We're mixing things up a bit this week, and instead of sharing one specific workout, we're exploring 5 different ways to help boost your metabolism and burn fat fast, while having fun at the same time!
If you don't really enjoy going to the gym, and you're not really into doing exercise videos at home either, these 5 fun ways to exercise are great ways to lose weight and stay healthy, all while having a great time! Some are social activities that you can do with friends, and others you can do on your own pretty much wherever you are.
(The girl in the video is a bit goofy, so bear with her for the first
minute or so - there really are some super fun ideas here for getting
some great exercise without going to a gym.)
Check these out, and incorporate one or two of them into your life this month to see great results without even having to work at it!
Showing posts with label new fun exercise ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new fun exercise ideas. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
3 Fun New Fitness Trends
If you are tired of your usual exercise routine, why not try something new to keep your workout fresh and interesting? Trying a new workout will allow you to keep challenging your body. Here are 3 fitness trends you may want to try:
1.) Fusion Classes- aerial yoga, piloxing, cardioga, poolates and kayoga are just some of the newest fusion classes we have today. These combo workouts are conceptualized to get the body working in ways it wouldn't otherwise. If you think your current workout routine is not doing enough for you then you absolutely need to try a fusion class.
Let's say you are an avid spinner and you are missing a strength component, you can take a class that uses resistance bands and free weights to train a wider muscle group. Pick a class that has one of your favorite or current workouts in the name. If you are already doing yoga then try a yoga fusion class such as aerial yoga, piloxing (boxing with Pilates) or yogalates.
2.) Dance Fusion Classes- Zumba and Masala Bhangra are great for those who are looking for a fun way to burn the calories. Luckily, they are not the only way to dance away the excess pounds. You can try hip-hop, jazz or striptease aerobics.
If you want a class that incorporates resistance training into different dance routines then you may want to consider house party fitness. There is also a new fitness trend called Pound which is a fusion of cardio, pilates, plyometrics and isometric movements.
The 45-miunute class will help you burn 600-900 calories per hour. With this dance fusion class, you use weighted drumsticks and rhythm to achieve a full body cardio jam workout.
3.) Wellness Coaches- fitness doesn't stop in regular exercise and a healthy diet. Staying fit is a lifestyle and if you are serious about it, you may want to consider seeking the help of a wellness coach. They offer guidance on long-term changes that you can make so you can enjoy a healthy lifestyle for good.
The one-on-one approach is similar to that of personal trainers. The only difference is that a wellness coach looks at your lifestyle and habits holistically. They will then determine what strategies will help you achieve your fitness goals. Ask your doctor or personal trainer if they can recommend a wellness coach. Before meeting with a coach, make sure you are ready to commit to making positive changes in your life. A coach can only help you get where you want to go - they can't make you do something you're not committed to.
 |
| Run Yoga Fusion Class. (Photo credit: Carolyn Coles) |
Let's say you are an avid spinner and you are missing a strength component, you can take a class that uses resistance bands and free weights to train a wider muscle group. Pick a class that has one of your favorite or current workouts in the name. If you are already doing yoga then try a yoga fusion class such as aerial yoga, piloxing (boxing with Pilates) or yogalates.
2.) Dance Fusion Classes- Zumba and Masala Bhangra are great for those who are looking for a fun way to burn the calories. Luckily, they are not the only way to dance away the excess pounds. You can try hip-hop, jazz or striptease aerobics.
If you want a class that incorporates resistance training into different dance routines then you may want to consider house party fitness. There is also a new fitness trend called Pound which is a fusion of cardio, pilates, plyometrics and isometric movements.
The 45-miunute class will help you burn 600-900 calories per hour. With this dance fusion class, you use weighted drumsticks and rhythm to achieve a full body cardio jam workout.
 |
| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The one-on-one approach is similar to that of personal trainers. The only difference is that a wellness coach looks at your lifestyle and habits holistically. They will then determine what strategies will help you achieve your fitness goals. Ask your doctor or personal trainer if they can recommend a wellness coach. Before meeting with a coach, make sure you are ready to commit to making positive changes in your life. A coach can only help you get where you want to go - they can't make you do something you're not committed to.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Rocking It: Six Reasons to Try Rock Climbing for Exercise
As children many of us enjoy climbing. However, climbing isn’t just for children, and taking up climbing as a hobby and form of exercise could be great for you. Here are some of the top reasons why rock climbing could be your next big passion, and why so many people make it a part of their lives.
1. Get Outdoors: Rock climbing can get you outdoors, and often takes you to some really beautiful places. You could find yourself in a local valley, at a national park, or even somewhere on the other side of the world. There is great climbing to be done just about everywhere!
