What Fitness Classes and Programs Do Most Gyms Offer?

By Amy Nutt  | 

More people are recognizing that participating in an exercise program is essential to maintaining good health.

Because of this surge in popularity of obtaining a much more fit life, more people are now signing up for exercise programs. Gyms have responded to the increased consumer demand for fitness programs by implementing a variety of fitness classes and programs.

The following lists fitness classes and programs that most gyms now offer:

Aerobics: Aerobics classes are a great way for people to get fit. It is beneficial for weight loss, strengthening your heart, and toning your muscles. There are a number of forms of aerobics such as step, water, and dance aerobics.

Yoga: Yoga focuses on flexing the muscles using different body positions. Breathing techniques and achieving mental serenity are part of the Yoga experience.

Weights: Using weight exercises are a great way to tone muscles and build strength. It is also a great exercise program for people interested in body building.

Pilates: Much like Yoga, Pilates helps one improve posture, tones the muscles, and makes the body stronger. It involves the art of 'balancing.'

Toning Programs: These exercises take place on a mat on the floor. It is a great way to flatten and firm the stomach and firm the muscles on the legs and buttocks.

Tai-Chi and Karate: These programs focus on exercising using physical combat. It is great way to tone muscles and strengthen the heart as well as the mind.

Swimming: Swimming has always been a great way to get fit. It affects every muscle. It is great for people with back pain and pain associates illness such as arthritis.

Cycling: Many Gyms offer a fitness programs using their exercise cycles. Users are able to increase or decrease the resistance to meet their fitness levels. It is a great program no matter what your fitness level is. It is beneficial for firming leg muscles and improving heart and lung function.

Weight Reduction Programs: With a weight reduction program, there would be such activities such as cardio exercises, fat and calorie burning workouts and toning exercises that helps people lose weight and firm the muscles.

Senior Fitness Programs: Gyms offer a wide variety of fitness programs for seniors. This can involve cardio, aerobic, dance, and swimming programs. They are all designed to meet the health needs of seniors.

Fitness Training for Pre- and Post-Natal Pregnancy: This type of program is designed to strengthen the lower back as well as provide stress-reducing exercise techniques.

All exercise programs and fitness classes are designed to improve the overall health of a person over the long term. Health risk assessments are usually performed that focuses on a person's strengths and weaknesses. A description of the fitness classes is normally available at the Gym, or people can speak to the instructor to find out more about the programs. Before undertaking any exercise program, it is important to consult with a Doctor to determine any possible health concerns. Today, Gyms have fitness programs designed for anyone of any age.

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All About the Cardiozone Elliptical Trainers - Facts And Features

By Tim Gorman  | 

Bursting on to the health club scene in the mid-nineties as one of the most popular pieces of fitness equipment to infiltrate the world of exercise, the family of Cardiozone elliptical trainers have been the consistent winner of Consumer Guide's Best Buy Award. Cardiozone offers a series of elliptical trainers rose, and each has rose to fame for providing consumers with a complete body workout at low impact. And Cardiozone trainers holds true to the elliptical form by allowing your body to support itself entirely during a vigorous workout-which is not only great for bone density but also works mystically for increasing the effects of a sweat session.

There is a multitude of Cardiozone elliptical trainers available for personal home use that were designed to cater to a number of various needs. Take the Club E Cardiozone Elliptical Trainer for instance-the Club E model is the perfect fit for the trainer user in search of the durability of the health club trainer. The Elite E Cardiozone trainer offers sports club quality at half the price for the bargain trainer shopper. Beginners to the world of Cardiozone elliptical trainers should consider the line's Pro E model. And the Gold E trainer has been acclaimed for it's money and space saving solutions. Finally bring the quality of the workout room right into your living room.

Popular Cardiozone Elliptical Trainers

Club E Cardiozone Elliptical Trainer

Toting a manufacturer suggested retail price more than twenty-five hundred dollars, the Club E Cardiozone come equipped to offer an optimum cardiovascular workout on a quality of machine that would give the trainers down at the local gym a run for their money. Just take a look at some of the amenities that feature a trip to Club E:

No plug-in required for self-generating resistance system
Health Club Components
Dual Action Arms for a Complete Body Workout
Customized foot platform catered to fit the length of your stride

Lifetime warranty on frame and magnetic drive
Elite E Cardiozone Elliptical Trainer

The Elite E trainer is one of the least expensive members of Cardiozone's elliptical line. Featuring eight resistance levels for better calorie burning, and trademark heavy duty construction, the Elite E trainer stays true to Cardiozone's reputation for matching the length of your stride with oversized and extended foot platforms. The Elite E also features six pre-set and five heart rate control programs.

