User:Chaddeets/BodyAttack

BodyAttack is a sports-inspired cardiovascular group-fitness program, created and distributed globally by Les Mills International. Created in 1991 by Phillip Mills, it is now found in over 70 countries and 10,000 health-clubs and gyms worldwide.

CLASS FORMAT

A typical BodyAttack class is approximately 55 minutes long. The BodyAttack program is separated into 12 tracks, consisting of the following structure:

1. Warm Up

2. Mixed Impact Track

3. Aerobic Track

4. Plyometric Track (Cardio Peak #1)

5. Upper Body Conditioning

6. Running Track

7. Agility Track

8. Interval Track

9. Power Track (Cardio Peak #2)

10. Lower Body Conditioning - Legs

11. Lower Body Conditioning - Abs

12. Stretch/Cool-Down

Like all of the Les Mills Group Fitness programs, BodyAttack is pre-choreographed by Les Mills International, giving it global homogeneity. LMI distributes new releases for BodyAttack (and all their programs) each quarter (or four times annually). Tracks can be mixed and matched from different releases as long as the structure is maintained. This gives a wide array of options for class variety.

PROGRAM HISTORY

BodyAttack is the longest-running program of all the Les Mills' classes. Formed in 1980, it was originally called Jazzergetics. Early contributors and choreographers included Brett Fairweather, Donna McCort, and Emma Barry. At the end of 2002, former World Aerobic Champion Lisa Osborne became Program Director.

In the third quarter of 2004, the class was given a major overhaul, going from a 3-cardio peak to the 2-cardio peak format shown above. From 2004-2007, the class had 11 tracks. Initially 1 longer track, the lower body track has since been split into two, which can be mixed and matched among releases. From 2007-2009, these tracks were known as "10a/10b", but are now labeled as "10/11".

Beginning in 2010, BodyAttack has undergone a stylistic overhaul. Although the class format remains the same, the class is now marketed as 3-dimensional, the dimensions including Aerobics (Tracks 1-3,8), Sports (Tracks 4,6-7,9), and Strength (Tracks 5,10,11,12). With this change, BodyAttack truly breaks out of the "Aerobics Class" box and features opportunities for sports skill improvement, strength building, and cardiovascular endurance.

Music is used to create a "musical journey" that guides and encourages participants through the work out. A normal class consists of 10 tracks each lasting between 4 and 6 minutes. These are usually cover versions or re-mixes of popular chart or classic rock releases. The tracks are mixed to allow for an aerobic block count of 32 beats and will vary in speed depending on the exercise being performed. The music is choreographed and (with the exception of the first and last track which are used for warm up and stretch/ cool down purposes respectively) each track targets a different muscle group. The tracks, in order, follow the format of: warm up, legs/squats, chest, back, triceps, biceps, lunges, shoulders, abdominals and finally a cooldown encompassing a variety of stretches. Between each track there is a short interval to allow for stretching the muscle just exercised, change weights for the next track and to allow the instructor to brief the next exercise.

Due to the nature of the program maximum heart rate (MHR) increases in different phases. In addition, the aerobic capacity changes are based on music selection beats per minute (BPM).