ing a broader lifestyle transformation, says Jim White, of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The registered dietitian, award-winning fitness pro and national spokesman for the Academy of Nutri- tion and Dietetics observes, “There’s a shift in culture.” He says, “People are sick of ‘yo-yo- ing’ with fad diets and exercise rou- tines, and they are looking for effective new approaches, whether for dieting, social life, accountability or competi- tion.” He sees this new mindset fueling the proliferation of websites and phone apps that facilitate everything from counting calories and steps walked daily to on-the-go workouts.
What’s Playing Interval Training: Both high- and low-intensity variations can resemble a fountain of youth for older adults, says DeSimone. These can range from integrating a few five-minute sprints to enhance a half-hour walk to engaging in formalized Asian-influenced Tabata classes and boot camps. High-intensity workouts aren’t for
everyone. “HIIT is best delivered when it does not use the one-size-fits-all ap- proach,” says Tony Ordas, a kinesiology lecturer at California State University, San Marcos. “Participants need to have an established level of cardiovascular endurance before increasing intensity.” Body Weight Training: The
natural, timeless exercise approach of using our own body weight instead of equipment can, if done right, hone muscles and build core strength, often in creative ways.
Personal Training, Small-Group Training and Wellness Coaching: Rising demand by individuals for sup- port in achieving their desired results is propelling growing numbers of train- ers and coaches to obtain health and fitness college degrees and postgradu- ate certifications.
Specialized Fitness Programs:
Programs geared to the needs of particular groups such as pregnant women, older adults, dog owners and those interested in losing weight remain popular. Activities vary in ap- proach and intensity, but often empha- size “functional fitness”, focusing on building strength and balance useful in
natural awakenings January 2014 53
everyday life, rather than more athletic or competitive training. Yoga: This ancient mind-body
workout continues to extend from East to West, building on a host of classical forms such as hatha, ashtanga, kripalu, kundalini and Vinyasa. Relatively new forms also are extensive, from power
yoga, Bikram and Yogalates to emerging hybrids like the yoga/surfing combina- tion of Yoga Board.
Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science. Visit
ChristineMacDonald.info.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72