It’s February, your new year’s resolutions are all but a distant memory and the cold weather has sapped any of your lingering enthusiasm for physical activity. To re-inspire us, the American College of Sports Medicine conducted a survey of more than 2,600 fitness professionals and have ranked, what they believe, to be the top fitness trends for 2012. Most may come as a surprise - contrary to what was expected there is nothing extreme or faddy, in fact (to our great pleasure) it would appear that there is a sizable shift back to basics. So read on and you may find that the key to reinstating your resolutions is to try something new.
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We’ve been championing this trend for a while now: a move out of the gym and into a sport. High Impact sports like tennis or netball doesn’t only impart a skill but will work all major and minor muscle groups through the varied movements. Studies also show that you are more likely to stick with an exercise programme if it involves being part of a team, making sports like hockey and football very popular.
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Structure and discipline appear to be a winning formula if the rising popularity of boot camps is anything to go by. In fact the survey found that exercise enthusiasts are hooked on the challenges and military style drills that are fundamental to most boot camp programmes. Enlist in boot camp and discover will power and determination you never knew you had. Just be prepared to be told what to do, a lot.
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The cult popularity of yoga shows no sign of slowing down, in fact yoga (and its many variations) remains a huge draw for people looking to tone up and to partake in a little stress relief (let alone look like lean-limbed Jennifer Aniston). Traditional practices like Vinyasa (traditional style yoga where one pose flows into another) and Kundalini (emphasis on breathing techniques) are still hugely popular while the more adventurous of yogis are booking in for extreme styles like Bikram and even Anti-Gravity Yoga where you perform your postures while suspended in a hammock.
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According to the survey, Zumba will retain its spot at the top of the classes this year. It combines interval training with Latin dance moves - all to a fast beat (not to mention it’s a whole of lot fun especially when done with a group of friends). It’s aerobic, makes you sweat and burns calories fast. No wonder it is the most successful dance-fitness programme in the world with over 12 million people signed up.
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Thought to be the sole reserve of the rich and famous the personal trainer is on every woman’s wish list. The mammoth costs associated with hiring a personal trainer (often around £60 an hour depending on your location and who you train with) makes this style of a fitness unachievable for most. Which is precisely why the American College of Sports Medicine has predicted that group personal training will be on the increase in 2012 - a lot of personal trainers will offer a discount if you sign up with a friend.
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Far from bulking you up in all the wrong places (it’s a common women/weights myth), training with weights boosts the metabolism, improves posture, as well as improving cardiac function and increasing lean muscle. As a result, strength training with weights is quickly becoming integrated into workouts and gym routines. Click here for David Kirsch’s step-by-step guide to working-out with weights.