Fitness Trends for 2009

With obesity reaching all time highs, it is more important now than ever to do something -- anything! -- to get and maintain a healthy body. But don't worry, the days of aerobics and sissy training are over.

People want the biggest results for the least amount of time, so workout intensity and compound training have emerged as primary considerations when choosing an exercise plan.

As noted by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), fitness trends for 2009 encompass functional strength training, or FST. FST is an exercise philosophy based on creating workouts that will enhance the sports you already play, such as golf, tennis, hiking, rock climbing, hockey, etc. It also focuses on doing exercises according to the way the human body actually moves or is aligned.

Boot-camp workouts reign in the top spot in 2009 fitness trends followed by specialty classes, such as dance-oriented workouts, and "getting back to basics" classes that are just old-fashion burn & sweat intense workouts.

An interesting statistic ACE also noted is that predictions for 2009 include a 48% drop in gym memberships and 52% fewer people hiring personal trainers. With the economy heading south, shelling out money each month for a gym membership is not an expense people want at this time.

"Gym-rats" are trading in their memberships for fitness DVD's which has lead to a surge in the home fitness program industry. In fact, the leader in home fitness programs, Beachbody, generates 15,000-30,000 new customers every week and has made programs such as P90X, Turbo Jam, Slim in 6, and Hip Hop Abs household names.

Another interesting shift in the fitness program sector is the creation of workouts that are health specific, such as Beachbody's new Project YOU: Type 2, that was created in a partnership with the American Diabetic Association.

The independent findings of the American Council on Exercise's own professional trainers do not lie. Home fitness DVD's are on the up-swing. And the best part? There is no year-long contract except a commitment to yourself.

For more information on Beachbody products, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/b6hfml

(c) 2009 by Trish Causey. All Rights Reserved.

Sources:
Beachbody
American Council on Exercise