Current trends in fitness

Our fascination with the way we look and feel shows no sign of waning as we continue to be inundated with new exercise trends aimed at helping us meet our goals.

According to exercise fitness-trends researchers, the road to better health is paved with new possibilities including some old ones that are poised for a comeback. It is felt that some of the trends that appear to have passed their prime include high-impact aerobics and expensive home-gym equipment. Some trends on their way back include basics exercise plans, functional fitness, mind/body workout and working with a partner.

After we immersed ourselves into a period of high-tech fitness, current trends are indicating that we are going back to the basics to get in shape. The high- tech gadgets were great and we enjoyed them. However, when the novelty becomes dated it is parked. Many of us who could afford a treadmill or an ergometer are in search of something different.

Back to basics

The current back-to-basics trend uses the body and not much else to get in shape. Calisthenics is an integral part of the basics, which includes push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, etc. Many people are now turning to a workout that increases flexibility and core strength that specifically emphasises conditioning of the inner body muscles that provide support for the pelvis, lower back, hip and abdomen all of which provide needed support for the spine to prevent some of the chronic aches and discomforts to which we are prone.

Even more significant is the physicians' referrals as a key component of the 'exercise is medicine' initiative that partners medical professionals with health and fitness professionals to seamlessly integrate exercise into their patients' life.

Meditation and cycling

There are some very popular fitness trends such as the ones that involve combining what seems like opposing exercise involving mind and body activities along with an aerobic routine. Among the current routines, a one-hour workout could combine 10 minutes of meditation, 40 minutes of speed cycling or spinning on an ergometer then 10 minutes of yoga to cool down and refocus the mind.

Others are integrating traditional yoga with a variety of physical activities that facilitate strength-training, core-muscle building, flexibility and endurance.

Exercise with your pet

Regardless of what you have been trying to improve, be it your abs or reducing lower back pain, these new combinations will give you the versatility to do both. As many of us try to remain contemporary in our quest for good health, some of us may want to hire a personal trainer, while others will just get an exercise partner.

Some people now exercise with their pets, especially jogging or walking, and many studies show that people and pets are more successful staying with an exercise programme for the long haul, and with good results.

Dr Kenneth Gardner is an exercise physiologist at Holiday Hills Research Center; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.