Hour of Power Blog

Hour of Power Instructor Course: January 14-15, 2012

Admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:27:00 GMT

Hour of Power Instructor Course 14-15th January 2012, London

Take the opportunity to join us and teach The Ultimate Workout - get yourself onto the HOP website and book your place!!

Find out more about Hour of Power Certification courses

Book on a Course

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Xavier Dolino

Admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:46:00 GMT

As I sit and write this blog, halfway home from this weekend’s Hour of Power Certification Course…late at night in a quiet Service Station café, somewhere on the M1… it is strange to think that just two days ago one of our most inspirational and dedicated Instructors died unfairly of Leukemia. Xavier Dolino, aged 37…one of the most passionate health and fitness crusaders I will probably ever meet

There are some people who stumble their way casually through life, taking for granted their health, their blessings and their chances in life. Xavier was not one of these. He worked tirelessly in everything he did. He was passionate about the things he did. Sometimes perhaps too passionate – sometimes he cared too much. He didn’t just want to teach fitness…he wanted to let everyone experience what it meant to feel vital and feel alive.

Why leukemia strikes a person down I have no idea. Is it stress? Is it genetic? Is it bad luck? Is it due to the environment we live in? Honestly I have no idea – perhaps it is all of these things. But what I know is that Xavier tried his damned best to do things the right way. To honour his body…to challenge his body…to do it to his best…and then to encourage everyone around him to do the same thing. And in this process twice he was hit with Leukemia. Twice he was told he was dying. Twice he recovered! But the third time he did not .

Sometimes around Xavier I didn’t know what to say – it was like he wanted so much from life that even I couldn’t suggest any more! Sometimes I had to tell him to stop and breath…and take it a bit more laid back. But you can't really control a person's passion …the whole point is that passion is often ever so slightly out of control. That’s why it's called passion. IF it was completely calm and laid back it would be called wisdom or simply ‘purpose’…but passion is that something more.

When I wrote the song ‘Time’ I was thinking of my Grandfather wanting a little more time with his family… a little more time on this earth. I was thinking of my father always wanting a little more from his goals and his ideas. I was not thinking of Xavier…but now as I think about the words of the song – I realize that it was about someone like Xavier too. He just wanted a little more from everything he believed in. Mediocre was not enough. When he first recovered from Leukemia and extreme Chemotherapy his goal was not just to start exercising again…it was to be back on stage at the national endurance lifting finals in Birmingham. And he did it.

Today is Xavier’s funeral. And although life doesn’t stop for any man. Wheels keep turning, appointments still have to be kept. Clocks keep ticking & schedules stay busy… although all this is true and perhaps not many people will physically be at his small funeral in Verona, Italy. Something else is also true. Xavier’s life impacted a lot of people and when his life stopped a few days ago, it did not go unnoticed. And though his life stopped, his spirit and his goals will never stop. He dreamed of running a fitness retreat using the principles of Fitness4x4 training – that will happen, and when it does, his name will be attached to it firmly..as a visionary, as a loyal friend, as a fighter and as someone who truly lived this short life.

Rajko

Xavier Dolino (1974 - 2011)

Xavier's HOP Profile

Memorial page

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HOP Internationally - Profile on Slodes Club, Belgrade

Rajko Radovic — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:19:00 GMT

It was more than 5 years ago when the Hour of Power first made its way to the famous Balkan city of Belgrade in Serbia. Since then the class has spread to three major locations around the city and is continuing to grow.

One of these locations is the dynamic Slodes Club on the outskirts of Belgrade (www.sportslodes.rs)

With classes scheduled three times per week in the well-equipped aerobics studio, sessions are led by Ana Pavlovic, one of the most experienced Hour of Power instructors worldwide and a recent contributor to the official Hour of Power Workout DVD - currently a top seller in the UK home fitness market.

Ana has been teaching Hour of Power for many years, learning initially from class founder Dragan, and later from the International director of the class, Rajko Radovic - son of Dragan. With a very high level of personal fitness, a contageous energy and a level expertise which can only come from many hours of teaching and training, Ana is a fantastic example of how the Hour of Power can and should be taught to people of all fitness levels.

As the Hour of Power continues to spread, it is good to know that our most experienced instructors are continuing to lead the way forward.

Ana takes part in 'high-elevation' training as part of her Certification at the Fitness4x4 Retreat in Montenegro

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Hour of Power Instructor Course 24-25th September

Admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:38:00 GMT

Hour of Power Instructor Course 24-25th September, Loughborough University - a couple of places have become available on this course.

Take the opportunity to join us and teach The Ultimate Workout - get yourself onto the HOP website and book your place!!

