A workout designed to get you the beautiful, lithe body of a ballerina by incorporating strength, balance and flexibility elements in an hour-long class, barre studios are quickly popping up all over the country. And with good reason. The class is a shock to the system initially, but you'll start to see results incredible quickly, not just in a reducing of your jeans size but in an overall improvement in your posture and functional strength day to day.
A warning: One class and some very clumsy moves on the barre got shaking from exhaustion all over - it is not as easy as your instructor will make it look.
Barre class at Re:ab gym, Grey Lynn. Photo / Getty Images
High Intensity Interval Training
Chances are you've tried at least one version of HIIT already. Spin classes, boot camps, tabata sets, sprint training, anything that works the body hard in shorter bursts falls under the category of High Intensity Interval Training, an extremely popular method for fitness professionals the world over.
HIIT works by putting your body under intense strain for short periods of time, forcing it to use up maximum amounts of energy and dig into fat reserves to fuel the exercises with each set. Repeated, it makes for a fast and effective way to tone up and lose weight.
Photo / Thinkstock
Telemetry
Tom Tom watches, Fit Bits, Nike Plus, Adidas MiCoach or any other preferred gadget that measures your fitness progress are fast becoming the go-to for those both new and old to regular training. It's easy to see the benefit in fitness gadgets which give you a clear and user-friendly way to record your fitness journey. These clever additions to your workout wardrobe can map your running distances and speed, instruct you on your new route, provide inspiration for resistance exercises and guide you through warm down stretches, even allowing you to compete with your friends. A fantastic way to keep you on track with your goals and regular exercise habits.
Photo / Thinkstock
Yoga
Yoga is showing no sign of reducing its steady climb in popularity around the world with even little 'ol New Zealand adopting its very own Wanderlust festival. There's no denying its effectiveness either - yoga stretches strengthen and release tension from the body all at once, an invaluable tool in helping to find a place of calmness in the mind and connect to the world around you amidst the everyday hustle and bustle.
If you haven't found a form that works for you yet don't stress, there are plenty of different varieties out there. From hot yoga to aerial yoga and even naked yoga, there's bound to be something you will want to commit to on a weekly basis.
Photo / Thinkstock
Time Efficiency
Spending 60-minutes sweating up a storm every single day simply isn't necessary to maintain a healthy fitness routine. So long as the time you do workout is being used effectively. There's nothing wrong with taking your time on a longer session when you can afford to, but a higher intensity 30min session can be just as rewarding on a regular basis, particularly for those who just can't spare any more time.
Keep an eye out for shorter group training classes on your gym timetable or make up your own outdoors. Cut your run time in half by including a set of hill sprints, add 50 burpees to the beginning and end of a short resistance workout or check out ways to hit a High Intensity Interval Training set at home.
Plenty of trends to keep on your radar as we move forward into 2015, and with something to suit everyone there really are no excuses not to get into a regular workout routine. The trick is just to find the one that you enjoy.
Have you tried and tested any of these trends? What will be on your summer fitness agenda? Join the discussion on the Herald Life Facebook page.
- nzherald.co.nz
