By Nathan Skotak, Exercise Science Intern, Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center
It’s that time of the year…when those who made New Year’s resolutions to improve their health or fitness levels tend to disappear from the gym. Time becomes an excuse for veering off your consistent exercise schedule. Maybe you just need something new to kick start your return to activity. These fitness trends of 2016 are all great ways to switch gears and steer yourself back to your goals.
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT training involves short intervals of high intensity exercise followed by a recovery interval. A popular example of HIIT is Tabata. A typical Tabata routine includes 8 sets of one exercise. Each set requires 20 seconds of intense work followed by 10 seconds of rest. Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center offers Tabata, Core Tabata, F.I.T. (Fitness Intensity Training), and a boot camp class, which all utilize HIIT to take fitness to a new level.
Rowing
More people are choosing rowing as physical activity, or even as a warm up before their exercise program. This activity involves a full body movement to pull a modified rowing handle toward the upper body. This repetitive movement results in both a resistance and cardio-respiratory workout. Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center is never short of rowing machines and has multiple adaptive seats.
Yoga
Yoga’s popularity and benefits have transcended centuries. This activity has outlasted many fitness trends due to its myriad mental and physical benefits. Those looking for a way to relax and expand their mind should try Yoga Nidra, a class that places attendees in a unique state of mind. Other Yoga classes will include the mental benefits but place focus on increasing range of motion by stretching. Stretch yourself and try Yoga or Yoga Nidra at Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center.
Innovative equipment
Krankcycles™ are hand spin cycling machines. These hand cycles have independent crank arms, which can adjust to cycle in both directions, and the ability to increase and decrease resistance with a quick turn. These bikes are available on the fitness floor and in group fitness classes at Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center.
Fitness Trackers
Over the last couple years, you might have noticed the increase of fancy bracelets being worn on the wrists of a variety of people. These bands aren’t just bracelets; they’re most likely a fitness tracker. Two popular fitness trackers are Fitbit and Nike+ Fuelband. Fitness trackers have the ability to track heart rate, calories burned, distance covered, as well as, monitor one’s sleep. Nike+ Fuelband has a feature to measure arm and wrist movements such as pushing a chair. This gadget is not mandatory, but may give you the extra motivation you need to stay active.
Ability360 fitness class schedule is available online at www.Ability360.org or call (602) 386-4566