Running – whether road or treadmill – is not for everyone. Nor is swimming. Nor is cycling. Nor are racquet sports or standard aerobics classes. They’re all options, but if indeed these don’t float your boat, you don’t need to worry. These days, preferences almost don’t matter – there are so many exercise and fitness classes out there to enjoy that you’re guaranteed to find one that suits you. Long gone are the days of village halls being packed with leotard-sporting women as the only route to exercise classes. Nowadays as well as public halls, there are gyms, dance centres and indoor leisure centres. So whether you want body sculpting, cardiovascular fitness, raising your metabolic rate, or a combination of these, you’re guaranteed to find something to increase your physical fitness. We look at five very different classes – and what you need to know about enjoying them.
These two are strength-based classes. They focus on a number of demanding physical moves, designed to strengthen your inner core muscles and improve your posture. But just because you aren’t dripping in sweat, it doesn’t mean that your body isn’t working hard. Holding the positions for a period of time, and often having a routine of flowing movements that you run through a few times, definitely makes demands on your muscles. This class is ideal for those with injuries or those who want a strength workout, rather than cardio. Always remember to mention any injuries to your instructor beforehand though so he/she can make adjustments for you
This is a class mostly approached with a degree of trepidation (or horror). Famous for its body-blasting fitness workout, this is an uncompromising class – but it delivers results. There’s a popular misconception that spinning is only for cycling enthusiasts, but that’s not so. Effectively you’re riding an indoor bike. But it’s a bike on which your work your quads, glutes, midsection and upper arms to the max. The common ‘Tap Back’ move sees you lift yourself off the seat, then lower yourself back down so you almost touch the seat, but not quite. Do this repeatedly and it will become all too clear how this class can make you burn anywhere between 500-1000 calories in an hour
We all recognise Zumba as the studio-based, Latin-inspired exercise dance class and it’s fab for improving fitness whilst having fun. But sometimes the moves on a hard floor can be too much for stiff joints, or those with injuries – and this is where aqua Zumba comes in. It’s exactly the same – but in the pool. There’s an instructor who motions the moves to you, rather than shouts, and the same music is played to really get you moving. It might not sound like much of a workout, but Zumba-ing against the water resistance means you’ll definitely climb out hotter than when you went in!
This is a relatively new exercise class that’s sweeping across the UK. Devised to combine multiple disciplines, it focuses on running you through a series of areas while you have a heart monitor strapped on. Namely, martial arts, cardio and weight training. It’s done as a group to upbeat, punchy music to inspire you to push yourself to the limit. Guided by instructors at every step, this is the one for you if you want a full body, punishing workout in a class type atmosphere.
This has made a slow appearance on the fitness scene since around 2010. It comes from Angola and it’s evolved from a traditional Portuguese dance to something with a more youthful touch. It’s a sensual, exotic dance with a steady rhythm that really takes over your body. Focusing on the moves and the beat of the music is an excellent way to burn calories without even realising it! Standard gym attire is fine for beginners.