Four Ways to Spice Up Your Fitness Routine
Get in Shape With Hot Yoga, Zumba, Spinning, and Pole Dancing
Jun 14, 2009
These hot classes are guaranteed to spice up your workouts:
Hot Yoga
Bikram Yoga, or "hot yoga," involves a series of yoga poses performed in a heated room. Classes are available for different fitness levels, although a basic knowledge of yoga is an advantage.
Students are urged to wear comfortable clothing that breathes, such as ventilated tank tops and shorts or swim suit bottoms. Water is essential – you will get very warm, and you will sweat – a lot!
Bikram Facts:
- Muscles warm up and you loosen up quickly
- More challenging poses are possible in this environment, over a regular yoga studio
- High studio temperature helps unclog pores and clear skin
- Warm environment helps clear sinuses
- Slow class pace helps participants focus on proper stance
- Participants develop increased stamina and muscle tone
Zumba®
Rapidly gaining in popularity, Zumba is a new Latin American fitness craze that features dance steps and aerobic movements along with hot tropical beats. Instructors guide students though a high energy workout suitable for a wide range of fitness levels.
Participants are urged to wear comfortable clothing, loosen up, let go of inhibitions, and focus on moving their bodies.
Zumba Facts:
- Workouts are choreographed but personal expression is encouraged
- Classes are fast-paced
- The music is engaging and the rhythms challenging
- Participants work all muscle groups
- Workout routine is high-spirited and fun for all ages and genders
- Self-development is encouraged, and competitiveness is kept to a minimum
Pole Dancing
Classes such as Pole Dancing and Lap Dancing, traditionally reserved for adult entertainers, have gained in popularity as women of all ages aim to get in touch with their inner divas while gaining strength and self-confidence, and shedding unwanted pounds.
Pole Dancing classes involve a series of choreographed movements set to music. With repeated attendance and regular practice, participants will eventually develop a basic dance routine that can be improved upon by adding increasingly more challenging moves and pole acrobatics.
Pole Dancing Facts:
- Boosts self-confidence by showing participants sexy moves that everyone can master
- Helps develop grace and improve balance
- Increases coordination through repeated routines
- Burns calories through high-energy dance moves
- Improves muscle tone
- Classes can be a fun social activity as well as a challenging workout
Spinning®
Spinning is a trademarked program of rigorous indoor cycling classes using resistance and changes in speed and tempo to simulate a variety of terrains. Classes are usually fast-paced and high energy.
While beginners are urged to speak to their instructor to find out how they can gradually ease into the challenging routine, indoor cycling classes offer a small learning curve, and participants will find themselves learning the ropes quickly, and with amazing results!
Indoor Cycling Facts:
- A great way to burn large amounts of calories in a small amount of time
- No special equipment is needed
- Participants can wear sneakers, workout pants or cycling shorts and a tank top
- Allows fast muscle development
- Increases strength and stamina
- Low risk of injury
- Rewarding workout yields quick improvements in performance
Sources:
Click here for more information about Bikram Yoga.
To learn more about Zumba, visit the official Zumba website.
Click here to find out more about Pole Dancing classes.
To find Spinning classes near you, visit your local gym or fitness club.
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