As an outdoor activity, rock climbing also ties in well with other hobbies such as camping and canoeing. You could happily spend a day paddling up a river to a climbing spot, enjoying a challenging climb, and then paddling back to your camp at the end of a great day’s climbing - now that's a full day of exercise.
2. Exercise Indoors: Although rock climbing is more common as an outdoor activity, you can also enjoy it in indoor environments. Many gyms and public sports centers have climbing facilities. This is great for those who don’t have time to get to natural climb spots, or who live in the middle of a big city. It’s also useful for those times when the weather outside is bad.
3. Graded for Difficulty: Rock climbing routes are graded. This indicates how difficult the climb is likely to be. As a climber, you will start out only able to tackle the lowest graded routes. However, with time you’ll improve and be able to tackle harder routes. This grading system allows you to gauge your progress, helping you to recognize your improvement and that of your friends, and feel a sense of accomplishment.
4. Can Be Non-Competitive: Generally, rock climbing is a non-competitive sport. The only person you usually compete against is yourself – to see if you can go that bit further and harder. This makes it a more mentally relaxed pursuit, even though it’s one of the most physically demanding of all sports. Generally all you have to worry about is you and the rock. This makes it therapeutic, helping you to stay focused and stop thinking about the stresses of your daily life.
5. Can Also Be Competitive: While much rock climbing is non-competitive, there are competitive options for those who are interested. Competitions are usually held at indoor locations. Climbers compete in rounds, and are judged on speed, point-reached and various other indicators. If you're a natural competitor, you may want to try out a competition once you get the hang of things. This will bring more fun to your climb!
6. Fitness: In addition to the outright fun that rock climbing offers, it also improves fitness. Climbing itself is strenuous, and will challenge you whether you are a beginner or have become quite advanced. It uses all of the muscles in your body – from the tips of your toes to the tips of your fingers and everything in between! Your legs, glutes, core, chest, shoulders, back, and arms will all be put to the test.
After a certain point, you’ll probably need to start a training program in order to continue to improve your climbing. Having lots of endurance as well as all-round body strength are essential to advanced climbing.
These are just a few of the reasons why so many people today enjoy rock climbing as part of their lifestyle, and why you should consider taking up rock climbing yourself. It’s great fun, challenging, good for the mind and great for the body. What have you got to lose? Go ahead and give it a go, and try one more new, fun way to exercise this year!
 |
| Our last climb of the day (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
As an outdoor activity, rock climbing also ties in well with other hobbies such as camping and canoeing. You could happily spend a day paddling up a river to a climbing spot, enjoying a challenging climb, and then paddling back to your camp at the end of a great day’s climbing - now that's a full day of exercise.
2. Exercise Indoors: Although rock climbing is more common as an outdoor activity, you can also enjoy it in indoor environments. Many gyms and public sports centers have climbing facilities. This is great for those who don’t have time to get to natural climb spots, or who live in the middle of a big city. It’s also useful for those times when the weather outside is bad.
3. Graded for Difficulty: Rock climbing routes are graded. This indicates how difficult the climb is likely to be. As a climber, you will start out only able to tackle the lowest graded routes. However, with time you’ll improve and be able to tackle harder routes. This grading system allows you to gauge your progress, helping you to recognize your improvement and that of your friends, and feel a sense of accomplishment.
4. Can Be Non-Competitive: Generally, rock climbing is a non-competitive sport. The only person you usually compete against is yourself – to see if you can go that bit further and harder. This makes it a more mentally relaxed pursuit, even though it’s one of the most physically demanding of all sports. Generally all you have to worry about is you and the rock. This makes it therapeutic, helping you to stay focused and stop thinking about the stresses of your daily life.
5. Can Also Be Competitive: While much rock climbing is non-competitive, there are competitive options for those who are interested. Competitions are usually held at indoor locations. Climbers compete in rounds, and are judged on speed, point-reached and various other indicators. If you're a natural competitor, you may want to try out a competition once you get the hang of things. This will bring more fun to your climb!
 |
| Rock Climbing 101 (Photo credit: Ann Arbor District Library) |
After a certain point, you’ll probably need to start a training program in order to continue to improve your climbing. Having lots of endurance as well as all-round body strength are essential to advanced climbing.
These are just a few of the reasons why so many people today enjoy rock climbing as part of their lifestyle, and why you should consider taking up rock climbing yourself. It’s great fun, challenging, good for the mind and great for the body. What have you got to lose? Go ahead and give it a go, and try one more new, fun way to exercise this year!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
What Is A YogaFit Workout?
I'm sure you're familiar with yoga, but one fun exercise trend you may not have tried yet which is growing in popularity lately is called YogaFit.
