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EXERCISE TRENDS, like fashion, change from time to time.
And if the American Council on Exercise, a highly
regarded non-profit organization promoting the benefits
of physical activity and protecting consumers against
unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction,
is to be believed, certain expected and certain more
drastic changes will be taking place in people's
exercising patterns. We list them below.
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Active relaxation
is on the rise. Gentler forms of exercise that promote
sleep, longevity, increased energy
and an overall sense of wellbeing will compete with
traditional strength, weight loss and other forms of
exercise promote, according to ACE. Holistic exercise
routines like meditation and yoga will gain in popularity.
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ACE also suggests that awareness
about the importance of strength training will increase
among the ageing population. So, it should be able to
reduce instances of osteoporosis, cholesterol and high
blood sugar. However, "instructors need special training
before they start guiding senior citizens. Otherwise, it
do more harm than good," feels ACE-certified trainer Anwar Wahab.
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More and more fitness classes will
focus on core strength workouts. To achieve balance,
strength and stability of the core (the body's centre of
power), exercise classes that utilise equipment like
stability balls should draw more people. Training the
muscles of the core may also help correct postural
imbalances that can lead to injuries.
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The trends also indicate that
sport-specific training will be the order of the day.
ACE says, "As the number of marathon runners, tennis
players and other athletes increases, so does the
importance of sport-specific training.... A
sport-specific training programme involves focusing on
the specific skills associated with an activity (e.g.,
tennis players strengthening the rotator cuff muscles to
improve their serve), while improving car dio respiratory
endurance, muscle strength and flexibility".
More people may
opt for on-line personal training, as it saves money and
time, overcomes barriers to facility access and helps
encourage individuals to stay active. Many of these
programmes offer practical tips on exercise, one-on-one
fitness consultations with certified fitness professionals
and pro L vide portable exercise tools that help
individuals incorporate fitness into their busy schedules.
But Wahab feels that "on-line training is not as effective
as personal contact with a certified fitness
professional".
There are two other key predictions — exercises will
increasingly become a family affair and companies will
encourage employees to work out and keep fit. Given the
rising graph of childhood obesity, more and more parents
will encourage children to become physically active. As
for why corporations will take this step, it has been seen
that employers who offer such programmes benefit from
reduced healthcare costs, absenteeism, injury rates.
turnover,mproved productivity. and morale.
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