Pro E Cardiozone Elliptical Trainer

Are you a beginner looking for an optimum aerobic workout? The Pro E Cardiozone elliptical trainer provides a total body workout with dual action. The Pro E features the capability of kicking your workout from light-duty to high gear without ever having to step off of the machine. The Pro E also boasts a programmable monitor to track the progress of your workout. And this time Cardiozone matched the elliptical's legendary foot platforms with a state of the art EKG heart monitor.

Gold E Cardiozone Elliptical Trainer

The most economically of Cardiozone's elliptical trainers, retailing at just under five hundred dollars, the Gold E is a small wonder with a compact design that won't take up half of the living room. The Gold E monitor is simple and easy to read. As with all Cardiozone elliptical trainers, the Gold E sports a belt drive with smooth and quiet settings for a workout that won't wake the neighbors.

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The Growing Popularity of Fitness Boot Camps

By Georgette Pann  |

Ever been to boot camps where you get orders from loudmouthed trainors and all that jazz, er dirt? If not, you have been missing half of your life.

Boot camp is from the tough footwear that military boot camp trainees use. Back then, boot camp training is just for problem kids. Now, it's also for adults with problem bodies.

More and more people are talking about fitness boot camps and each day more and more signs up for them. Why? Here is a number of definitely valid reasons behind the increasing popularity of fitness boot camps:

1. Time EfficiencySince attending fitness boot camp training entails more preparation for disciplinary actions in case one decides to become a slacker, one learns more time management when doing fitness boot camp routines. Unlike other fitness training systems, boot camps make individuals work out the whole body while pressured for time. Usually, within just an hour of the usual fitness boot camp workout, one can very well train the whole body.

2. Health Benefits.As many workout trainings provide, fitness boot camps also have various health benefits. Since an hour of boot camp training can already pack an innumerable amount of exercise, the health benefits abound, too. The strength of the muscles and their definition will surely be improved. Cardiovascular health will be augmented, too. Flexibility will also be improved, thus less injury for boot camp trainees, in the long run, of course. Many enlistees say that fat burning can be easily achieved through the increasing fitness levels employed during training. And this increasing level of physical range makes it less boring to enlistees and more beneficial to their strength and endurance. Here are the usual mix-up of the physical activities that fitness boot camp have for enlistees:

- abdominal exercises - free weight exercises
- muscle strength and conditioning exercises

- calisthenics

- military fitness drills

- speed and strength training drills

- stamina building endurance training

- hill or stair climbing

- rope jumping

- obstacle course

- pilates

- track speed training

- yoga


3. Outdoor Venue.Exercising indoors could be really boring oftentimes. Aside from seeing those old walls and hearing the same music or noise at home, there's just not much stimulation for someone to exercise when at home. This is another popular reason for the fame of fitness boot camps - experiencing nature while it keeps you fit. Usually, fitness boot camps are being held in parks or even in locations with lots of natural views like beaches. Fresh air and the scenes make one always look forward to the next fitness training.
4. For the Gung-Ho.As many knows, any boot camp training, even fitness trainings require a big amount of cooperation from the enlistees. Obstacle courses and all those occasions wherein you will rub yourself raw with dirt while fitness training is best enjoyed by those who don't mind experiencing them, of course - the adventurous ones. But for those who were so spick and span and tamed all their lives, this one great time to get wild and dirty while being mindful of your fitness boot camp instructors' orders, of course. This is because instructors, who are mostly retired military personnel, know their position so much that they can impress it too well at times. If you are not so self-disciplined, learning it from the fitness boot camp training will do you good. It will not only make you physically fit but also make you learn a thing or two on how to mingle well with others.

5. Camaraderie is Best Enjoyed.Any boot camp training usually imposes the spirit of camaraderie since there usually are the buddy-buddy activities. There are even disciplinary actions wherein your partner may be punished for any offense that you incur. With all the group activities in fitness boot camps, it will be hard for one to not gain a friend after the training. The hustle and bustle of our busy lives make many of us yearn for the action-packed experience provided by fitness boot camps. If you are not that physically-compromised, why not give fitness boot camp training a try? It will be one fun and fit experience, really!

