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Fitness: Workouts

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Innermost Investigates: The Truth On Power Plates
Vibration or ‘power plates’ are commonly met with a healthy dose of scepticism. And to be fair, standing on a plate and shaking, at first, doesn’t sound like the most effective method of exercise. What most people aren’t aware of, however, is that vibration plates were developed over 50 years ago by Russian cosmonauts to prevent the loss of muscle mass in space. They continue to be used to this day in space missions, even by NASA. If vibrating plates are good enough to be used on spaceships, then perhaps they’re good enough for the gym.  Innermost is here to investigate the benefits of using vibration plates (on Earth). We’ll answer all your burning questions including: What is a power plate? What does a power plate do? Do power plates work? And how do I use a power plate?  What is a power plate? How do they work? A vibration plate (often called a ‘power plate’) is an exercise machine that sends high-speed vibrations through the entire body. This stimulates your muscles to automatically contract up to 30-50 times more per second than usual. To maximise stimulation, vibration plates move in multiple directions simultaneously – up and down, left and right, front and back. As your body naturally attempts to stabilise itself against the shaking, it engages lots of muscles (many of which aren’t engaged during conventional exercise). And since this stabilisation occurs automatically, you hardly feel it.  8 benefits of vibration plates Ok, so new muscles are engaged a lot more than usual. That sounds great. But what are the actual benefits of power plate exercise?  Saves time Your muscles are working harder, so it takes less time to reach the same goals, cutting down on your workout time. Remedial therapist and Power-Plate specialist trainer Mark Andrews call power plates “the microwave of fitness”. Low impact Power plate exercise is considered low impact, making it suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It is also low impact on joints and ligaments – making it a great form of exercise for people who want to ease into exercise – for example, if you’re a bit older or recovering from an injury. Fat-loss benefits Power plates are a fat burn booster, but at the end of the day, the most proven method for fat-loss is correct nutrition and a calorie deficit. Innermost also offers nutritional supplements for healthy and sustainable fat-loss including The Lean Protein, The Define Booster and The Tone Capsules. Muscle strength and toning benefits Since so many muscle groups are working at the same time and 30-50 times more than usual, your muscles will strengthen and tone even from just standing on a power plate. Improved circulation Vibration plates can be used as a massage tool, which increases circulation in the massaged body parts. Increase core strength, stability, and balance All exercises on a vibration plate forces your body to engage its core to balance and stabilise. Certain exercises such as press-ups or planks (see 5 power plate exercises below) amplify this benefit even more. Increase Flexibility According to the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, using a power plate when stretching (before or after a workout) is more effective than stretching alone. At-home If you’re working from home, too far from a gym, or simply enjoy the convenience of home workouts, you can purchase a power plate to use in the house. A personal power plate and power plate move are both relatively compact pieces of equipment so can fit easily into your home. How do I use a power plate? 5 power plate training exercises Plank Get onto the floor and place your forearms onto the power plate. Gently move your knees away from the power plate until your back is completely straight. When you feel confident, have only your toes touching the floor and lift your knees off the ground. Hold for 30 seconds. Press up Similar to the plank, except your hands are on the power plate, shoulder-width apart with your arms out-stretched and locked at the elbows. Again, your back is straight, and you can start with your knees on the floor. When you are confident you can lift your knees off the floor and have just your toes touching the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. If you can, gently bend your elbows to bring your body down close to the power plate and then straighten your elbows again to bring your body back up – congratulations you’ve just done a press-up on a power plate! Leg crunches Sit in the centre of the vibration plate. Place your hands behind you on the edge of the power plate and bend your elbows to help you gently lean back. As you lean back, lift your legs off the ground to counter-balance yourself. The lower half of your legs (below the knee) should be parallel to the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. Squat Stand on the power plate with feet shoulder-width apart and toes facing forward. Using out-stretched arms that are parallel to the floor to balance you, gently bend your knees to bring your body down. Hold for 30 seconds. Then gently straighten your knees again to go back up. Keep your back straight at all times. Lunge Stand one ‘stride’ (long-step) away from the power plate. Then, with one leg, take one long step onto the power plate, keeping your toes forward. Gently bend the leg that is on the power plate at the knee, keeping the other leg straight at all times (you should really feel a stretch in the straight leg). Hold for 30 seconds. Then step off the power plate and change legs (i.e. if you stepped with your left leg first, now step with your right leg). So there you have it, a power plate is a space-age exercise machine that boasts lots of fitness benefits. If you’re looking to level up your exercise routine then this is a great option for you. Next time you’re in a gym give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised! Sources: Is whole-body vibration a good way to lose weight and improve fitness? The 8 Best Ways to Exercise With A Vibration Plate All You Need to Know About: Power Plates The Power Plate: A Space Age Relic Inspires a New Form of Exercise - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Read more
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The Importance of Discovery With Roxanne McKee
We sat down with actress and fitness fanatic Roxanne McKee, who gave us the lowdown on all things discovery. Her important moments of discovery, what it means to her, and how to always keep discovering more in life. Hey Roxanne! Can you introduce yourself to our readers? Hi! Yes, my name is Roxanne McKee and I’m an actress and sport and nutrition enthusiast. How did you become an Innermost Insider and what’s your goal as an ambassador for the brand? I found Innermost at a cycling event I was at, and I thought the product was delicious. I’m very conscious about what I put in my body because I suffer from acne so I try to maintain a very balanced diet, while also feeling myself with all the nutrients I need to be on the go all the time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roxanne Mckee (@roxanne_mckee) Our topic this month is discovery. Discovery is an abstract concept that’s open to interpretation. So how would you personally define discovery? I suppose I feel discovery for me is learning to be the best version of my myself both mentally and physically. It’s an ongoing process, and while at times it’s challenging, it’s certainly worth it. I have discovered my passion for nutrition and functional medicine in the last few years, and as a result started doing a course in nutrition. I’m discovering more each day, and it’s keeping me stimulated. What have you discovered along your health and fitness journey? I have discovered just how lucky I am to have had acne! It was the acne that made me aware of just how important it is to maintain a healthy diet, and how we really can change how we feel through nourishing ourselves. I’ve also discovered my love for nature through trail running. And how a quick dip in the sea, a lake, a cold shower gives you a happy buzz to start your day. Is there a time you have struggled on your journey of self-discovery and what’s your advice for someone struggling themselves? Advice to anyone struggling would be, just take baby steps, focus on your happiness, and your own goals nobody else’s. Little by little you will get there, it’s about consistency. And I believe in you! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roxanne Mckee (@roxanne_mckee) What are your 3 most important lessons about self-discovery? Three most important lessons about self discovery are; Everyone’s journey is unique and personal. Consistency is key Be open to new ideas. What Innermost product(s) have you been loving recently? I love, love, love The Lean Protein, and The Health Protein (even though I’m not vegan) but I’m a big mushroom fan - I could talk for days about nutritional funghi! But I won’t bore you… Roxanne, it’s been a pleasure chatting to you! Our final question is ... What’s your innermost desire that you’re hoping comes true this year? I hope I pass all my fitness and nutrition exams! That's a wrap! To keep up with Roxanne, follow her on Instagram, @roxanne_mckee. Read more
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