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mrtimothy:

I have the same manual as Pipera, where it clearly gives the option for legs up (but NOT crossed).

However, I DL'd the newest version of the manual from this website (under clubs section) and the option is gone, replaced with a very clear statement that feet must stay on the floor.

Maybe the latest manual should be under the instructor section instead so that we can keep up to date more easily.

Can someone give me a reasonable reason why the removal of this as an option? The statement that feet must stay on the floor? It has been an option for over 12 years and I have done this in front of Michael J McSweeney and he said nothing about it to me?

Saying this if you have an issue with a latissimus dorsi upper back issues then the legs off the floor reduces the tension in the latissimus dorsi muscle and the Teres major muscle. I have an issue with my Teres major  and placing my feet in the legs up option alleviates at certain times the stress in the muscle.

The whole idea of Bodypump is to offer options to what our class members are able to do do in certain situations. The legs up option is a classic example of customizing  with the added option  which makes the  execution of the exercise while maintaining a direct client focus in the identification of specific exercise issues and the perscription of alternate options in the chest press part of the class client focused!

IMO!
 

 

 

 

i dunno pipera.

my guess is that it is to make things less complicated and therefore easier to follow for the majority of people? 

 

I'm no guru when it comes to specifics physiology... But how could lifting the feet completely off the ground reduce tension in the upper back? My thoughts are that everything else is going to be fighting that much harder to stop you rolling off the bench!

I have lower back issues, but would rather have my feet on plates to draw my lower back into the bench, and at the same time maintain stability.

In my opinion the legs in the air option is a more challenging option for the stabilisers, similar to if you tried to do an entire bicep track with your feet close together... I don't see how it could be a safer option.

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BodyPump 4 Life

NatStar:

jenismint123:

You're not supposed to tap your feet to the music? Why not if your heels are still on the ground? I find if I don't I put pressure through my knees and they get really stiff when I stand up so tapping my toes reminds me to relax my knees.

 i could not figure this one out either. It is a very hard habbit to break

I bet feet tapping habit doesn't stop at tricep/chest tracks.   A lot of people also bounce whilst performing the stand up tracks, especially bicep.  The point is if you tap, you tap during almost every track.  There goes the rock soild set position.   

Would you coach your partcipants to bounce their feet? If your answer is no, why don't you set a correct example?  Partcipants see you as a role model. 

Hi this is Overdrawns85 wife. We have been hashing this over.  I trained in BodyPump in 2000 where the feet in line with the hips legs not crossed  was an option since then  (the split between BTS and LM) things have changed.  I have a cured spine but I find that if I keep my feet grounded it forces me to engage my core more thus the legs in the air offers no core stability. But by the same token we all need a definitive answer from the powers above.  If not, I'm ready to divorce Overdrawns  butt!! LOL

pipera:

Can someone give me a reasonable reason why the removal of this as an option? The statement that feet must stay on the floor?

Because there just isn't a good reason for doing it?

How can lifting your feet off the bench alleviate tension in your UPPER back? Why not simply lower your step/put a plate under your feet or perform the exercise on the floor?

If you've got serious back problems then how do you find performing the exercises in the back track?

Keeping feet planted is stabilisation - which you will remove by lifting the legs.

ck1-:

pipera:

Can someone give me a reasonable reason why the removal of this as an option? The statement that feet must stay on the floor?

Because there just isn't a good reason for doing it?

How can lifting your feet off the bench alleviate tension in your UPPER back? Why not simply lower your step/put a plate under your feet or perform the exercise on the floor?

If you've got serious back problems then how do you find performing the exercises in the back track?

Keeping feet planted is stabilisation - which you will remove by lifting the legs.

They are options but each person is different?

Re back track no worries with the back track or doing the abs track or the cooldown. There is a slight muscle impingement on the right side (teres major)  hence lifting the feet off the ground helps out. :) and reduces the discomfort with the exercise. The reason for the impingement is I undertook a personal training session that ripped the muscle and took awhile to repair so to avoid the issue of tearing the muscle further I had to search for an answer and the manual said the option of feet off the ground. I tried this and it worked for me,

As said everyone is different we have different histories to say that there is one way only without allowing options as we had in the manual limits the options one can use in class when presented with a participant that may need this option and may work for them.

I wish a LM trainer could speak up. 

As a participant (and a combat instructor who is looking to train for pump) I do have my knees up with my feet on the end of the bench.  I have some lower back problems and find that with my feet on the floor my back arches and I cannot keep it pressed into the bench.  However, now that i've seen the suggestions, I may try lifting my feet slightly with a plate.

I was corrected on the same when I trained on 58--tapping my foot during the chest track.  Thought it was ok since it was being done by the instructors in the dvd...oh but no!!  Once I get comfortable with a track, it is hard to hold back on wiggling or tapping...it just feels right!!

 b

bpmum:

NatStar:

jenismint123:

You're not supposed to tap your feet to the music? Why not if your heels are still on the ground? I find if I don't I put pressure through my knees and they get really stiff when I stand up so tapping my toes reminds me to relax my knees.

 i could not figure this one out either. It is a very hard habbit to break

I bet feet tapping habit doesn't stop at tricep/chest tracks.   A lot of people also bounce whilst performing the stand up tracks, especially bicep.  The point is if you tap, you tap during almost every track.  There goes the rock soild set position.   

Would you coach your partcipants to bounce their feet? If your answer is no, why don't you set a correct example?  Partcipants see you as a role model. 

 

I always do coach a good set position in all tracks as well as in chest/ triceps, coaching feet to the floor. I also believe i set a good example by displaying correct technique. I do not bounce/tap during standing tracks. Providing the feet dont lift off the floor totally while tapping i feel i still stay stable on the bench.

But as i said before i am breaking the habbit as it will not be accepted in my assessment video and is not an encouraged practice

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"There is nothing like a DREAM to create a FUTURE" - Victor Hugo

mrtimothy,

Could you tell me how you DL'd the Pump manual?  I can't figure out how to find it.  I trained in Pump about 5 years ago and would love to see the newest info.

Thanks,

Ker

it's in the club section. you'll need to ask your GFM for help i think.

Wow...you all would look at me with a raised eyebrow...not only do I sometimes lift my feet, and cross them (it's comfortable and helps keep my lower back flat), and I also tap my feet in the air.  Music drives my soul...I'm going to move to the beat.  I'll be interested to see what the trainer says this weekend during my initial training.

Crystal

As a participant I don't worry about being seen as a good role model and I'm always too far away to see if the instructors tap their feet during bench tracks, the bench tracks are the only ones I'd tap my feet in - I just haven't got the balance to be a standing toe tapper with a bar in my hands. We do have instructors I have noticed tapping their feet, especially in biceps.

People who are saying lifting their feet alleviates back problems - they must surely have their knees close to the chest and not at 90 degrees? In abs work as soon as I lift my knees above hips at 90 my back arches straight up and it's too uncomfortable on my back.