Georgette Pann, BS health/Physical Ed., Physical Therapist assistant, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, SCWCertified Sports Nutrition. She is owner of Nutrifitness Personal Training and Nutrition Studio.She has co-authored the book "Sure Victory-How to Design Boot Camp Workouts that Blast Fat and Build Power" to find out more go to: http://thefitnessbootcamp.com

Fitness - It's All About You

By Nick Southby  | 

No matter how politically correct we'd like to be the fact is that obesity is becoming a huge problem, not just in this country, but all over the world. People tend to be quite lazy when it comes to our everyday lives, we usually choose the easiest and fastest way to do things. Unfortunately this includes eating and training as well.

Fortunately there are some very simple and easy things we can all start doing to bring an end to this epidemic and this doesn't mean we have to start training like we are aiming for the next Olympics. These are quite common sense things and very easy to implement.

Change - Who Wants That? It's So Hard...

Many times when we read about fitness and making healthy choices we see instructions that turn our lives upside down. We should join a health club, eat only certain foods and spend hours either working out or jogging. It's no wonder that people get frustrated and decide that no way they can change their lives so dramatically. And even if they try to do it, it gets too complicated and they get back to the old routine and after that it takes ages to even start thinking about changing even some small habits. It is a vicious cycle and there's a whole industry that keeps feeding this way of thinking to society.

When you really think about it, things doesn't have to change dramatically at all. The way to a better health is very simple; just eat a bit better, exercise just a bit more and in general make better choices in your lifestyle. All this won't change you overnight, but it all adds up and the change is certain over time. You can make it fun, economical and the end result is that you feel and look much better.

Do You Mean I Have To Start Eating Like A Rabbit?

This is a global question that usually men tend to ask. Simple answer is that no, you are not turning into a rabbit. You can and should enjoy the food you are eating. It is very important that eating is enjoyable as well as healthy. One thing that you need to do is eat less. Perhaps eat more often. That doesn't mean that you go to your frigde every few hours, but rather eat some light and healthy food bit more often and you won't feel so hungry all the time. This raises your metabolism and it helps you get over that hungry feeling.

Keep Drinking Enough Water

Water is very important to our bodies and you should drink around eight to ten glasses of water everyday. One trick you might want to try is drinking a glass of water before each meal as that will fill you up a bit and you won't feel so hungry.

To sum all up; eat smaller portions and bit more often and consume enough water and after a while you will feel better and start losing weight as well.

Do I Need To Start Exercising Like An Athlete?

No, but exercise is very important. However, it doesn't have to feel like a chore and a pain in the backside. Start implementing small things into your daily life; walk a little everyday and increase that amount over time. Skip the elevator and take the stairs. But not too much, just what feels right. Then increase the amount daily. Take evening walks with your friend or partner; it's great for your health and for your spirits as well.

Every little bit counts so don't underestimate small steps you are taking. After few weeks you will feel stronger. As you can see everything starts with one step. Eat a little better, move a bit more and everything starts to change. Yes, it will take time so don't expect miracles. That's only for infomercials and movie stars.

Small results keep your motivation up and after a while people will start wondering what has happened to you as you start looking and feeling better. Just keep going and don't give up!

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5 Things That Make A Fitness Sound System Different From An Ordinary PA System or Home Stereo

By Steve AV Slater  | 

It's no big surprise that so many fitness centers and exercise classes start with using a less-than-ideal sound system. After all, it's supposed to be about fitness-not listening to music-right? Well, in reality, this just isn't the case at all. A fitness audio system has a rather hefty set of standards to meet in any kind of high performance environment...much more than just playing some background tunes.

With this in mind, here are the 5 things that make a fitness sound system different from an ordinary PA system (or home stereo):

1. Simplicity

While it might sound more complicated at first, the fact of the matter is that fitness audio sys are designed to provide exactly what an exercise class instructor needs. It starts with the brains of the system-a mixer with 2 wireless mic inputs and about 3 individual music channels to handle inputs from a CD player, portable music player, or other source device. From there, it's all about having the correct amplifier (whether built-in or external) and professional speakers that are perfectly sized for the environment. It's really as simple as that; there's no need for complex features like reverb that are found on PA systems designed for bands and other more complicated jobs.

2. Group Ex Sound Clarity

A home theater system provides the ideal in-home movie watching experience; a dance club sound system is designed and tuned to provide club-shaking bass and volume. But the demands placed on a fitness audio sys go above and beyond-with group ex sound, it's vital to have excellent performance both when it comes to playing great sounding music and having crystal-clear wireless mic clarity so the instructor can be heard by all. Quality fitness sound systems are custom designed to provide balance...the best of both worlds.

