Recently, when Kim Kardashian revealed her high-tech workout called “EMS”, or electric muscle stimulation, the SKIMS founder sent the Internet into a tizzy. Fans of the business mogul googled “EMS” and hunted down the nearest gym offering this unique workout technique. Her 360 million followers on Instagram lapped up EMS training as the next fitness trend. Little did they know it’s been around for decades.
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Last year, when stars of the hit Netflix show Dubai Bling put EMS training to the test on of the episodes, the UAE was abuzz with this training technique. Netizens scoured Dubai for gyms offering the technique, impressed by how “easy” it looked. But rest assured, it’s no quick fix.
CAN YOU BURN FAT IN 20 MINUTES WITH EMS?
EMS training uses low-frequency impulses to mimic the way your brain contracts your muscles. While your brain gets them working at around 30 per cent, EMS can add an extra 50 per cent. Electrical muscle stimulation can trigger 50,000 muscle contractions from a mere 20-minute session and can burn fat three times faster than gym training. During such training, you would need to wear an EMS suit.
CAN EMS TRAINING REPLACE TRADITIONAL EXERCISE?
“EMS was introduced to the UAE a decade ago,” says Andrei Palamariu, studio owner of GYM ON EMS Dubai, which offers this technique. “Earlier, this technique was seen as a replacement of traditional exercise. Now it is viewed as a tool to enhance your fitness,” he adds.
Palamariu, who is an international EMS Master Trainer, trains roughly 60 to 80 clients in a week. He emphasizes, “Whenever you try a new form of workout, you have to understand, each body is different. I would recommend you try EMS twice a week, prioritize movement daily and eat a balanced diet for best results.”
EMS TRAINING: RESULTS
Punam Verma, a radio and TV journalist says, “I tried EMS because I hate gyms. This was a one-to-one workout in a very small gym or room with one trainer. I played whatever music I liked, not the loud dance music which other gyms played. I also did it because I had to exercise only twice a week for 25 minutes in each session.”
Verma says she lost 7 kilos in one month while consulting a nutritionist for her meal plans She always exercised portion control when plating her meals.
EMS TRAINING: 20 MINUTES VERSUS 4 HOURS OF EXERCISE
Can 20 minutes of EMS replace 4 hours of traditional exercise?
“EMS focuses more on strength and hypertrophy (muscle development). While 20 minutes a day can certainly help with muscle growth, it doesn’t offer the same comprehensive benefits as a traditional workout,” says Gareth Bacon, Head of Product, Member Experience and Digital, Wellfit.
He adds, “EMS alone is less effective for fat loss and cardiovascular development compared to traditional workouts. The best results are seen when EMS
is combined with a well–structured fitness program.”
EMS TRAINING: COSTS
Most of the larger commercial gyms in Dubai do not offer EMS therapy and you would need to head to boutique gyms for the same. EMS is typically a coach–led session, and prices can vary to between AED200-400 per individual session, with different rates for packages
