If you haven’t tried any of the top 15 fitness trends for 2014 that we have listed below, what are you waiting for? Rev up your current workout, start a new exercise program or just add some fun to your same old routine. Whatever the reason, we think trying one of the following hot fitness trends will having you loving your workout again!
Tabata Training: Four Minutes of High Intensity Fat Burning
Tabata falls under the category of high intensity training or high intensity interval training. Super short workouts can bring lasting results. But to burn fat in just four minutes, you’re going to have to work harder than you thought possible. The basics of the Tabata training method are as follows:
• 4 minutes long (whole Tabata Session)
• 20 seconds of intense training
• 10 seconds of rest
• Total of 8 sessions or rounds
Sprint Triathlon: Ironman Light
If you’ve got the guts for a triathlon — but not enough hours to train — try a shorter version. A sprint triathlon is a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run. In a triathlon relay, team members work together to complete a regular triathlon. Distances may vary slightly from event to event, but they typically adhere to the above standards. Because of their shorter distances, sprint triathlons have become increasingly popular and are ideal for beginner or novice athletes.
Ballet Barre Workout
Get lean legs, strong core, and toned tush, and the poise of a ballet dance. A Ballet Barre class will challenge your balance and strengthen your core, hips, and legs. Studios offer classes, or you can follow a video at home.
Try a Tough Mudder for an Ultimate Challenge
Tough Mudder has been said to be one of the toughest workouts on the planet. Only the fit and fearless can tackle an obstacle race. In the Tough Mudder, you crawl through mud (of course), climb 12-foot walls, and swim in icy water. Train for at least 8 weeks with sprints, squats, push-ups and weights. Rest between short bursts of exercise. Are you up for the challenge?
Rebounding Fitness
Remember when you were a kid and all you wanted to do was learn how to do swivel hips on the neighbors trampoline? Try a cardio class on trampolines, which is also known as rebounding. You’ll burn fat with an extra bounce in your step and it’s gentle on your joints.
Muscle Confusion Fitness
Cross-training programs like P90X and Insanity Workout aim for “muscle confusion” will have you totally fired up and your body wondering whats next! You will be changing up exercises, adding new moves, jump training, and doing sport plyometrics all within a matter of 30 minutes. No rest of the wicked in this workout!
Zumba Remains Popular
Zumba is the ultimate dance workout party! Full of latin flare and high energy dance-fitness class moves it is still one of the most popular workouts, and it burns more calories than kickboxing and step aerobics. Zumba fitness also has a new form of Zumba for the water; their aqua version called QiDance.
Maximum Fitness with Cross Fit
Cross Fit will have you working to your max with squats, push-ups, power moves, tire toss, gymnastic rings, intense runs, and weightlifting. “Hero Workouts” are named in honor of soldiers who died serving the country. This workout is not for the faint of heart.
ViPR: Whole-Body Movement
ViPR is a heavy rubber tube to lift, push, twist and work your whole body. ViPR adds moves that boost your workout whether you’re just starting or you’re a top athlete. Choose the size and weight that fits your needs.
Kettlebells: A New Weight to Lift
Swinging the kettlebell works muscles in a way that weight machines and barbells can’t. Start with a light kettlebell — 8 to 15 pounds for women and 15 to 25 pounds for men. Form is critical to prevent injury, so ask a trainer to show you how to properly use them.
Boot Camp
This is basic training without a drill sergeant sneering and shouting in your face. There’s no fancy equipment — just a series of push-ups, squats, kicks, other calisthenics, and aerobic movements. You’ll burn about 10 calories a minute or 600 an hour. The payback: total-body fitness.
Aerial Yoga
Yoga blends are a huge fitness trend. In arial yoga you will do traditional yoga moves while hanging in hammocks suspended from the ceiling. The weightless poses relieve aching joints and stretch muscles as well as strengthening your core. For other fun twists, try Cy-Yo, a yoga-indoor cycling combo, or YogaFit, which includes squats, sit-ups, and other fitness moves.
Paddleboarding and Yoga
Put the serenity of a still lagoon together with the challenge of balancing on a paddleboard and you get floating yoga. Doing yoga moves on a paddleboard, which is larger than a surfboard, takes muscle control to keep from making a splash. The board is either anchored down or tied to a buoy to keep you from getting swept away by the experience.
Power Walking with Weights
Adding weight may be the simplest way to boost your workout. Extra weight raises your heart rate and makes you burn more calories. Instead of walking with hand or ankle weights, which can strain muscles and joints, consider wearing a weighted vest. Choose one that is 5% to 10% of your body weight.
Fitness Trainer Apps
What if you want help losing weight and getting fit, but you can’t afford a personal trainer? Fitness trackers such as the Fitbit and GoWear Fit measure your steps, calories burned, and the calories you eat. They can even monitor your sleep. The information can also be downloaded and tracked on your computer. There are also apps that explain proper exercise form, a common problem among beginners.
