There’s a new class in town
Exercise classes are experiencing a not-so-quiet revolution, and the results are fitness with more than a dash of fun. Chances are, there’s a class being offered near you that falls into one of these hot trends. But if you can’t find one, or prefer to work out solo, check your video store for a DVD.
So you think you can dance?
Dance class has come a long way since the 1-2-3 footprints on the floor, and thanks to some recent popular TV shows, all forms are cool again. If the music moves you, check out a local dance studio, or even a gym, for classes in Lindy hop, ballroom, Latin or hip hop. Even ballet is becoming popular as an exercise form. Be sure to inquire whether the class is choreography- or fitness-focused.
Mix it up
Combos and hybrids are turning up in gyms across the country, for a best-of-both-worlds approach. The results are fresh, surprising and sometimes comical: yoga and pilates (yolates) or spinning and pilates (spinates). Then there’s the unlikely punk yoga, where Hatha yoga is practiced to various types of live music. Dance classes are also getting in on the hybridization, with salsa cardio, hip hop abs and yoga trance dance.
International flavours
By borrowing from movement around the world, classes can add a touch of the exotic that makes a workout an extraordinary experience. Try Masala Bhangra (Indian dance to a drumbeat with a focus on abs), belly dance, flamenco, Krav Maga (an Israeli form of hand-to-hand combat that’s easy to learn), Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts/dance fusion) or Forza (samurai sword training).
New age for the new millennium
If you enjoy a gentler exercise, try a different form of yoga, like Ashtanga or Vinyasa, which emphasize flow from one movement to another, resulting in a more challenging workout than Hatha. Or try Nia (a blend of eastern and western dance, martial arts and the healing arts) or IntenSati (billed as “a high-energy workout for body, mind and soul”).
Back to basics
If you’re a traditionalist, fear not! There are still plenty of classes that provide excellent cardio and strength training. Try boxing or kick-boxing, circuit training, boot camps, kettle bells (a form of hand-held weights, like a compact dumbbell with handles) and old-school step class.