My Week as a Freedom Pass Holder

Fitter London came about because Matt and I wanted to put together a class where you never knew what to expect. It would have great music, atmosphere, personality and challenge your fitness every time. We collected everything we loved about group training and made it the standard.

We now have nine classes on the go, each a unique mix of kettlebells, spinning, bodyweight training, functional fitness and core. With new faces now teaching Fitter London I decided to have a week back on the studio floor and take part in every class. I asked each Fitter London Trainer not to even hint at what was in store for me.

Monday - 'Work off the Weekend'

Katie Morrison’s Spin

Katie has an energy that is inspiring (not to mention rare on a Monday!) knowing Katie it’s probably born out of one or two Prosecco’s at the weekend ;-) Even if you loathe spin, Katie’s enthusiasm is contagious and before you know it you’re on the beat, sprinting and sweating.

Circuits with Adura Odesanya

No one wants to do bodyweight or tabatas first thing on a Monday morning but Adura doesn’t take “no” for an answer. The more you moan the harder she makes it! We did a bicep/tricep challenge that had the entire class throwing their weights down at the finish, my triceps didn’t recover until Thursday. It’s tough working out on a Monday morning but with Katie & Adura putting you through your paces and the other Fitter Londoners feeling it with you, it’s the perfect start to your week.

Tuesday - 'Kettlebell Bootcamp' with Adura

Training late evening has never been my thing but Adura wakes everyone up with a swing tabata and a triple set kettlebell circuit follows with individual challenges including Martin Lukac’s 300 jump rope, Gareth Marsden’s 70 Snatches, Vickii Onabulou’s 50 Squats. Great atmosphere, great people = great workout, I earned my tea (that’s northern for dinner) :)

Wednesday - 'Spinbells' with Katie & Jonathan Turnbull

Try performing interval sprints on a bike, straight into kettlebell swings and onto the floor for core drills, then back onto the bike for a hill climb......you get the picture. Jonathan focus’s on strength with circuits that sound impossible until you get to the end (He also throws in some dance moves to keep you entertained) Katie puts your heart rate through the roof with swings and beasts your abs with crunches, planks and a million variations of the two.

Thursday - 'Kettlebells for Cardio and Core' with Katie and Adura.

Intense swing drills and core workouts with a big focus on technique to ensure you engage your core muscles and feel each exercise in exactly the right place (predominantly your abs!). The final circuit of planks and Katie’s yoga inspired core exercises was one of the toughest ab workouts I’ve had in a long time.

Friday - 'Kettlebell Circuits' with Adura

Adura mixed up a circuit of pulling exercises; renegade rows, deadlifts and bodyweight training. During this class, everyone would rather be in the pub and Adura gets nothing but grief especially when it comes to mountain climbers, but as she points out your simply wasting energy that could be spent getting the circuit over with. Excellent workout if only she would quit it with the bloomin RnB music ;-)

Saturday Fitter London with Matt Whitmore

This was the first time I had no idea what Matt had planned for the class. I’ll let you into a secret....we almost always disagree when deciding on the Saturday Fitter London, mainly because Matt wants to fill the class with burpees, squat thrusts and press ups and I want to fill it with kettlebells, spinning and core :)

When the class commenced with a press up, squat thrust and goblet squat circuit, I pulled a face! Matt pulled one back that said “get on with it!”
However, before I know I’m sandwiched between Jack Jefferson and Chris Parnham (the stuff of dreams!) pacing with them and getting stuck into the drill.
The music, the weekend, Matt behaving like a fool and training with some of the fittest people I know, takes the energy to another level, if you’re not there you seriously feel like you missed out!

My week as a Freedom Pass Holder was fun, brutal, challenging, exhausting and inspiring. I loved not knowing what to expect (you can’t dread what you don’t know!), the variety, the instructors, the people, the music and the atmosphere. Everyone’s in it together to push you beyond your expectations and get you fitter than you’ve ever been.

PS I never got chance to do Phill’s Game’s classes so a blog devoted to one of his insane head to toe, back to front, 1000 rep challenges is coming soon ;-)