The wonderful thing about the fitness industry is that it is always changing. There are constantly new pieces of research that get incorporated into a fitness trend or a dynamic instructor will burst onto the scene with an infectious way to get people to move. Here are some trends for 2009. Use them to shake up the same old, same old.
If you’ve been a regular exerciser for years I recommend throwing in one or two new workouts per month to mix it up. You might surprise yourself and go in an entirely new direction with your fitness routine.
If you’re new to working out I recommend trying something new as much as possible. As a newbies it could take a while to find your groove. Maybe you thought you’d be a StairMaster Queen but it turns out Yoga is your thing. Maybe you wanted to return to your high school swim meet days but have discovered your inner boxing champ.
The point is, any new fitness trend should be considered an opportunity to cross-train your body, meet new people, and have fun.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) publishe an annual list of their top fitness trends. A few ideas are . . .
1. Boot Camps. Bootcamps are popping up all over the place, many even taught by war veterans! A quick Google search will show plenty of options in your area. The thing to look for is an instructor who is certified as a personal trainer and knows how to work with people with joint issues. Lunges on park benches can be really tough on your knees! These classes are fast-paced and calorie blasting. They tend to be early in the morning so you start your day raring to go.
2. Budget-Friendly training. The ACE survey states that many people are forgoing their gym members and cutting out their personal trainers. This leaves people seeking out cheap alternatives. Joggers should increase as well as fitness DVD sales. There is also a huge trend this year with the Wii Fit, one of the big successes of the past Christmas season has put lots of people on little white boards in their living rooms.
3. Speciality classes at gyms will take off. Some favorites are Zumba, Bollywood (go Slumdog Millionaire!) and hula hooping. I’m also a big fan of Yoga Booty Ballet even though they’ve been around for a few years now. Check your health club for new offerings, you’ll find a lot of upbeat classes that will help us take our minds off the recession, even if just for an hour.
4. Baby-Boomer Fitness will continue to grow. The AARP embarked on a campaign in the Fall of 2007 to increase exercising among it’s members. Exercise has been proven in study after to study to combat the ravages of age including osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, memory loss, etc. Look for programs in your area that aren’t as stressful on the joints until you get up to speed. Great options are yoga, Pilates, ballroom dancing and walking clubs.
5. Techie Workouts will continue to grow. From downloading workouts onto your iPod to using the aforementioned Wii Fit to placing a computer chip in your running shoe. Technology will continue to guide us in lieu of a formal trainer. Plus guys love gadgets. Any kind of gadgets.
6. Event or Sport-specific exercise. You decide to run a 5K but you haven’t laced on sneakers in 3 years, or the company’s charity basketball game is scheduled and your boss made you signup for his team. Many individuals will train for an event as big as a marathon or as small as a bowling match. This might entail purchasing books on the subject, visiting web sites, or even hiring a trainer or coach to get you to the next level. With any luck, once the event is over the participant will continue on because they’ve grown to love the movement. Whatever your sport a local Google search will probably yield the best results. For a list of running events in your area check out Runner’s World.
I hope this has given you some great ideas on how to mix up your fitness routine. If you’re not sure about what you should do, just leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer.
Thanks,
Lisa
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Here’s a new idea that I’m trying now: Wii Fit. Seems to me to be a good introduction to exercises that may be new to an individual, to be learned in the privacy of one’s home. I’m enjoying the yoga routine, for instance. This introduction may lead to more formal yoga instruction. Add to that the strength training, and it goes on from there.
I think it’s great to do Wii fit at home, in some ways the yoga is harder than in a class because you can “see” exactly where you’re losing your balance. I was really struggling on some poses. You might find your steadier on one side or in one direction too. That’s normal and with practice the imbalances will lessen or go away entirely. Thanks for your comment.