New Year's Resolution? Try 2011's Hottest Fitness Classes!
By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
The New Year is a mere month away, and along with 2011 comes fresh group fitness schedules at gyms around the country.
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To find out which fun new workouts you shouldn't miss, we spoke to exercise physiologist Amy Dixon, group fitness manager for Equinox in Santa Monica, Calif., and Kathie Davis, executive director and co-founder of the IDEA Heath & Fitness Association.
TRX Suspension Training: According to the American Council on Exercise, TRX Suspension Training is going to be one of the most popular fitness trends of 2011. This stretchy band-style device (see pic above) attaches to any stationary, stable object and allows you to work your muscles in all planes of motion. The style of training is known as "suspension training" and uses gravity and your body weight to develop strength, balance, flexibility and core stability. The tool itself has been around for a little while, but it's just starting to pop up in group fitness settings. Click here to check out SELF's TRX workout.
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Zumba:This popular Latin dance-inspired fitness craze has attracted more than 7 and a half million people worldwide -- and continues to grow. No surprise, since it's ridiculous fun and burns 500 to 1,000 calories an hour. There are several new versions of the class, including Aqua Zumba, Zumba Toning (more strength-focused) and Zumba Gold (for older folk).
BOSU Boot Camp:This new class being offered at Crunch facilities in 2011 combines the popularity of the BOSU (looks like a stability ball sliced in half) with the boot camp trend. Incorporating BOSU's unstable surface into workout moves challenges your balance and stability and works your core in a major way. During the class, the instructor alternates between strength and cardio drills on the BOSU and on the floor, so your body has to constantly switch gears.
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ViPR (pronounced "Viper"):The ViPR looks like 3-foot piece of rubber pipe, but is actually one of the most innovative training tools we've seen in a long time. In 2011, Equinox locations will be introducing the first classes that incorporate the ViPR -- you throw, lift, drag, flip, step on and roll the weighted tube to get a killer, full-body workout.
Use the IDEA Health Fitness Association's FitnessConnect database to find any of these classes near you, and even check to see if your trainer is certified (studies show that 45 percent of trainers who claim to be certified are actually NOT -- shady!).
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Photo Credit: Fitnessanywhere.com
