Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Fitness Trends and Tips for 2010

By: Linda Liu

A tighter budget and an increasing lack of time will change the way people will be working out in 2010 and forcing professional trainers to come up with more cost-effective programs.

According to a recent poll of fitness professionals conducted by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) the focus in 2010 will be on maximizing impact and minimizing costs. Below are some tips on achieving your resolution on a budget.



Take a Calculated Approach to Cost, Time and Efficiency:

•With many people working longer hours because of increased demands at work mobile personal trainers (at home or at your office during your lunch break) will save you the travel time, give you individual attention and can be more cost-effective when all factors are taken into account

•Boot-camp style workouts as well as circuit training made an impact in 2009 and are expected to continue to be a growing trend in 2010 where high impact is coupled with minimal time input

•Quality trainers that have professional credentials are becoming increasingly important and are more likely to be up to date on latest techniques

•Technology will become more present in the fitness sphere. Tracking applications and on-the-go applications bringing mobile fitness through iPhone for example will be a growing trend for those looking for added convenience and monitoring capabilities


Look for Budget Friendly Options at the Gym and at Home:

•Find out if your gym is offering specific programs that take your budget into account. Many gyms will be altering programming and training to better serve cost-conscious clients according to ACE so this is the time to ask

•Shop smart for qualified mobile fitness professionals-get competitive bids using free services such as bestbiddy.com and ensure you are getting the best value. Once you decide on a personal trainer for example, opt for fewer higher quality visits where your trainer can develop tailored programs for your body type using cost-effective equipment (e.g. training balls, bands). You can then rotate between these programs to maintain your fitness goals at home in between visits.


Add Variety through Exergaming:

•Studies conducted by ACE on exergaming systems such as Nintendo’s Wii Fit and Wii Sports show that while not optimal fitness systems, they do provide some fitness benefits and can be a great way for those looking for variety and
shared family activity

No comments:

Post a Comment