Our groom-to-be gets to grips with Bulgarian bag

If it's good enough for Olympic wrestlers, it's definitely good enough to whip the average human into shape. Chalothorn Vashirakovit, our groom-to-be on a six-week bridal bootcamp to lean up and lose 5kg, would attest to that after his first encounter with the Bulgarian bag.

'I definitely felt the work in my core, back and thighs. They were aching all over the next day ... I almost had to roll out of bed instead of sitting up,' says the 30-year-old investment associate with a global investment firm.

Before being introduced to the fitness tool last week by personal trainer Matthew Ha of Pure Fitness in Admiralty, Chalothorn had never seen nor heard of the Bulgarian bag.

It's been a favourite among gym-goers in recent years for functional fitness - or fitness that helps in everyday movement.

Created in 2005 by former Bulgarian Greco-Roman Olympic wrestler Ivan Ivanov, the bag resembles a crescent-shaped leather bolster. But there's no hugging required. Instead, by swinging, spinning, throwing, lifting, pulling and performing other multi-planar movements with the bag, the body is put through a workout that combines both cardio and strength.

Ha says this creates a higher metabolic demand on the body, leading to higher fat and calorie burn. 'In Bulgarian bag training, two different actions must work together: resistance and overall body movement. The ballistic nature of the exercises creates a challenge for the muscles that cardio or a strength workout alone does not achieve,' he says.

'So it's tops for fat loss, core stability and strength training, and really builds cardiovascular endurance, as well.'