Women’s fitness has been the subject of far fewer studies than men’s and many fitness coaches have more or less said that women should train just like men. To dispel this myth, we interviewed Alla Meijer, fitness bikini (a competitive form of bodybuilding) champion, specialist in advanced female training and owner of the Booty Parlour studio.
“I started my fitness journey around 12 years ago. After trying various different approaches, I have developed my own understanding of what women’s bodies really need. Fitness bikini helped me to realise how to build my body’s aesthetic and proportions while improving athletic performance. As I like to say, strong is the new sexy but that’s not all. I take into consideration many different aspects to build the perfect program for my clients. There are a few things to remember to make sure you get more out of your workouts.”
The male and female hormonal cycle
The male hormonal cycle is quite different to that of women as male testosterone levels generally remain very steady. They slowly decline as men age but day to day they don’t fluctuate much, which contributes to consistent energy levels, mood and focus. Women’s monthly hormonal cycles are dynamic. They affect mood, energy levels, cognition, the ability to focus, motivation, creativity, the digestive system, nutrient requirements and much more besides. It means that most fitness and nutrition plans are not suitable for women.
“Women are more hormone-dependent than men. That’s why fitness coaches should take into account the female hormonal cycle and factors such as menopause and perimenopause when putting together a training program. I specialize in women’s health and have extensive experience and qualifications in this field. 9 out of 10 of my female clients are mothers. Working with mothers requires additional knowledge in areas such as recovery after childbirth, pelvic muscles and antenatal classes.”
What should women know before they start training?
“You have to work out in the kitchen as well as in the gym. You can’t train on an empty stomach. If you go to pilates or yoga classes, you can run on empty but if you are doing a good gym session, you have to eat. An easily digestible slice of toast with peanut butter on top or any good carbohydrate snack containing some fat 30 – 40 minutes before your work out is ideal. After you have been to the gym you want to have some protein to encourage recovery. The other thing that helps with recovery is something like the banya. The heat will relax the muscles and alleviate any stiffness. This is a good time for a deep tissue massage as the benefits are enhanced when your muscles are relaxed.”
Amplify the benefits of the banya on your body with a deep tissue massage at The Bath House – Banya London.
Banya for women’s health
It’s well-known that banya promotes recovery after exercise and has benefits for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Banya is particularly good for women’s health. According to The Journal of Human Kinetics time spent in the steam room increases women’s levels of human growth hormone (HGH), which in turn helps the body break down fat and build muscle.
“Banya alone won’t help you to lose weight or build your dream body but it’s a good idea to incorporate banya visits into your overall program. Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, banya is definitely a good tool to help you reach your health goals.”
Banya and menopause
Female hormone levels are prone to fluctuation and use of the banya can help with problems caused by hormone imbalances such as menstrual cramps and other menopausal symptoms. In addition, the menopause brings about hormonal changes that can contribute to the accumulation of fat in the body and the banya can be useful here.
“Banya alone won’t help you to lose weight or build your dream body but it’s a good idea to incorporate banya visits into your overall program. Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, banya is definitely a good tool to help you reach your health goals.”
Banya is effectively a passive cardio workout, helping you to maintain a healthy weight by detoxifying the body, burning calories, and increasing the metabolism. Banya also brings about the release of endorphins, builds immunity and helps to fight infection.
If you have any questions about The Bath House – Banya London or would like to book a banya session, please call 0203 906 2060.