What you need to know

Bodystreet frequently asked questions.

During normal every day life your muscles are continuously and naturally being stimulated by bioelectric impulses. It’s what causes your muscles to contract, so you can move.

Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is a method of amplifying this natural process to encourage your muscles to work harder. Extra electrical impulses are delivered to your body through a specially designed training suit containing electrodes. The extra stimulation creates stronger, more intense muscle contractions than from conventional training, making EMS much more effective in developing strength, stamina and improving body shape.

Numerous studies by Erlangen-Nuremberg (2009), the German Sports University of Cologne (2008), and the Heart Clinic in Bad Oeynhausen (2010) have all scientifically proven how effective EMS training is. Research from Bayreuth University in Germany reported the following results after a six-week training program with EMS.

  • On average, 85% of people tested saw an improvement in their body shape.
  • The higher intensity training produced visible results in terms of enhanced muscle definition and tone.
  • Whole body EMS training is up to 40% more intensive than traditional strength training with weights.
  • Overall, maximum strength ability increased by 12%.
  • Endurance and fitness levels improved by 69%.

EMS training has been used for several decades in physiotherapy, medicine and competitive sports.

It is mainly used to correct muscular imbalances, relieve back pain, strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve circulation. Because impulses are transmitted directly onto the muscles, bypassing the joints entirely, there is no impact on ligaments or joints. That’s why EMS is commonly used to repair and strengthen muscles and joints for people who are recovering from injury.

The built-in electrodes used during EMS training can stimulate and develop all the muscle groups, or just selected ones, so the ’weaker links’ of the body can be strengthened. In professional sports, EMS training is also used to optimise the stimulation of core muscles to help improve power and performance.

With EMS training, electrodes are placed directly on the body, which means all the impulses reach their target and stimulate the required muscle fibres. This helps to build muscle, resulting in improved body shape, stamina and strength. It also speeds up your metabolism, which is key in transforming the way your body uses calories. This makes it an effective tool for reducing body fat and losing weight.

By training at a Bodystreet studio, you’ll burn up to 500 calories each time you train, compared to an average of 300 calories with conventional training. EMS training also improves circulation and encourages a better blood supply to the tissues beside the muscles, which is the most effective way of reducing cellulite.

A person with a medium build, eating a healthy diet and doing one 20-minute EMS workout at Bodystreet each week can expect to reduce their body fat by around 4% in the first 6 weeks. Over a 12-week period your body fat ratio could be reduced by up to 10%. (Note: this is only a guideline as everyone is different and trains at different levels of intensity.)

Depending on your current level of fitness, EMS training can be used alongside other forms of training and exercise. This has to be managed carefully though, so your Bodystreet Personal Trainer will advise you on the best way to use EMS training within your current fitness regime.

Regular, long-term training is just as important for EMS training as it is for conventional exercise. The performance capacity of your muscles can only be maintained if you train regularly. And, just like with conventional power training, if you stop exercising for extended periods of time, your muscles will eventually return to their former (pre-training) state.

During a full body workout with EMS in a Bodystreet fitness studio, over 90% of the muscle fibres are contracted at the same time. Unlike with conventional strength training, the deep-lying muscles are also stimulated. This improves coordination within the muscles themselves and also between different muscle groups, making this form of training particularly intensive and fast. EMS is brilliant for general muscle buildings, but also works wonders when targeting specific areas of the body, such as the buttocks, abdomen or back.

The electrical current is low impulse and completely safe. Whilst the workout sessions can be intense, the actual feeling of the current is gentle and non-invasive. Our personal trainers will tailor your routine so you won’t be stretched beyond your personal capabilities.

No. Training or therapy with low frequency electrical stimulation does not pose any danger whatsoever. This is because our muscles are continuously working with the help of natural electrical impulses all the time anyway. When you’re training with EMS, these impulses are simply amplified.

The major advantage to EMS training is that, unlike conventional training, there is no additional strain on the joints. The electric impulses work on the muscles directly, so there is no pressure on the joints ensuring they cannot be over-worked (as can often happen with weight training).

Even if you’ve never stepped foot into a gym before, you can quickly achieve visible results by training with Bodystreet for twenty minutes a week. It is a form of full body workout that can be used by almost anyone over the age of 18. Note: EMS training is not advisable for certain groups who should not be exposed to physical stress or engage in sports. This includes, people with acute febrile diseases, circulatory disorders and anyone with a heart pacemaker. If you’re pregnant, you are also not able to train with EMS. If you’re unsure, speak to your GP for advice. 

Over 40,000 people currently train in Bodystreet studios across Germany, Austria, Italy, Tanzania, USA and the United Kingdom - and the number is growing each month. There are currently around 160,000 personal training sessions being conducted each month in over 300 Bodystreet locations. With 3 to 4 new Bodystreet studios opening each month, the number of Bodystreet users will rise to approx. 50,000 by the end of 2019.

Conventional training - such as a session at the gym or an exercise class - requires about 60-90 minutes, at least twice a week to deliver visible results. This quickly adds up to around 3 hours of training each week.   By comparison, a single 20 minute session at Bodystreet every week can make a big difference to your body shape and metabolism, even when you’re working towards very ambitious body goals.   So, on average, you could save 2.5 hours a week by training in a Bodystreet ftness studio instead of other traditional methods.

We provide all of the things you need to train, so there is no need to bring anything with you. Just come as you are! When you arrive at the studio you’ll fnd a freshly laundered training suit and towel laid out in your changing cubicle. You’ll also get a glucose tablet to take before exercising. (You can choose to purchase your own personal training suit if you prefer). If you’d like to bring your own trainers then please feel free, but we also provide suitable footwear too.   For your trial session, please allow a bit of extra time because we will spend a few minutes before the workout taking the necessary personal information and talking through what you want to achieve from training.   For your frst full membership session, will be a little longer than the standard weekly workout. At the start of this session we’ll take a record of some key body stats that will form the basis of your progress chart. For every session thereafter, you need only allow 30 minutes (ten for changing and having a drink, twenty for your workout).

At Bodystreet we specialise exclusively in EMS, meaning all of our staff have a very high level of expertise. We know our stuff and put our heart and soul into helping clients achieve the results they want. Every client is assigned a dedicated personal trainer, which is essential in helping you achieve your goals, but also means our studio environment is very personal, friendly and supportive.    There are several different types of EMS training available, but the Bodystreet system stimulates all the muscle groups simultaneously and can also be adapted to meet your individual needs, which makes it much more effective. 

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