3. Ease Of Use

A fitness instructor is usually much more interested in doing what it is they do best-instructing the fitness class-not running a 96-track audio system capable of running a world-class concert hall. Ideal fitness mixers will feature one easy to use master on/off switch, very simple sound adjustments and controls (without hundreds of knobs and sliders that no one understands), and an all around self intuitive method of running the system. In other words, it should just make sense to the person operating the sound system-no more, no less.

4. Durability

Home stereo systems and low-grade PA systems just aren't up for the challenge that everyday use in a professional environment requires. And of course, a high-performance fitness sound environment also presents its own unique set of challenges-things like extreme sweat and the potential for high impact that wireless microphones and other equipment must be specially designed to handle with ease. It's also important to note that delicate home theater or stereo speakers are very easily damaged when used with wireless microphones that produce unpredictably high volume levels during regular use, especially with accidental feedback. Durability is an essential component in a quality fitness audio system.

5. Support

It's important to have a sound system that comes with complete technical support and advice, both before and after the purchase. Because there is more to a pro-grade fitness sound system than using a boom box off the shelf, it's always important to have someone who you can call and get quick, expert advice from people that actually know and understand your unique circumstances. This is something only a fitness sound specialist can adequately provide on this level.

So while many fitness centers and exercise instructors begin by using a home stereo system or an ordinary everyday PA system, the truth of the matter is that it doesn't take long at all to realize the importance of graduating to a true fitness sound system that's been professionally designed for the unique circumstances required. 'A genuine fitness sound system really does make all of the difference in the world-why not take your fitness center or exercise class to the next level soon?

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How To Start Your Golf Fitness Career

By Sid Johnson :

Golf fitness career, unlike any other professional, office or white collar work jobs, gives you more satisfaction and fulfillment. You need not have to be stressed for daily meetings, be still up late to finish your presentation or attend a business conference.

Here you could make more money by a combined golf and fitness training. Here you could see your clients improve and grow every day with you. Here you could start earning money with the job that you most love.

To help you get started with your golf fitness career and raise your income scale to the highest level, here are some ways to let you get your perfect swing from golf clubs to riches.

To begin with, you need to have experience and a wide range of knowledge in golf. It is not enough to know the basics or to have a well-built body and strong muscular physique. Golfers do not need someone who would wrestle them or even intimidate them with their muscles. One must still study the very skills of good golf. Besides, you could never really be an expert if you only know the basics. There are a lot of training programs which could help you grow from an amateur to a real specialist. Start a lot of research and read many available online articles, e-zines or e-books about golf fitness, which others could be acquired for free.

Next you will need to learn all you can about fitness especially sports fitness. You are advised to get yourself certified as a fitness trainer from one of the recognized bodies or institutions. Many universities now offer courses in sports fitness and exercise.

Once you get to know the techniques and skills used in better golf playing, you should be able to look, act and talk like a professional personal trainers. These are big clients you are going to handle and not just some college students. Look confident about what you are saying. If you would look unsure even on what you are teaching, it would be possible that you would be crossed out on the spot. Take note that they are paying for your services and they would not spend their money on a personal golf trainer who would not be worth it at all.

Be seen everywhere. It is not ENOUGH to just be known in a small circle of your town. Start catering on other cities and towns near you. This way you could get a lot of opportunity to gain more experience. How could you achieve this? What else but through online marketing and creating your very own website. Usually, this is not a very easy and fast process and does not guarantee you an immediate work especially if you would be the author of your site.

You should also consider offering your services for free for a short period of time just to gain experience and to develop your clientele. Many persons starting out with their career in golf fitness do not consider this but it can be very effective.

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The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution - What's it All About?

By C Doug Mah ;

If you're like me, you have a hectic schedule with your vocation, your household duties, and your family life but you want to stay in shape or get in shape physically. Who has time to go to they gym 3 to 5 times a week or even workout at home. Who has the energy? If that sounds like you, I think you will find this article about Slow Burn interesting.

This article is essentially an overview of the book "The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution - The Slow-Motion Exercise That Will Change Your Body In 30 Minutes A Week" which was written by Frederick Hahn, Michael R. Eades, M.D., and Mary Dan Eades, M.D. who are, respectively, a professional exercise trainer, and two pioneers in the field of metabolic medicine.

What is Slow Burn?

Like the subtitle of the book says, the Slow Burn fitness regime involves working out once a week for 30 minutes in total. The goal of the program is to quickly and efficiently build your strength without injury and without the risks that accompany most other exercise and fitness activities.

How Does Slow Burn Work?

