This is a guest post by Edward.
Trends come and go in the fitness world. Remember the 80’s when everyone went to high impact aerobic classes wearing their leotards and leg warmers? For the last few years, the trend has been to work out in posh fitness centers, using primarily machines like the treadmill, dumbbells and weight machines to build muscle.
But, believe it or not, the newest trend in fitness is a return to the basics. More and more people are skipping the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike in favor of an outdoor run or a bike ride with the family. Take a look at these current back to basics trends in the fitness industry.
- Home gyms – More and more people are setting up home gyms and giving up their gym memberships. Free weights or a single, multi-functional weight machine can provide all the strength training workout that is needed. Fitness classes on DVD along with jumping rope and running or walking outdoors provide the aerobic exercise for the home gym enthusiast.
- Boot Camps –One of the most popular fitness classes today is the boot camp class. Participants workout via old fashioned calisthenics, push-ups and runs in no nonsense classes that are often held very early in the morning – just like in the military.
- Parks and Rec Sports Teams – It’s not just the kids who play sports on the local parks and recreation teams anymore. Basketball and softball leagues for adults have seen a resurgence as people get their workouts from a good old fashioned sports competition, just like when they were kids.
So, Why the Change?
As we said earlier, fitness trends come and go as often as hemline lengths. But, these trends appear to be fueled, at least in part, by the recent decline in the economy.
Many people simply lack the disposable income right now to pay for a high priced gym, yet they continue to be committed to working out. For the cost of a few months of membership at the gym, one can outfit an entire gym at home, especially if you’re willing to buy some of the equipment used. Boot camps, which typically last just six weeks, are far less expensive than aerobics classes at the gym, simply because you don’t need a gym membership in order to participate in them. Plus, boot camp style classes typically teach you a workout routine that you can easily follow at home on your own once the class ends.
But, the economy’s decline has done more than make us re-evaluate how we’re spending our money simply because we may have less of it. It has also made us recognize the joy and contentment that can come from keeping life simple.
Working out at home means runs in the fresh air, and a chance to enjoy nature in each of the four seasons. It means a bike ride with your kids on Saturday morning in lieu of a trip to the gym.
Boot camp classes don’t require us to learn a bunch of new steps or skills, but simply to put to good use exercises we’ve known how to do since we were kids. Working out in our home gyms eliminates the need for nice looking workout clothes and lets us work out in less time as well as on the schedule that suits us best. Playing on the softball team at work lets us get a good workout while enjoying the company of our co-workers outside the office.
The newest trend in fitness is pretty refreshing. There’s no pretense involved. Rather, people are working to get healthy and stay that way using simple methods that we’ve shared for generations.
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