GET YOUR THINKING caps on because you just know you’re going to go hell for leather on fitness in the New Year.
Nothing is out of bounds. You’ll vow to do four gym sessions a week, five exercise classes and eat nothing but grilled asparagus… until you hit mid-January and saw ‘screw this’…
But try something new at least, because you might just enjoy it. We selected five classes most gyms should be able to offer you. Just be ready to make a tool of yourself if you’re a newbie.
1. TRX
TRX training — or suspension training as it’s often referred to — is a brilliant way to get a total body workout and can be used to train power, strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility and core stability simultaneously.
Most gyms nowadays are equipped with the requisite materials to host a TRX class, which to be fair, is very little.
Admittedly, it is a daunting prospect to go into your first class and if you’ve not tried it before you could be in for a shock. But it’s like any class – or sport – you try for the first time, you’ll probably be awful at it. So just go for it.
2. Zumba
Zumba Fitness is a Latin-inspired cardio-dance workout that uses music and choreographed steps to form a fitness party atmosphere. While many of the types of dance and music featured in the program are Latin American inspired, classes can also contain everything from jazz to African beats to country to hip-hop and pop.
3. Boxercise
This is an absolute belter and real crowd-pleaser because as long as you’re gritting your teeth and hammering the bag like it’s your cheating ex’s head, it’s all good. No, seriously, as classes go, this one is the one where you’re least likely to make a complete idiot of yourself while provided you stick to the plan of the instructor, you’ll be screaming by the end of it.
You’ll do intervals working your arms, skipping for your legs and of course letting rip with the speed and punch bags.
4. Pilates
Prepare to feel as pliable as a scaffolding bar. Prepare to feel like a total pity as you see 65-year-old women tie themselves up in sheepshank knots. Prepare to feel pain in your core like you’ve not experienced before and if you’re really unlucky, prepare to have someone’s ass right up in your face. This is pilates.
The good points are that you’ll develop longer, leaner muscles, increase your core stability, feel more agile, flexible and stronger.
5. Kettlebells
A real blowout of a class, a kettlebell workout combines cardiovascular, strength, flexibility and mobility exercises and if done properly you won’t wanna see another one for two days. The weights are similar to dumbbells but the fundamental difference is the former hang a few inches below the handle, making them slightly harder to control.
You’re going to be lifting, pushing, pulling, pressing, swinging as well as a host of other exercises. Sounds like fun, dunnit?