Can good vibrations make you fit for the slopes?

Its 7.30am and I’m holding a fitness ball between my legs, my arms stretched out, and vibrations course through my body courtesy of the Power Plate machine I’m standing on.

I have to hold the pose for 60 seconds and then switch to squatting in a ski stance for another minute. It’s all part of a Good Vibes Ski-Fit course, which promises to be the fast-track way for skiers and snowboarders to get honed and toned. Only 25 minutes long, sessions are easy to slot into your day. Fast pulsations from the machine contract and relax muscles up to 50 times a second, and your body has to work extra hard to stay balanced during the sit-ups, balances and leg strengthening exercises.

While I might have looked and certainly felt ridiculous during the first couple of classes, I very quickly became addicted to the feelgood sensation. After my first session I could barely walk up the stairs, but by the third I noticed a difference – while riding a bike, or running, my legs and core muscles felt much more powerful.

On my first winter trip after the course, walking up the gondola steps was easier than usual, and I felt more in control on the slopes. Plus, when I wore a bikini in the hot tub, I felt I could hold my own there too.
A three session a week, six-week course with Good Vibes (020 7240 6111; www.goodvibesfitness.co.uk) costs £325 and is suitable for beginners. Find Power Plate machines near you at uk.powerplate.com.