Strength training improves you strength but it also helps your metabolic health of your muscles as well as the rest of your body. Your muscular system is the largest system in your body and it contains the largest network of blood vessels (your vascular system) in your body. Improving muscle health improves vascular health.

Your muscle mass is the largest factor in determining the rate that calories, in the form of sugar and fat, your body burns for fuel. More muscle means faster burning of calories, even at rest.

But as we age, the body loses muscle mass. This occurs slowly at first but faster as we grow older - up to 40% of our muscle mass. As a result, we lose strength, we grow proportionately fatter, and we burn calories at a slower rate. To slow and reverse this process we need to partake in a proper strength training program. As I mentioned previously, not only will this improve your strength, it will also improve your vascular system, lower your fat, increase your calorie burning, and improve the functioning of the other organs in your body.

The Slow Burn program is different from other weight training programs in that it involves slow movements, low repetitions, and complete fatigue of the muscles in a short period of time.

There are four different types of muscle fibers: slow-twitch fibers (the smallest), two types of intermediate-twitch fibers (slightly larger and faster), and fast-twitch fibers (the biggest and fastest). These different types of muscle fibers have different roles in the body. The big fast-twitch fibers are designed for situations that require explosive power of short duration. The slower fibers are more for endurance. We all have some of each fiber type in our muscles and the ratios (based on our genetics) vary by type of muscle and from person to person.

Following the Slow Burn method, all the different muscle fibers will be strengthened. In traditional weight training, the slow-twitch fibers respond first to the exercise and then fatigued first. Then the intermediate-twitch fibers respond and fatigue. Only at the extreme do the large fast-twitch fibers come into play. They normally don't get exercised enough to improve in strength, size, and metabolic health. To get at these muscle fibers quickly and effectively, use the Slow Burn method.

The Slow Burn technique is designed to quickly bring about deep fatigue of all muscle fibers, small and big. The key is to perform each exercise with slow, precise movements in perfect form with weight heavy enough to take the muscle to total fatigue in just a few repetitions. Total fatigue is the point where the muscle cannot move the weight anymore no matter what. At that point, the muscle fibers send out hormonal signals that stimulate growth, increase strength, and improve metabolic function so that the muscles will be able to meet future demands. Continued repetition of this technique quickly builds muscle strength, muscle mass, power, and quickness.

A typical Slow Burn workout of a specific muscle group will take sixty to ninety seconds to perfectly perform a single set of three to six repetitions. With each rep, you will take three seconds to initiate the motion, then lift and lower the weight precisely and slowly. You should select a weight that for the first second or two it feels like the weight isn't going to move. Breathe steadily and push slowly and steadily focusing on the motion. If you can lift the weight slowly with good form for at least sixty seconds to ninety seconds, that is about right. The proper weight allows for three to six slow repetitions within sixty to ninety seconds before failure occurs. Your goal is to completely fatigue the muscle, meaning the muscle has reached the point of deep and total fatigue where you can no longer lift the weight and still maintain perfect form.

You should spend a couple of minutes on each exercise with a minute in between as you shift to the next exercise. You should get through the entire workout in less than half an hour.

How Can Slow Burn Benefit You?

These are some of the benefits of the Slow Burn method:

o Greater muscle strength gains in a shorter period of time.

o Shorter workouts save you time.

o Slow motions easier on your joints, muscles, and ligaments lessening chance of injury.

o Increased muscle mass increases metabolic rate which increases calorie burning.

o Fat loss.

o Strengthen bones and reduced chance of osteoporosis.

o Improved circulation, blood sugar levels, and better response to insulin which improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

So I hope you found this overview of "The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution - The Slow-Motion Exercise That Will Change Your Body In 30 Minutes A Week" by Frederick Hahn, Michael R. Eades, M.D., and Mary Dan Eades, M.D. useful. I haven't gone into the actual exercises and the program as well as the dietary guides as they are extensive. There are a number of books out there that describe similar programs but I feel that this is one of the better ones. It explains everything in a way that anyone can understand and the exercises can be done at home or the gym and don't necessarily require specialized equipment. If this sounds interesting to you, go check out the book.

Frederick Hahn's website is at www.seriousstrength.com where you can kind find extensive additional resources. You can purchase the Slow Burn Fitness Revolution book or read additional reviews here.

C Doug Mah is a business entrepreneur in the Health & Wellness and Anti-Aging industries. If you are interested in exclusive products in health & wellness [http://www.cdougmahconsulting.com] or anti-aging or interested in starting up a business in this area please contact Doug.