YogaFit was created in 1994 by an experienced certified yoga instructor named Beth Shaw. Beth noticed that traditional yoga principles did not always translate well into the group setting that is commonly found in today’s health clubs.
YogaFit differs from more traditional yoga practice in several important ways. First, YogaFit does not strictly adhere to the ancient Sanskrit names of various postures and poses, which makes YogaFit more reliable and easier to pick up for many participants. In addition, YogaFit does not incorporate the traditional “chanting” that is sometimes done in certain yoga stances. This helps to distill the various yoga exercises into the most “user friendly” experience possible.
What Are the Benefits Of YogaFit?
YogaFit is based upon the time tested principles of Hatha yoga. This style of yoga combines exercises and poses that work to develop a practitioner’s balance, strength, power and flexibility. Yoga poses and movements are ideal as a low impact and safe way to exercise nearly all of the muscles of the body without weights or complicated machinery.
YogaFit also has the benefit of greater accessibility. Some exercisers may be intimidated by (or simply don't relate to) the “spiritual” elements of traditional yoga, so YogaFit offers them a way to take advantage of all of the fitness benefits without having to get up to speed on the nonphysical ones.
How to Get Started with YogaFit
There’s a good chance that YogaFit is currently being offered in a health club or gym near you. Because YogaFit has proven so popular with so many individuals, a number of yoga studios across the country have added YogaFit classes to their traditional yoga offerings. If you have a yoga facility located close to where you live, then this might be the best place to take your first YogaFit class.
If you’re already a member of a fitness facility, ask the staff if they offer YogaFit. If not, then tell them you’re interested. Even if a health club doesn’t have a particular offering, they are likely to consider adding it if enough of their members express an interest.
Wherever you decide to take a YogaFit class, make sure that your instructor is properly certified. YogaFit trains its teachers through various levels of expertise, and also offers three different levels of certification. YogaFit also works to keep its instructors fresh and up-to-date on new techniques through a continuing education program. Many of the YogaFit instructors choose to receive their continuing education at various conferences that are conducted each year throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many of these conferences also have programs that permit students to participate. For individuals who are fully embracing the YogaFit lifestyle, these conferences can be a great way to better their understanding of the exercises they are doing.
You can also find YogaFit workouts in DVD or book format, so you can try this at home whenever you like. Beth Shaw's
version is probably the most popular and well-liked, and you know you're getting great instruction, since she is the founder of the method! See below to pick up a copy for yourself.
YogaFit Resources For Home Workouts:
 |
| Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
YogaFit differs from more traditional yoga practice in several important ways. First, YogaFit does not strictly adhere to the ancient Sanskrit names of various postures and poses, which makes YogaFit more reliable and easier to pick up for many participants. In addition, YogaFit does not incorporate the traditional “chanting” that is sometimes done in certain yoga stances. This helps to distill the various yoga exercises into the most “user friendly” experience possible.
What Are the Benefits Of YogaFit?
YogaFit is based upon the time tested principles of Hatha yoga. This style of yoga combines exercises and poses that work to develop a practitioner’s balance, strength, power and flexibility. Yoga poses and movements are ideal as a low impact and safe way to exercise nearly all of the muscles of the body without weights or complicated machinery.
 |
| Balasana pose in Hatha yoga, commonly known as child pose (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
How to Get Started with YogaFit
There’s a good chance that YogaFit is currently being offered in a health club or gym near you. Because YogaFit has proven so popular with so many individuals, a number of yoga studios across the country have added YogaFit classes to their traditional yoga offerings. If you have a yoga facility located close to where you live, then this might be the best place to take your first YogaFit class.
If you’re already a member of a fitness facility, ask the staff if they offer YogaFit. If not, then tell them you’re interested. Even if a health club doesn’t have a particular offering, they are likely to consider adding it if enough of their members express an interest.
Wherever you decide to take a YogaFit class, make sure that your instructor is properly certified. YogaFit trains its teachers through various levels of expertise, and also offers three different levels of certification. YogaFit also works to keep its instructors fresh and up-to-date on new techniques through a continuing education program. Many of the YogaFit instructors choose to receive their continuing education at various conferences that are conducted each year throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many of these conferences also have programs that permit students to participate. For individuals who are fully embracing the YogaFit lifestyle, these conferences can be a great way to better their understanding of the exercises they are doing.
You can also find YogaFit workouts in DVD or book format, so you can try this at home whenever you like. Beth Shaw's
version is probably the most popular and well-liked, and you know you're getting great instruction, since she is the founder of the method! See below to pick up a copy for yourself.YogaFit Resources For Home Workouts:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)