Find out more about Hour of Power Certification courses

Book on a Course

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Hour of Power in the record books

Rajko Radovic — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:51:00 GMT

This month the Hour of Power has been taking UK schoolkids by storm, hosting mass-participation classes at sites around the country and involving more than 2000 students.

Using water bottles purchased from the One Water Company (which donates 100% of it's considerable profits to charity) as handweights, students have been participating in full Hour of Power fitness sessions, led by Rajko Radovic (HOP Director for the UK) and aimed at encouraging more young people into fitness.

"I want to show kids of all background that with the right type of exercise class, it is possible to enjoy all the benefits of elite exercise, without having to be a fitness fanatic and without having to be passionate about a particular sport! In this fast-paced lifestyle where even kids have limited windows of time (and concentration) they need an approach to fitness and health which is efficient, and relevant to the lives they lead now and will lead when they leave school. Hour of Power is just that class. " (Rajko)

On Tuesday 12th July, Rajko was joined by players from the Huddersfield Giants rugby squad to lead a 1000 participant Hour of Power workout at Honley High School in Huddersfield. The event was organised by art teacher Mr Graham Wheatcroft, who worked with Rajko to set up the ultimate school fitness event, and hopefully enter the record books as the largest ever fitness class with weights.

"On this occasion the half-kilo weights used happened to be water-bottles, which of course not only gave the kids a tough Hour of Power workout, but also encouraged them to quench their thirst with healthy water instead of soft drinks and sodas. So the event was a double success"

Rajko will continue his drive towards encouraging UK school kids in fitness when he visits Robert Clack school in East London to host another Mass-Participation Hour of Power class. Robert Clack were the first UK school to offer a full-school Hour of Power workoutin 2010, and are showing other London schools what can be done to improve the healthy living habits of their students, hosting their 'HEALTHY SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN' for the third straight year.

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Fitness 4x4 forum

Admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:08:00 GMT

Our new Discussion Board is live!

Visit forum.fitness4x4.com, join us and discuss everything related to Fitness 4x4 training method - Hour of Power, Dragan Challenge, HOP Workout DVD...

Share your experience with Fitness 4x4 and help us improve.

You can use Facebook or Twitter credentials to quickly create an account on the forum.

See you there :)

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HOP in National Media

Rajko Radovic — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:13:00 GMT

In the next 10days the Hour of Power finds itself featured in two major fitness magazine... a 6page article at the start of April's Muscle & Fitness Magazine (in shops now!) and on the 29th March a full review of the Hour of Power workout in Ultrafit Magazine.

Both articles are really great and shed a very positive light on the Hour of Power - which is of course a relief :) Because no matter how effective and how great many of us know Hour of Power to be, it is still a fitness class that is very different to the norm; it still can be highly demanding and almost awkward to the first-time participant - all those upper body muscles not used to being used to that extent! - and it still is one class amongst many fitness classes trying to find their way in a busy industry. But, as I said quite honetly to Susan from Ultrafit, the Hour of Power was here 25 years ago...and believe it will still be here in 25years - Its just that kind of class. It has staying power...

And with any luck, as more and more people start to experience the class (or the DVD version of the class!) and see for themselves the energy and value it brings, then I think we're going to see Hour of Power popping up on studio timetables, at local halls, in schools...and maybe even on people's tv screens - all across the country.

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Next Certification Course

Rajko Radovic — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:28:00 GMT

Next Hour of Power Certification Course

March 26th-27th Ramada Encore Hotel, Milton Keynes, UK

Bookings can now be taken for this highly inspirational, practical and engaging Fitness Course. Worth 16CPD points for all REPS registered candidates. Full certification to teach the Fitness4x4 'Hour of Power' Studio Workout.

See details and apply

"One of the most unique and inspirational courses I have ever attended". D.S (scotland)

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Rajko's HOP Blog

Rajko Radovic — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:36:00 GMT

It's a busy but exciting period for Hour of Power. In the 25year history of the class, we have never had so many active classes, and so many busy classes! Last week I personally taught and enjoyed classes at two of the UK's leading universities, where there is almost no more space to take attendees. And the London classes are popping up thick and fast - with two more starting at Gymbox clubs tomorrow, and Club Kensington, NuYuu and Flex clubs always at capacity.

So as we approach this next HOP certification Course at the end of March, it's fantastic to see that this revolutionary approach to cardiovascular training is really starting to make it's mark...mostly because of a whole new wave of great instructors. My father started things off...I've done my best to take it forward another small step...and now it's the turn of the new instructors to take it a giant leap forward. (and I'll maybe take myself a little rest :)

Rajko - Hour of Power National Director

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