The Midlife Woman » exercise

Fitness Classes that Aren’t Kickboxing, Spinning or Zumba

thatgirlmegan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:59:28 +0000

When Billy Blanks put Tae Bo on the map in the late 90′s and early 2000′s, every gym realized they had to offer at least 16 kickboxing classes. Then, people started watching Tae Bo for entertainment and we realized the whole thing was stupid. Goodbye, Kickboxing.

Then, word got out about spinning – a fancy name for riding a stationary bike along with a bunch of other people riding stationary bikes at varying speeds. It can be a good workout if done correctly, but the fad passed. It was cool for a while. Then it wasn’t.

Then, we moved into Zumba. We may still be there. “Why workout when you can dance and flail your arms around,” Zumba supporters argue. People will later find out that mildly dancing for a half hour might not be as great a workout as it’s touted to be.

So, what can you do if you’re disenchanted with kickboxing, spinning, Zumba and all the like? Check out these suggestions for fitness classes that aren’t lame.

Krav Maga or Self Defense: Nothing says “I mean business” like martial arts with Israeli, Czechoslovakian and Hungarian roots. Krav Maga is a self-defense system that relies on efficiency, brutality and counter-attacks. In short, it’s intense. Most Krav Maga teachers require students to work out beforehand and learn to defend themselves in spite of mental and physical exhaustion. Not only are Krav Maga and other forms of self-defense a great workout, but is also a must for women. Sure, you’re already aware of ways to stay safe in your home town, you may have already invested in home security Indianapolis or other cities, you probably stay with a group when going out, etc., etc. But, knowing how to defend yourself if you really have to is absolutely priceless. While all of your girlfriends are laughing and swinging their arms and hips to spicy beats at Zumba, you’ll be learning Israeli battle tactics and hand to hand combat. Win.

Dance That Isn’t Zumba: Zumba and other forms of marginally taxing dance classes aside, dancing can really be a good workout. Dancers that actually do real dance for a living or as a serious hobby are extremely fit. Going to one 30-minute Zumba class a week, however, won’t get the job done. If you’re serious about dancing your way into better shape, sign up for a beginner’s class at an actual dance studio, instead of a gym. Dance studios will have classes more often, for longer periods of time and will be much more strenuous than bopping around to faux Latin music with a room full of strangers. Dancing also usually requires training outside of class, meaning that you’ll be in the gym getting in shape to go get in shape. That’s the real deal.

Pole Fitness: No, pole fitness is not a joke. Also, pole fitness should not be confused with pole dancing. Places that specialize in pole fitness will have a well-designed workout that tones and strengthens your upper and lower body. It’s an excellent strength workout and is fun to do. The classes are usually pretty long, meaning that you’re in it for the long haul. Thankfully, it’s becoming more and more popular, and less and less associated with pole dancing. Give pole fitness a try and ask your arms a few days later if it’s still a joke.

The next time you’re looking to diversify your workouts, give these suggestions a try. You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have getting in an amazing workout, instead of just floundering around a gymnasium to music for a half hour.

thatgirlmegan

Megan Brown is a social media networker at Slingshot SEO. When she's not at the gym attempting to multitask while on the treadmill, Megan spends her time cycling, cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers, blogging, and catering to every need of her yorkie pup Alexa.

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Winter Fitness for Women

thatgirlmegan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:58 +0000

Winter isn’t all that great. Between cold weather, reduced exposure to sunlight, involuntarily reconnecting with family members you haven’t exactly missed, spending your hard-earned money on other people’s gifts and being confined to the indoors, we’re almost tempted to meet spring with astounding applause.

But one of the worst parts of winter is definitely the feeling that you’re preparing for hibernation. Everywhere you turn, there’s food. Connie at work made a 7-layer peppermint chocolate cake. You don’t want to be rude, so you take a slice. Jeanine made a hearty batch of her meaty chili. You have two bowls because it’s so cold outside. Then there are Christmas cookies, Grandma’s special eggnog, four course ham dinners and sitting down in front of a cozy fire and not moving for hours on end.

In spring, we’re rewarded with 15 extra pounds and jeans that don’t fit comfortably. Every year we vow to do better next winter.

Guess what. It’s almost “next winter.”

Here’s how to stay healthy and fit this season, like you promised you’d do.

Winter Sports

Sports are a great way to trick your body into exercising. You’re having fun and working out without even realizing it! Skiing and snowboarding are actually a great workout, plus both activities can last a long time. In just an hour of skiing, you can burn over 400 calories an hour! For more intense winter sports like cross country skiing, you’ll burn even more calories. If you live close to slopes, buy a winter pass and try to make it out a few weekends a month. You can trade in your weekend gym workouts for skiing and your drab gym wear for stylish ski jackets and snowboard pants! Working out, is after all, at least partly about looking good, right?

Even winter activities like ice skating and sledding are better than nothing. Get out there and make it happen!

Intramural Sports

Again, sports are the perfect way to mask your workouts under the guise of “fun” — unless, of course, you’re the type of person that loves running on a treadmill in the dead of winter. Do those people even exist?

At any rate, taking part in an intramural sports league helps keep you in shape, hone your athletic skills and gives you an opportunity to meet new people. Be sure to choose an active sport like basketball or indoor soccer to get your heart rate up and keeps you moving. Ping pong won’t do your heart rate much good. If you’re competitive, search for a serious league to ensure that your team won’t die off when the going gets rough.

Work Towards A Goal

If you’re the type of person that enjoys outdoor exercise during the warmer months, set goals for yourself to achieve when the warm weather finally returns. Whether it’s training for a race, conquering your favorite trail faster than you ever have before or swimming across your favorite lake, you’ll find that your gym workouts aren’t nearly as drab when you have a goal in mind!

Don’t Procrastinate

The number one, most detrimental decision you could make for your winter fitness is to keep putting off. Saying you’ll check out the slopes next weekend, sign up at the gym tomorrow or find an intramural league on Tuesday will get you nowhere. Do it now, or forever hold your peace.

thatgirlmegan

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Fitness & Style Go Together

thatgirlmegan — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:00:34 +0000

Working out is one of those things that we all know will help us but can be tough to get into. Most people just need that push to get started, which, for a lot of people, can be found in great fashion choices. You don’t need designer bags or diamond rings, but you can looking great can help motivate you to exercise to feel even better.

Look good feel better:

You may be the type of person who puts on a huge sweatshirt and baggy sweat pants to work out in. I’m not knocking that style at all. You should definitely go with what makes you most comfortable. I personally think that looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. You can get an outfit designed for athletic use that will turn heads and serve a purpose. It will have a positive effect on your psyche too. While you’re working out, it’s always nice to be able to look in a mirror and flex a bit and feel like you’re looking good. Seeing your body start to change is a huge boost to your morale. Whether your losing weight or working to pack on some muscle, seeing progress is helpful and can push you to get a few more reps in. Save the baggy sweatpants for nights in the house.

Fashion forward:

Dri-fit is the new craze. This material is designed to absorb moisture from your body while keeping you dry and cool. Sweat is wicked away from the body and pulled to the surface where it evaporates. The best thing about it is it feels good and looks good at the same time. It eliminates that nasty sweat glob that appears on clothing during an intense workout. If you’re a beginner, wearing dri-fit clothing will have the added benefit of making you at least look like you have a clue about what your doing. Cross training sneakers are popular, too, as people are incorporating new and alternative things like dancing into workouts.

Brighten up your routine:

Another fashion trend being seen in gyms today is the return to colorful workout outfits. Not exactly as colorful as some of the outfits that were popular in the 80’s, of course, but color is back. Go to a gym today on a college campus or anywhere locally, and you will see yellow, pinks and neon green shirts and shorts. You can pick up some sneakers that match the color of your shirt and tights and even find socks to go with the entire outfit. You can find workout gloves and ankle braces to match with your outfit while protecting you at the same time. The workout fashion and color changes with the seasons too.

Buying new outfits to work out in can help get you to the gym too. When you look good you like to be seen, right? What’s a better place to show off in your new work out outfit than at the gym or taking a nice run through the park? It’s okay to look good while you exercise. You deserve it.

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thatgirlmegan

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