Goodbye Pilates, Hello Bootcamp!
Pilates will become less popular in 2011 while military-style fitness programmes will become even more popular, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual paper on global fitness trends. Last year Pilates was still in 8th position on the global fitness trends list, but this year it does not even feature in the top 20. In bootcamps, the focus is on everything from cardiovascular fitness to strength, endurance and flexibility. So get out of that studio that controls everything from your mood to your breathing, and start sweating it out at your local Bootcamp.
Get Fit Without Breaking the Piggy Bank
A big money-saver in 2011 is the introduction of group personal training classes which will help to make personal training more affordable. And to make the deal a little sweeter, many personal trainers who take on group classes will throw in a personalised diet, which means you get two for the price of one!
The Old Faithful
Yoga has stood the test of time and will continue to grow in 2011. Experts attribute this to availability of good instructional books and DVDs. So no more excuses of not liking a gym environment – simply roll out that yoga mat at home.
Spinning to Fitness
Spinning has been on the hot trends list for the last five years and seems set to stay there. It will probably always remain popular because it provides the opportunity to train no matter what the weather, and of course without having to worry about motorists and road rage.
The Complete Package
Complete wellness coaching will likely see an upward curve in 2011 as more women realise that wellness is not only about exercise or healthy eating, but about a total lifestyle change, where all your actions and thoughts should contribute to a healthy and happy you. So if you are looking for a bit more than just eating right and exercising regularly, contact your nearest wellness coach for a total lifestyle makeover.
Fitness trends are fun to follow, but no matter what form of exercise you choose in 2011, just make sure you keep moving! This could be YOUR year to achieve your goals and surpass your own perceived limits.
GREAT PRODUCTS FOR GIRLS
RAINFOREST MOISTURE HAIR BUTTER FOR DRY HAIR
Running and especially swimming subjects your hair to the harsh African sun and chlorine damage. Most of us who love sport know the feeling of getting back from a long run or a swim and battling with dry and tangled hair. However, your hair should not suffer just because you love sport. This month we tried the Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter for dry hair, available from all Body Shops.
It’s a luxuriously rich and intensive deep-conditioning treatment to get soft , glossy and tangle-free hair. It contains pracaxi oil, manketti nut oil and Community Trade honey and olive oil. Apply and comb evenly through hair from root to tip, leave for at least five minutes, massage with some warm water, then rinse thoroughly.
TIP: Another great way to keep your hair from drying out is to apply an avocado and egg yolk mix. Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing.
THIS MONTH WE TRIED: HULA-HOOPING
As a child there were a few things I simply couldn’t do. My cartwheels looked like tumbles, somersaults ended up as belly flops, and a Hula Hoop spent more time on the floor than around my waist. But this month I needed a challenge and a bit of fun to spice up the dreaded January ‘back to reality’ feeling, and those in the know claim hula-hooping tones and strengthens core muscles…
So, after a visit to my local sports store to find a neon pink Hula Hoop the fun started. I was giggling after the first twirl but managed to keep it going for a minute at a time before I had to stop due to exhaustion. I kept at it for about half an hour. At first I thought there was no chance this could add to my core strength, but the next day my midriff and buttocks told me I had definitely been working the intended muscles. So no more sit-ups or crunches for me, only Hula-Hooping will do!