Fitness: ViPR

by May Hong

For those of you starting to lose faith in your boring, regular workout routines and about ready to throw in the towel, don’t give up just yet! There’s a new fitness tool in town.

It’s called ViPR (vitality, performance and reconditioning), a tube-shaped device that supposedly helps train the body as a whole, as opposed to by isolation of specific areas. It’s certainly an unconventional way to get in shape, if you’re searching for a break from the old treadmill and push-ups.

Essentially, the way it works is to train the muscles for practical movements that model real-world activities. “The things we do in real life and the things we do at the gym are not the same. So we try to take things in real life or in sports, and then we add ViPR to that,” explains Matthew Truscott, the training manager for ViPR.

For example, the only way for, say, a golfer to improve through ordinary gym equipment is by doing isolation exercises such as squats, deadlifts or simply by playing golf. By using ViPR, the golfer can practice movements that model the same mechanics of the sport, thus getting stronger with a more effective and direct method. The theory goes that, because of such specificity, the body is better conditioned and less likely to get injured during the actual golfing process.

Of course, ViPR is not just for the Tiger Woodses or other professional sportspeople. It can also cater to any average Joe who simply wants to look good on the beach – or even just make it to the top of the stairs without getting winded.

It looks simple, but it’s that simplicity that gives it huge functional versatility – think medicine ball, except tubular instead of spherical. Exercises performed on the ViPR depend on the individual’s unique circumstance and can be personalized according to their particular fitness goals.

What really sells it at the end of the day, however, is it’s simply less tedious. Users can incorporate games that are interactive and simultaneously beneficial for the body. “People get in shape and it’s also fun. That’s a big deal for people,” says Truscott.

The high variability means you can mix up the routine, making you more likely to stay motivated. And suddenly getting those sculpted abs or toned arms are no longer far-fetched dreams.

// ViPR classes are on offer in Guangzhou at California Fitness, 4/F, Seasons Mall (Summer), GT Land Plaza, 8 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区珠江西路8高德置地广场夏商场4楼 (020-3808 2787) For more information about ViPR, visit www.viprfit.com