Top 10 Fitness Trends of 2010: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

10.  BOSU Ball - This balance training device literally stands for “BOth Sides Up”.  The BOSU Ball is an incredibly versatile strength training and cardio tool.

9.  Cardio Strip Tease Classes – The fitness crazies have finally combined hot bodies and hot moves.  Variations may include pole and chair dancing.  It’s not only the erotic nature of this dancing that will make you sweat, but the grinding hip, leg and ab work you’ll experience.



8.  Stand Up Paddle boarding - As much as it sounds like a cruel form of torture, it’s not!  Stand Up or SUP Paddle boarding has been  a huge rage here in the lowcountry and beyond.  It essentially involves standing on a board that is much longer, thicker and wider than the traditional surfboards.  It’s a great form of overall strength and balance training.

7.  Hot (Bikram) Yoga - Take some of the traditional Yoga moves and turn the temps up to 110 degrees in the room.  Sweat out the toxins, warm up your muscles, and get a good stretch.



6.  Zumba - The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away.

5.  Fitness Apps – Got an Iphone, Backberry or Android?  If so, you’ve got to pick up some of these fitness apps.

4.  High Intensity Workout Programs – This includes P90x, Insanity and CrossFit.  You’ve got to be strong-willed to give these a try, but the results are astounding.  The growing numbers of High Intensity exercisers swear by their program.

3.  TRX Suspension Training - Born in the U.S. Navy SEALS and developed by Fitness Anywhere, Suspension Training is a revolutionary method of leveraged bodyweight exercise.  Safely perform hundreds of exercises that build power, strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, and prevent injuries, all at the intensity you choose.

2.  Reebok Easy Tone and Sketchers Shape Ups - I am a bit skeptical, but many swear by them.  Read more here.



1.  Shake Weight - I can’t say that I’ve actually tried it, but sure has been the buzz this year.  To be honest, it just kind of freaks me out.  Don’t be fooled by the gimmick.

Fitness Fads of 2010

The year 2010 has finally arrived, and along with the new decade, comes fresh and innovative ways of incorporating fitness and physical activity into your lifestyle.  Let’s be honest: the only way of sticking to your exercise program is to move and groove by means of enjoyment.  Finding enjoyable and enlivening activities keeps our adherence levels high.

 

New classes and fitness fads are spreading like wildfire! So, let’s take a look at some of the hottest blazing fitness fads:

 

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning fitness methodology.  Its stated goal is to create "the quintessential athlete, equal parts gymnast, Olympic weightlifter, and sprinter.  Crossfit is not sport-specific and promotes broad and general overall physical fitness.  CrossFit uses Olympic weightlifting, kettlebells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, and many calisthenics exercises. CrossFit athletes run, row, climb ropes, jump up on boxes, flip giant tires, and carry odd objects. They can also bounce medicine balls against the floor or a target on a wall. 

Learn more about CrossFit here.  You can even test out the WOD (workout of the day).

 

Zumba is a program that fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms with easy to follow dance moves. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt the body while burning fat.  Most local gyms have Zumba classes – so call yours to start zumba-ing today!

 

Belly Dancing is a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise (dance) that is suitable for all ages. Many of the moves involve isolations which improve torso flexibility. The hips, shoulders, chest, and stomach do most of the isolations.  Not only will you tone your core, but you get to wear a fun jingling skirt!

 

Les Mills Body Pump is a weight based group exercise program. The classes are performed to music using free weight plates, barbells and an aerobic step. Participants choose their weights based on their fitness level, the exercise and their personal goals.  All major muscle groups are worked by isolation based exercises (i.e. squats, presses, dead lifts, etc.). The main focus is muscular endurance, thus several repetitions will be performed. 

 

Boot Camp is a type of challenging outdoor group exercise that mixes traditional callisthenic and body-weight exercises with interval and strength training.  Sprints, push-ups and various forms of plyometric exercises combined with interval training (training with little rest between exercises) outlines your typical boot-camp.  Many are held in parks or local gymnasiums during early morning hours.   Check out the H3 Boot Camp workout.


 

Flirty Girl Fitness is a group fitness class focused around women.  Flirty Girl Fitness offers many styles of fitness dance, etc,.  Particularly one we want to discuss is chair strip-tease. This class introduces the art of the sexy chair dance while giving you the best core workout you ever had.  Check it out.

 

So…..we want to know your thoughts.  What have you tried?  What would you try?

 

Let’s throw this one out there…Flirty Girl Fitness is of huge interest to H3. We want to hear from you!  Please post your thoughts about the possibility of adding a chair dancing class to our weekly schedule!?!