continuing our journey together in 2024 and beyond.

With heartfelt gratitude,

 

The Soma Team

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training: The Science-Backed Benefits

If you have been training at Soma Fitness lately you will notice that your personal trainers might have strapped up your arms or legs and taken your through the BFR protocol, it’s a burner and your muscles feel pumped to the max. Today we are going to take a dive into the benefits of BFR training.

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training is a unique and effective method of strength training that has been gaining popularity in recent years. BFR involves restricting blood flow to a limb during exercise, which creates a metabolic stress that stimulates muscle growth.

The scientific research behind BFR is compelling. Studies have shown that BFR can lead to significant increases in muscle size and strength, even when using low loads. In fact, one study found that BFR training with 20% of 1RM was just as effective as traditional training with 80% of 1RM for increasing muscle mass.

Another study showed that BFR training increases:

  • Growth Hormone
  • IGF-1
  • Testosterone levels

How does BFR work?

When blood flow is restricted to a limb, it creates a build up of metabolites such as lactic acid and hydrogen ions. These metabolites create a stressful environment for muscle cells, which signals them to grow. Additionally, BFR training appears to increase the production of growth hormone, which is a key hormone for muscle growth.

Benefits of BFR training

  • Increased muscle size and strength
  • Reduced training time
  • Reduced joint stress
  • Improved rehabilitation
  • Enhanced athletic performance

My experience with BFR training

I have been using BFR training in my own training for the past year, and I have been very impressed with the results. I got introduced to BFR training by top Physio’s Mike Spanou who has used it a lot with premier league football players within their rehab protocol.

I personally have been able to gain muscle and strength while using much lower loads than I would normally use. This has been a major benefit for me, as I have a history of joint pain from old injuries which means I cannot use heavier loads pain free on some movements, I have been able to scale my loads and increase them gradually with the help of BFR.

I have also been using BFR training with my personal training clients, and they have also seen great results. In particular, I have found that BFR training is a great way to help clients who are recovering from injuries or just to spice things up and get a serious arm pump.

If you are looking for a way to improve your muscle size, strength, or athletic performance, then BFR training is a great option. BFR is a safe and effective method of training that can be used by people of all fitness levels.