Rachel Feeling the Force
Talented sprinter Rachel Highfield has started 2012 by trialling the power plate at the Thornaby Pavilion Activ8 gym.15 year old Rachel is a member of Gateshead AC and Tees Active Sports Academy and lives in Thornaby’s has been training hard throughout the autumn and winter under the guidance of her coach Bruce Horsburgh and the fitness staff at the Activ8 gyms.
The Power Plate machine works by transferring vibrations to muscles which naturally activates reflexive muscle contractions .Different poses such as squats, bicep curls and crunches are held on the machines vibrating platform for up to 60 seconds at a time activating numerous muscle groups simultananeously which stretch tone and strengthen the targeted muscles.
Rachel is looking forward to her first competitive meet of the season when she will be competing at the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships in Sheffield where she will be competing in the 60m and 200m.
The St Patricks RC school pupil said “My training has been going well throughout the off season so it will be great to be actually competing at the Northern’s, although my programme has been geared to peak for the summer and the outdoor season. The power plate has definitely helped in my recovery sessions after a heavy session in the gym, as it has the capacity to massage as well as produce a great full body workout.”
Rayhanna Scott, Health and Fitness Operations Manager said “We have power plates based at or gyms at Thornaby, Splash and Billingham Forum which are available for use by the public. The feedback we have received from customers and athletes is that the benefits to individual’s flexibility, strength and recovery is substantial and is an excellent additional service available in the gym.”
For further information on Tees Active Sports Academy contact Allan McDermott on (01642) 528772