Over the last twenty years many Czechs have drastically changed their lifestyles, eating healthier foods and taking up new sports. Every weekend, cyclists and rollerblade-users hit local parks in Prague from Vtkov Hill to Stromovka. Fitness clubs which emerged over the same period are also going strong, drawing regular-goers to work-out in the gym, cycle indoors, or attend aerobics classes. Martin Nehasil is the programme director at Solarium Fitness BBC a popular fitness chain in the Czech capital. When I met with him at the clubs flagship gym on Vinohradsk Street, he explained there are constant innovations in the approach to fitness, ideal for anyone looking to improve their health.

Fitness BBC's Martin Nehasil Whether were speaking of new clients or seasoned sportsmen and women, more people are realising they want to be fit. It can be someone new who joins or it can be someone who has been bodybuilding for years but realises, with experience, they need to include other types of exercise as well, such as yoga, Pilates, and stretching. There are more options than ever before, such as zumba classes to help people get fit, and more people now have a better understanding and are taking advantage.

The popular fitness centre recently opened a club within a club at its Vinohradsk address, one specifically tailored to Pilates the widely-popular fitness system developed in the first half of the 20th century, now recognised worldwide. The system focuses on flexibility and endurance and the building of so-called long muscles for a lean, well-balanced and agile physique, as opposed to bunched up muscles common, for example, among hardcore bodybuilders. Trainer Anna Hrachov has taught Pilates for seven years:

In the Czech Republic it has long been common to practice Pilates on mats but less so on machines. There are some studios of course that have them but the new one that we opened recently is the largest so far, with 20 re-firmer machines and other equipment.

According to Ms Hrachov, the emphasis in the 55-minute long lessons is on the body as a whole; in short, the approach is holistic:

Photo: Fitness BBC It belongs among body-and-mind exercises: it is a combination of strength exercises and stretching, done without music and without choreography. And it focuses on the deep stabilisation system that some will know if theyve ever had physical rehab.

In what way do the machines help?

If you are a beginner they help you achieve proper posture and toning of the right muscles and when you are advanced they help create more variation and difficulty in exercises.

By now, by curiosity has been peaked, so I ask the charming trainer if shell allow me to try one of machines. Heres how things went:

Lie down on your back with your head on the headrest and your feet on the foot bar. Because you are holding the mic we will do a leg exercise. There should be a space between your shoulder blocks...

Read the original:
Popular fitness club opens new Pilates centre