Powerplating at Powertone

The goo covered plates strapped to my love handles are supposed to dissolve fat.

‘The vibrations release noradrenalin which comes out in the blood stream as free fatty acids,’ Monique explains.

The machine is called a Narl and I’m at the Powertone Studio in Mayfair. Somehow, I can’t see how gentle vibrations to my mid-section are going to magically melt my fat, but it doesn’t matter. What I’m really here to try are the Power Plate machines I’ve read so much about.

Power Plate, Monique tells me, was developed in Eastern Europe. Basically, it’s a vibrating plate that you stand or sit on while doing exercises. The idea is that your body is tensing to steady itself before you even begin doing crunches, squats or whatever, so you get double the workout.

The beauty is that the sessions only last 25 minutes (that’s about as much as my muscles could handle), so it’s ideal for people who want a quick workout at lunchtime. The studio certainly got very busy during the lunchtime that I am there.

At first, Monique – the friendly Kiwi instructor – gets me to just stand with my knees slightly bent to see how I respond to the vibrations.

‘How does that feel?’

I want to say that it’s OK but the words come out all weird because my larynx is being jiggled at 50 million vibrations a second. I sound like a cartoon character.

Monique helps me adjust my footing so that the vibrations don’t jar as much. I know when my weight is distributed better because my teeth stop clattering and my voice returns to normal. My jowls are jiggling violently, though, and I’m facing a wall of mirrors. It’s not a pretty sight. Thankfully, most of the exercises are done facing away from the mirrors.

I’ve learned from my Beautcamp Pilates experience that if some new exercise regime looks easy, it probably isn’t – and this is no exception. Most of the exercises are fairly standard: dips, squats, press ups, but with the added complication that you’re doing them on top of a rapidly vibrating plate. Usually, I can manage 40 press ups, but with my arms resting on the Power Plate, I barely manage ten.

At the end of the 20-minute workout, I get to massage my tired muscles on the vibrating plate. It’s bliss. It feels like my hamstrings are going to melt they’re so relaxed.

Powertone Studios
Lower Ground
13 Maddox Street
Mayfair
W1S 2QG

Tel: 0207 493 2422