Spinning spin-offs like Soulcycle, Flywheel and Kinetic Cycling represent an evolution of indoor classes and old- school outdoor cycling. Meanwhile, fitness instructors and wellness consultants note that Zumba has set the stage for dance-oriented workouts, diverging from Latin rhythms into hip-hop and other music genres. If workouts are increasingly encroaching on “social”


activities like dancing, it’s because the nation—or at least the expanding population trying to live healthier lifestyles— is undergoing 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 Nutrition and Dietetics observes, “There’s a shift in culture.” He says, “People are sick of ‘yo-yo-ing’ with fad diets


and exercise routines, and they are looking for effective new approaches, whether for dieting, social life, accountability or competition.” He sees this new mindset fueling the prolifera- tion 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 DeSim- one. These can range from integrating a few five-minute sprints to enhance a half-hour walk to engaging in formal- ized Asian-influenced Tabata classes and boot camps. High-intensity workouts aren’t for everyone. “HIIT is best de-


livered when it does not use the one-size-fits-all approach,” 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 equip- ment 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 support in achieving their desired results is propelling growing num- bers of trainers and coaches to obtain health and fitness college degrees and postgraduate 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 approach and intensity, but often emphasize “functional fitness”, focusing on build- ing strength and balance useful in everyday life, rather than more athletic or competitive training. Yoga: This ancient mind-body workout continues to ex- tend 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/surf- ing combination of Yoga Board.


Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science. Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.


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