Fitness This Year: What to Expect
Lots of people aspire to get in shape and stay that way, and this is a great idea for several reasons. Being in shape helps you keep stress under control, slows the aging process, and helps us feel better about ourselves. This spring, looking and feeling good are still in style, and while there is the usual assortment of new work-out programs to choose from, basic cardio and strength training programs are gaining popularity. Fast-fix diets and weight loss pills appear to be a thing of the past. What will Spring 2009 bring to the fitness front?
Help for Overweight Children
Obesity has always been a major problem for a lot of people but over the years there has been a disturbing increase in the number of children who suffer from this condition. This year will bring about continued and focused efforts to address childhood obesity, especially as studies show this condition can cross over to adulthood.
More Professional Fitness Gurus
Even as personal training has become more affordable and readily accessible, people are also becoming more discerning of the services that they acquire. There is a growing demand for fitness professionals with credible certification. People dont take wellness lightly and are unwilling to compromise on the quality of fitness programs that they choose.
A Complete Workout with Pilates
Pilates remains a top-notch way to get and stay in shape. It benefits you in a number of ways. It makes you stronger and more flexible, which makes you less likely to injure yourself. It also helps you cope with the physical and emotional symptoms of stress.
Employers Get On Board
Corporations continue to extend the benefits that they provide to their employees in the form of a well-devised wellness scheme, and why not? Studies show that wellness programs can increase employee productivity, which in the long run spells benefits for companies as well.
More Choices Make Exercising Fun
You can find lots of programs intended to focus on one fitness aspect or activity, like spinning or core training, which is great if you specifically want the type of results these activities offer. If you need to work on your balance, strength, or a number of other issues there are programs for these as well.
More Elderly Athletes
Staying fit is no longer a young persons game. A growing number of seniors are recognizing the benefits of working out well into their old age. Most gyms offer workout programs aimed at seniors. These workouts feature low-impact activities like walking or water aerobics, and they focus on issues specific to seniors.
New Workouts Focus on Everyday Activities
This is a great way to make your life easier all-around. Known as Functional Fitness, these regimens are designed around the household chores and activities like raking leaves, sweeping, or working in your vegetable garden. Sometimes, the movements you would use to do these chores are actually replicated as part of the routine.
A Better Way to Lose Weight
The age of the quick-fix weight loss program are over. Todays weight loss programs are more realistic and focus on long-term results and overall healthiness, not just dropping 20 pounds. They teach members how to eat better and how to work exercise into their daily lives.
Other trends to watch out for this year are the:
1. Training with the buddy system, 2. Training based on a specific sport or activity 3. Coaches for overall wellness, as opposed to a workouts-only trainer