FITNESS TRENDS 2010

- Fitness trends for 2010: fast, cheap and trendy
BY NICK SORTAL
SUN SENTINEL

Comments (0) Recommend Print E-mail Letter to the editor Share Where is fitness going in 2010? Well, people want to sweat, get it done quickly and not spend a lot of money.


The American Council on Exercise announced the top 10 fitness trends for 2010 based on an annual survey of personal trainers, group fitness experts and others. The key words are "unique" and "efficient."
"We understand that people are busier than ever and will look for workouts that offer the results they seek while fitting within their already jam-packed schedules," said the council's Cedric X. Bryant, chief science officer.
Cost-conscious workouts: Whether at the gym or at home, the impact of the economy continues to affect the choices of fitness enthusiasts. Fitness clubs are likely to alter programming and training to serve the needs of cost-conscious members, while in-home workouts using small, portable equipment are likely to be popular.
Group training: People are scaling back on personal training sessions to take advantage of small-group training and group class participation.
Time-efficient workouts: Shorter, higher-intensity workouts will be more appealing to those with busy schedules. That's why boot camp-style workouts will continue to be one of the most popular of these trends in 2010, offering the ability to burn a large number of calories while improving muscular fitness.
Exergaming: Exercise video games will continue to climb in popularity and be taken to the next level: fitness clubs. By integrating fitness-based games into their programming, clubs will offer unique exercise sessions for game-lovers and those looking for variety within their workouts.
Boomer-specific programs: Special fitness programming for aging adults will remain a strong trend next year as a growing number of boomers recognize benefits of regular exercise -- from lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to maintaining independence and overall well-being.
Specialty exercise classes: Specialty classes such as ethnic dance, hooping, pole dancing and Zumba are likely to continue in their widespread popularity. The council suggests such classes are fueled by the success of TV shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance."