Submitted by: Chickie Maxwell

There are almost as many fitness programs as there are fitness experts and fitness centers! One of the hottest new fitness programs today is spinning. For those of you like me who thought spinning required a loom and wool, let me explain. Spinning is a fitness program which makes use of specialized stationary bikes. It has nothing to do with turning wool into yarn. Nor does it bear any relationship to turning one s body quickly around in tight circles until one is dizzy.

Spinning us an indoor cycling activity designed to tone muscles and burn fat. Beyond the typical stationary bike, spinning is an indoor group fitness program in which you bike to lively music in a row of bikes. Spinning can be as vigorous and strenuous or as slow and leisurely as you want it to be. You can increase speed and or the resistance on the bike by turning a dial while you spin. Obviously, the higher the speed and resistance the greater the fat burning and the better the muscle toning results will be.

Unlike many fitness programs touted to provide lean muscle mass, spinning requires little equipment. Because it is a class, thus a group activity, it does require that you attend a gym, fitness center, office exercise facility or anywhere spinning classes occur. My church has recently set up spinning classes in its auditorium in conjunction three parishioners who run a fitness center and wanted to give something to the church.

Other fitness programs which are hot today are aerobics, yoga, pilates and step classes all excellent ways of burning fat, providing lean muscles and toning bodies.

Pilates is fitness program which utilizes the mind to control muscles. It increases strength, flexibility, endurance as well as conditioning arms, legs and abs. Pilates improves co-ordination while building strength in back muscles. Like spinning pilates does not require much equipment. It uses a range of apparatus to guide and train the body. Mat exercises are basic to pilates. Springs provide extra resistance. Weighted exercise balls, rotating disks and resistance bands are sometimes used. A reformer (chair) and a ladder barrel are lesser-known pilates equipment.

Another popular fitness program is yoga. The goal of this program is to attain a state of perfect tranquility and spirituality. Yoga aims to improve health through controlled movement.

Body weight fitness programs make use of the body s natural resistance in performing exercise routines based on the body s natural movements required for daily movement including lift, thrust, squat stretch, lunge and bend. The program can be designed by a professional or created by the exerciser himself. It is strongly advised that warmups and cool downs and cardiovascular exercises by included in each routine. Bodyweight routines can be performed anywhere, any time and with no equipment. Unlike Pilates, bodyweight routines are tailored to the individual s fitness level and exercise preferences. If the exerciser wishes, free weights can be added to increase resistance to tone muscles and burn fat faster.

Perennially popular and suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness is water aerobics or aqua aerobics. This is often a class activity like spinning. Also like spinning and body weights fitness programs the program allows every individual to participate to his/her level of fitness. Water aerobics uses water s natural buoyancy to increase motion and decrease resistance. Like Jazzercise and spinning, water aerobics often makes use of lively music to improve mood and stimulate movement. The one drawback is that water aerobics requires a pool.

Finally, there are the new introductions to the fitness world. These include the extreme P90X, PrecisionFlex, and the Shake Weight program. Further, there are several celebrity sponsored programs available to consumers that appear to produce successful results.

With so many fitness programs available to consumers, spend time researching each of the programs to make the best choice for your fitness goals.

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