4 easy fitness trends to try in 2015
While we all know how important exercise is for good mental and physical health, doing the same thing day in, day out can become mighty repetitive after awhile. Not only that, repeating the same or very similar moves will often cause your body to become accustomed to the workout, meaning results will plateau and you may not see the same benefits as you did when you started. The solution? Shaking things up! There’s a range of easy, enjoyable fitness trends out there that can well and truly get you moving in a whole different way.
Stand-up paddle boarding – yes, you’ll have to pull on your swimmers but once you get past that minor obstacle, you’ll see why stand up paddle boarding (or SUP) has become so popular with people of all ages. Low impact and perfect for the warmer summer months, SUP offers a full body cardiovascular workout while also strengthening your arms, thighs and core muscles as well as improving balance and co-ordination. There’s also something incredibly relaxing about being out on the water, indeed many regular SUP’ers rave about the meditative benefits of regular practice. Hop online to find a class near you.
Aqua Zumba – You’ve probably heard of (and even partaken) in an aqua-aerobics class and chances are also good that the hype surrounding Zumba has reached your ears. The latest thing? Combing the two into aqua Zumba! With all the benefits of aqua aerobics (low impact, full body cardio workout that also helps build strength), the Zumba component adds a whole range of new moves and some infectious and heat rate boosting tunes. If traditional Zumba is too much for your joints, aqua Zumba might just be the perfect solution. Google “aqua Zumba” for classes near you.
HIIT training – High Intensity Interval Training (or HIIT) was one of the biggest things to hit the fitness world in 2014 and it continues to gain strength with no sign of stopping anytime soon. Based around the principles of a short burst of intensive exercise followed by an active recovery (then repeated X amount of times), HIIT is a very effective way to increase fitness levels quickly, without having to spend hours at it. While very high-intensity exercise should only be undertaken by regular exercisers, gentle intervals are appropriate for a variety of fitness levels. You could try adding short bursts of powerwalking interspersed with your normal pace, include a hill in your route or if swimming laps are your thing, add a sprint every hundred metres or so.
Ballet barre – With a mix of ballet, yoga and pilates moves, barre body based workouts are hugely popular. Designed to lengthen, strengthen and tone, the workout can be tailored to your personal fitness and flexibility level. Both gyms and dance studios are increasingly offering the class.