Fitness class guide
Aerobics
Aerobics has come a long way since Jane Fonda first donned her legwarmers! The basic premise remains, however: aerobics involves exercising to music, using repetitive patterns of movement to work the cardiovascular system and burn calories. Many aerobics classes have moved more towards dance recently – and so aren’t the best choice for the choreographically challenged – but there is also a move back towards more simple movement patterns, where the focus is on getting a good workout rather than learning moves you can take to the dancefloor.
Read more…Step aerobics
Step aerobics has fluctuated in popularity since its introduction in 1989, but it never goes away. As with aerobics, step classes can range from an athletic but simple routine – involving various ways and combinations of stepping up and down onto an adjustable platform – to practically dancing over a step. The simple act of stepping up and down forms a solid aerobic workout that focuses on the muscle conditioning of the legs and bum. The step is also often used as a base for floor exercises at the end of the class.
Read more…Aqua aerobics
Aqua aerobics is an umbrella term for all kinds of fitness classes that take place in water. Aqua aerobics have got a bit of a reputation as being only suitable for pregnant women and old ladies – but this is far from the case. While the water does provide a supportive environment and minimizes the impact of exercise on the joints, it also provides resistance to every move you make – so even marching on the spot in water is harder than it would be on land. Aqua aerobics is also a good option for those returning to fitness after an injury,
Read more…Body conditioning
The focus of a body conditioning class – variations of which include ‘sculpt’, ‘legs’, ‘body tone’ and so on – is to improve muscular endurance rather than burn lots of calories. Set to music, the moves in a body conditioning class tend to be simple, slow and controlled, and will probably use tools such as resistance bands or light hand weights. Most body conditioning classes start with standing moves and then move on to the floor.
Read more…Circuit training
Circuit training involves a number of exercises – or ‘stations’ – which are performed one after the other, with a short rest in between. The whole exercise circuit is usually repeated a few times. Exercises vary, but tend to include aerobic exercises such as shuttle runs, star jumps and burpees, along with strength moves such as push-ups, squats and lunges.
Read more…Boxercise/kickboxercise
Boxercise and kickboxercise are derivatives of boxing and kickboxing and use the drills and techniques of their respective sports in a non-contact setting, usually in the form of a circuit. For example, you might find yourself shadowboxing, skipping, using punch bags or teaming up with a partner to punch or kick focus pads. Both are considered one of the best all-round high intensity exercise classes to get you in great shape.
Read more…Spinning
Spinning is an indoor cycling class using special ‘fixed wheel’ bikes (in other words you can’t backpedal or freewheel). It derived from the indoor training that real cyclists do, and is a very intense aerobic workout, with a strong lower body focus. In one study into spinning, the average heart rate of participants was 87 per cent of maximum!
Read more…Pilates
Pilates is a form of exercise which works on restoring correct posture and alignment (which are under constant attack from our seated, sedentary lifestyles), strengthening the muscles that stabilize the joints, and working particularly strongly on the abdominals and back.
Read more…Yoga
Yoga strengthens muscles, improves joint flexibility, and enhances balance, coordination and posture through a series of diverse poses (or ‘asanas’).There are many types of yoga. For example, ashtanga yoga is more energetic than viniyoga. Yoga works on the whole body without favouring one side (unlike daily life!), and includes forward and backward bending, twists, balances and inversions.
Read more…Pump/body pump
The concept of a group strength training class using adjustable barbells and set to music has now diversified, and you may find classes with other similar names. Traditionally, ‘pump’ is pre-choreographed and set to music – so you might do lower body moves to one track, chest moves to another track, and a set of exercises for the arms to yet another different track.
Read more…Tai Chi
Tai Chi has been described as ‘meditation in motion’ — and one look at a Tai Chi class in action will tell you why. It is a slow, flowing sequence of movements, known as ‘the form’, which has been practiced in China for centuries. There is a strong focus on how to breathe, and the movements are very precise.
Read more…Fitball/Swiss ball
Seen those oversized ‘beachballs’ knocking around at your gym? These are fitballs – also known as ‘Swiss balls’ – which were originally utilized in a physiotherapy environment for rehabilitation but are now widely used to improve people’s core stability, posture and muscle conditioning.
Read more…Reebok Core Board
The Reebok Core Board concept was influenced by step, and while it hasn’t exactly taken the fitness world by storm, it is growing in popularity and offers an effective and challenging workout to improve muscular strength and function, with a particularly strong focus on the body’s core (the abdominals and back).
Read more…CrewClass
CrewClass is like spinning, but with a rowing machine instead of a bike! So it’s a group class in which an instructor leads and motivates you through a ‘virtual’ rowing trip. Rowing is low-impact but highly aerobic – using most of the body’s major muscle groups, including the bottom, legs, back and shoulders. It’s also good for posture and for flattening the stomach – provided you use good technique.
Read more…Dance
While it’s not strictly a fitness class, dance has permeated onto so many gym studios and fitness timetables that it cannot be ignored! The common factor of dance-based fitness classes is that they are derived from the pure form rather than being a lesson in it. In other words, ballet sculpt class won’t teach you to be a ballerina, and salsaerobics won’t give you the necessary skills to take to the floor like a dance champion! What they will do, though, is give you a taste of the benefits of dance and appeal of the ‘real thing’.
Read more…Zumba
Part of the increasing trend of aerobics classes moving towards dance style workouts to become more engaging, Zumba fitness is now a mega movement. Based on a mix of Latin dance choreography from styles such as salsa and rumba, Zumba is a cardiovascular and aerobic exercise routine that alternates between fast-paced and slow paced dance moves.
Read more…