Physique360

Introductory one-on-one personal training session, with a focus on muscle building, toning and strengthening the core. Best for: Beginners wanting to tone and build muscle but not looking for major weight loss. Time check: Private sessions are one hour and include ten or so minutes of stretching at the end, which in itself is like a mini physio session. You’re encouraged to warm-up before the trainer gets there so you can maximise your slot. Recap: This was a full-body strengthening and toning session, working the core, back, arms and legs. The session began with a quick warm-up. We moved straight into 2kg weight lifts (reps of 10) to tone and sculpt the upper arms, shoulders and back, followed by classic lunges to firm the glutes. Caroline then took me through the classic plank pose. Flattening the tummy and tightening my core was one of my concerns and Caroline addressed this by showing me an amazing tummy-tuck exercise – I could feel the burn in my stomach muscles. I’ve had a suspected labral tear in my right hip joint, so she addressed this too by suggesting a holding pose: lying on my back with knees drawn toward my bottom, and lifting up my core while resting on my shoulders. She stressed the importance of keeping my back firmly on the floor, almost pulling it into my bottom and tightening the butt cheeks at the same time. The aftermath: Having never worked out like this before, I thought I was going to be incapable of moving for a few days. Day one was actually okay but, by day two, I was in full-body pain. It made me realise just how unfit I must be, working muscles that hadn’t been used since my days of childhood ballet! By day four, my body was feeling normal again and I felt ready to continue the exercises shown. Good to know: Caroline offered a really personal service. As I was a new client, she called me the day before to go through my medical history and experience, and to ask what I wanted to achieve from the session so that she could come armed with the correct equipment. While Physique360 has a studio in Bukit Timah, where group fitness classes are held, half of the clients opt for personal training sessions at home. The focus is on wellness in addition to the training, so there are tips on healthy eating, vitamins and minerals, plus an amazing stretching session at the end that really adds to the overall effect.

– Emily Finch