Keeping up with fitness crazes
Zumba and boot camps were the clear winners in 2012, but what do the next 12 months have in store? Thea Babington-Stitt reports
BODYWEIGHT TRAINING
What is it? Replace the dumbbells with your body's own weight. Bodyweight exercises are easier on joints and allow for a wider range of movement.
Benefits: You'll get everything you would from weighted equipment, but with less risk of injury.
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Get involved: With no paraphernalia involved, bodyweight training can be done anywhere you have enough room to lie down.
THE LITHE METHODCombine disciplines together and your body will work in ways it's never done before. Pilates and boxing (Piloxing) has already made its debut, but the new craze is the Lithe Method – a blend of aerobics and strength training exercises.
Benefits: The Lithe Method burns fat and sculpts muscle all over.
Get involved: The Lithe Method has yet to hit our shores, but if the popularity of classes in New York has anything to do with it, classes should start popping up in 2013.
HIITWhat is it? HIIT, or high intensity interval training, involves short bursts of intense exercise with breaks in between.
Benefits: HIIT burns calories and kicks your body's repair cycle, meaning you keep burning fat and calories for 24 hours after a session.
Get involved: Any gym or personal trainer should be able to create a routine for you, but while biking, rope jumping and rowing are all great for HIIT, you don't actually need any equipment – anything that gets your heart rate going works.
TRX SUSPENSION
What is it? TRX is (rather tenuously) an acronym for Total body Resistance eXercise and involves a nylon strap and a metal frame which is used to move your body into different positions for working various muscle groups.
Benefits: With more than 300 different exercises possible – think pull-ups, bicep curls and deltoid raises – you're getting a low-impact workout with plenty of toning.
Get involved: UK gyms are still picking up on this trend, but for those with cash to flash, the TRX system can be purchased for at-home use.
KRANKING
What is it? Imagine a spinning class where the pedalling is done with your arms – and you've got your head around Kranking. Moving your arms for 30 minutes might not sound like an exercise class, but this is a serious workout.
Benefits: Proven to burn as many calories in half an hour as a run at a 10 minute mile pace (270), Kranking will burn fat and banish bingo wings.
Get involved: Most UK gyms have a Kranking machine alongside the treadmills and cross-trainers.
THE JACOBS LADDER
What is it? Invented for those recovering from injury), this is a revolving ladder set at a 40 degree incline, similar to a StairMaster.
Benefits: Each climbing stroke forces you into a long, dynamic move ensuring a full range of motion, working multiple muscle groups at one time.
Get involved: Soho gyms and selected Fitness First locations are trialling classes this year.
Workout trends: From left, Gravity, Yoga and ViPR.
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