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Options for workout
Pick the exercise that fits your fitness level and goals
We have talked previously about
how you can pick simple exercises to stay fit and even lose
weight. The key is that you should have your very
own exercise program and stick to it. But what if you want to take it up one step higher? What if you have already started to enjoy workouts and fitness? Well then there are other exercises that you can pick and they are also not complicated either.
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Kickboxing:
This is an intense workout that is full of energy and aggressive movement. It burns hundreds of calories each hour and is often used by athletes and sports stars. It can be somewhat scary for an average person who is merely trying to lose some weight or stay fit but if you start small and keep an open mind it can actually be a lot fun. Our advice is that if you find kick boxing to be a major challenge, you can always try something else to build your stamina
first and take this later on when you are ready. Tai Chi: Originally from
China, Tai Chi is essentially a form of meditation with a focus on both the body and the mind. No surprise then that it is a mild exercise.
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 Pilates:
Originally developed by Joseph Pilates, it was designed to help dancers after injury. It is a relatively mild form of exercise that is good to tone and firm up your body and is not considered to be an intense workout
(if you want to lose
weight, you will need to do something else more targeted for losing weight). Pilates initially required the use of special machines that are still available in a Pilates studio and some gyms, but now you can buy a
Pilates kit and do it even in your own home using a DVD. The other alternative is mat Pilates or stand up Pilates without the machines. These classes can be found in most localities.
Boot camps: Even
Oprah (and so do many reality TV programs) talks about her boot camp since that is how she lost
weight. The term is derived from the Military where a boot camp implies an intense program that is highly structured and produces results.
A boot camp can be designed with any combination; the major requirement is that the exercises are intense and completed in a relatively short period of time under strong discipline – generally under the guidance of a tough taskmaster.
Yoga: Yoga is now mainstream and continues to grow in popularity as it has benefits beyond fitness. In a world full of stress,
yoga is also a great way to meditate and
relax. There are many forms of yoga exercises and these can be adapted to all fitness levels. However, like Pilates,
yoga is also not an aerobic
exercise; it merely has flexibility and strength training components.
Dance workouts: As you can guess, dance workouts are designed for those who want to
have fun while working
out. The idea is to use dance as an exercise.
Bellydancing, ballet, salsa, Afro, or any other dance based exercises are aerobic in nature and can be a great way to start working out if you have never exercised before. Plus, when you do it in a group, it can be
entertaining as well, though many people prefer to do it in the privacy of their home using a video. If your goal is to also lose weight, you will need to combine a dance workout with some other exercise. In the same category are water exercises and swimming. They are fun, fairly easy to do, and inexpensive.
Dancers are
also well liked by their potential mates.
(Related:
Dancing with the stars)
Budokon: While Budokon has been around in the Orient for centuries, it is relatively new to the West. As you might guess, Hollywood celebrities were among the first one to popularize it. The classes are still somewhat difficult to find in every locality but you can buy books or videos for
Budokon. Budokon mixes elements of martial arts and yoga. Another good thing about it is that you can tailor it to your fitness level and adjust it according to your personal goals.
Martial arts: You can pick from a long list of martial arts depending on what catches your fancy and what you want to achieve. Be it judo, karate, or
kendo, these are great ways to workout since they help you build muscles and stamina. The only point to remember is that since you need a
trainer, the cost can be somewhat high even if you join a group lesson rather than have a personal coach.
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