Fun New Fitness Trends for 2012

Photo Credit: Barre3.Wordpress.com

In a recent search for celebrity fitness trends, I found myself intrigued not by what the celebrities were doing but by new and innovative fitness activities being done around the nation. The following workouts are adaptive representations of dance, workouts, yoga, and more, combined to make new, hybrid workouts, if you will, for those people looking to try new things.

Barre3® originally started in Portland, Oregon by key players in the 24 Hour Fitness “empire”. The workout is a combination of ballet, yoga, and Pilates. It focuses on improving balance, strength, and flexibility in one hour sessions that you can attend live or view online. Tools include the ballet barre (handrail), resistance bands, light free weights, and soft medicine balls.

TRX Suspension® is not a new workout routine but it’s popularity is growing rapidly, one because of its convenience. Originally created for Navy Seals, the only equipment needed is a stretchy nylon strap and a handle that attaches to most doors. It can easily be packed into a suitcase when traveling, which is why it has celebrity fans like supermodel Gisele Bundchen and singer Gwen Stefani. If it’s a trainer you want, there are classes available and gyms equipped with a high-tech version of the suspension system.

Self-Myofascial is a way of helping your muscles relax and recover from a great workout. It uses tennis balls, foam rollers, and an assortment of other round objects to massage your muscles as you stretch, increasing flexibility too. It can help shorten recovery time after a workout because it helps you improve mobility in your joints, and muscles.

Caponyasa 360 is a spin-off of the Brazilian martial arts form Capoeira and India’s vinyasa flow yoga. Benefits of this workout include better posture and balance as well as full-body strengthening, especially in your core. As if that weren’t enough, Caponyasa 360 proves to be a good cardio workout too.

Stroller Strides® is a mom-friendly workout routine that involves a number of tools, one of which is a stroller. The program allows moms to workout while engaging their babies, leaving the need for a baby sitter and other excuses behind. Between power walking, resistance bands, and other full-body exercises, Stroller Strides may very well change how busy moms see fitness.