Thursday, December 22, 2011

5 Fitness Trends to Get You Moving!


By Heather Calcote, RD

The year of 2011 has proven to be abundant in active, trendy movements for the world of fitness & health. We're constantly seeing new classes added to gym schedules, and watching exercise worlds collide as people are branching out of their elliptical or "dreadmill" rut and letting their heart rate jump to a different beat.
If you're looking for a new way to sweat, move or just motivate yourself or your family members to get that workout in, we have a few options for you! The list below represents the latest trends in fitness, all of which we deem worth spending some energy on:

Zumba: When you mix aerobic-style dancing with the Latin music influence and a dance-studio workout, you have Zumba. It is described as "a new kind of dance-fitness, one that focused on letting the music move you".  Created and spread by Alberto "Beto" Perez, Zumba has converted a diverse group of people to give the gym one more try - it might actually be fun
              
Cross Fit: Separate from the free weights at the gym, and unlike any "body-pump" or "total fitness" class we've seen yet. Cross Fit combines weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, sprinting, balance, stamina & flexibility. According to CrossFit.com, it is "the principal strength and conditioning program" for everyone from police academies to elite athletes.
It is not for the weak of heart; you can start as a beginner and build up your strength, but go in with the right mentality and be prepared to work your muscles in ways they've never been tested before.
This can be a great way to introduce yourself to a variety of weight-training practices, building muscles and mixing up the cardio-routine block.

Spin-Yoga: Just as the name suggests, these classes combine the worlds of indoor cycling (Spin) and the stretching, meditating practice of yoga. Typically a 30-45 minute spin class will warm you up, to get the blood flowing and muscles working hard. Then, you kick off your shoes and roll out your mat in the yoga studio. You'll probably find it easier to reach the toes in a forward fold, but it might be harder to hold that chair-pose squat!
Mixing the sweat-inducing cycling session with the calm, meditative yoga is a great way to introduce yourself to either type of class. You get a dose of each, as you complement cardio with strength.  
                
Barre Workouts: Ballet may be one of the best leg workouts that many people have never tried; it's a secret sculpting weapon, and its barre asset has traded scenes to enter workout routines. The Bar Method and Pure Barre are two types of fitness classes that have formed around using pilates, ballet and interval training principals together. 
There are a variety of studios that have branched off of the original techniques to form their own types of classes, and many gyms now offer something of the like. Geared to challenge both the dancers and non-graceful types, get your legs ready to shake and pliƩ!

Ryder Bikes: Riding a bike indoors is no longer synonymous with "stationary". The Ryder bike is designed to simulate an actual road bike, allowing you to steer and lean, move and work on balance.  The official Ryder bike website describes this as a "5-in-1 workout for the whole body - not simply legs and cardio, but also upper body, core muscle groups, and balance."
As a much more attractive alternative to the stiff seat or unrealistic recumbent posture of most indoor bikes, this will satisfy cyclists and cardio-junkies alike. While it is a great all-around workout, it is also as close as you can get to the real thing without battling cars, inclement weather or a fear of crashing.  Add in music, a motivating group-class atmosphere and the option to change resistance levels and you've got the recipe for a fun challenge!

Have you tried any new fitness classes this year? Feel free to add to the list with a comment!