The claim of EMS is pretty lofty, namely that a 20-minute workout is equivalent to two hours in the gym. "There is no other workout where you can focus on your arms, but simultaneously also have every other large muscle group working and completely activated," says Anna Herrin, a model, trainer, and co-owner of The Studio EMS in Los Angeles. "EMS contracts up to 90 percent of muscle fibers and can help your body do up to 85 contractions per second."
I decided to join the ranks of EMS-devotees Usain Bolt and Victoria Secret models Elsa Hosk and Alessandra Ambrosio and try the EMS workout for myself. Over the course of a month, I did eight 20-minute sessions (twice per week). Keep reading to learn about my EMS experience and my results.
What Is an EMS Workout?
EMS delivers electrical impulses to targeted muscle groups, stimulating the deep muscle fibers which are often hard to engage during regular exercise. According to Herrin, pairing these muscle contractions with movement makes for a very efficient workout, usually in just 20 minutes.
EMS is meant to target almost all of the major muscle groups in your body: inner thighs, hamstrings, abs, low back, mid-back, shoulders, chest, glutes, and arms. You can also turn off specific areas of the suit to just focus on the muscle groups you want to target. "With EMS, you're working your whole body for the entirety of the 20-minute session," says Herrin. Because the EMS suit is bypassing your brain and contracting your muscles for you, you have no other option but to keep your muscles fully engaged for the entire workout, she adds.
