REVAMP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE
We all feel a little stuck sometimes. Doing the same ‘ol same ‘ol because it is comfortable and what we know, but let’s face it, comfort doesn’t change us. And the mundane is dare I say, mundane. If this is tugging at your heart strings and hitting a bit too close to home, it may just be time to revamp your workout routine and embrace a bit of a change.
Whether you’re looking to boost your energy, enhance your hormonal health, or simply shake up your exercise regimen, indulging in a new workout trend, may be just what the doctor ordered.
CURRENT TOP 3 FITNESS TRENDS
Workout trends are constantly ebbing and flowing and have evolved into a more holistic approach to fitness. Gone are the days of focusing solely on one aspect of exercise. Today’s fitness enthusiasts are discovering the power of combining different workout styles to achieve comprehensive health benefits. What are today’s top trends? Let’s dig in
1. Functional Fitness: This trend focuses on exercises that mimic everyday movements, improving overall body strength and coordination. Think of squats, lunges, and core stabilization exercises that enhance your ability to perform daily activities with ease.
2. Strength Training: Lifting weights has gained an enormous amount of attention today as it has been positioned to be the #1 way to get lean, improve over health, and aide in hormone balancing. This can range from resistance work, to lifting heavy weights at your local gym.
3. Hybrid Workouts: These workouts combine elements from different workout styles. For instance, a session might blend strength training with cardio intervals, or yoga with high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Did someone say HAVN Hot Pilates? ;)
Ok, so those are the top trends, but what’s the benefit and why are they so…trendy?
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS - WHAT’S THE FUNCTION?
Functional fitness is designed to help us improve how we move in our everyday life, but what are the main benefits and why is it so trendy? Let’s jump in.
1. Improved Daily Functionality: Functional fitness exercises are designed to mimic real-life movements, which helps enhance your ability to perform everyday tasks more efficiently. For example, squats and lunges can improve your ability to lift and carry groceries or perform household chores.
2. Enhanced Balance and Stability: By focusing on exercises that engage multiple muscle groups and stabilize the core, functional fitness improves overall balance and stability. This is particularly beneficial in preventing falls and injuries, especially as you age.
3. Injury Prevention: Functional fitness strengthens muscles, tendons, and ligaments in a way that enhances joint stability and reduces the risk of injury. The emphasis on proper movement patterns and muscle coordination helps in maintaining a balanced physique.
Why It’s Trending: Functional fitness is trending because it aligns with the growing interest in holistic health and wellness. People are increasingly looking for workout routines that not only build strength but also improve their quality of life by making everyday activities easier and reducing the risk of injury. The practical, real-world benefits of functional fitness resonate with those who seek efficiency and effectiveness in their fitness routines.
STRENGTH TRAINING - is IT THE Key to Hormonal Health?
Strength training isn’t just about building muscle—it's crucial for hormonal health, overall fitness, emotional wellbeing, and even longevity. Here are a few reasons why.
1. Hormonal Balance: Weight training helps regulate hormones such as insulin, cortisol, and estrogen. By improving insulin sensitivity and reducing cortisol levels, weight lifting supports balanced blood sugar levels and reduced stress.
2. Bone Health: As women age, bone density naturally decreases. Resistance training stimulates bone formation and helps maintain bone strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
3. Metabolic Boost: Strength training increases lean muscle mass, which in turn boosts your resting metabolic rate. This helps in maintaining a healthy weight and supporting overall energy levels.
Why it’s trending: Let’s face it, knowledge is power and we are in the information era where we are being shown the vast range of health benefits that strength training can offer. Beyond building muscle, it enhances bone density, improves metabolic rate, supports joint health, and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Strength training supports functional fitness by improving everyday movement and stability. This is appealing as people are increasingly focused on maintaining mobility and balance as they age. PLUS, strength training coupled with stabilizing and endurance workouts helps to better posture, balance, and overall physical functionality.
So let’s dive in the HYBRID combo.
HYBRID TRAINING - THE ONE, TWO PUNCH
In the ever-evolving world of fitness, hybrid workouts are taking the spotlight for their ability to blend various exercise modalities into one efficient, effective routine. Let’s dig into why a hybrid approach is so beneficial.
1. Balanced Strength and Flexibility - One of the most compelling reasons to combine modalities like Pilates and strength training is the balance it creates between strength and flexibility. Pilates is renowned for its focus on core strength, flexibility, and posture, while strength training targets muscle building and endurance. Together, they provide a comprehensive workout that enhances overall physical performance. Pilates helps to lengthen and stretch muscles, reduce stiffness and improve mobility, while strength training helps to build muscle growth and promote bone and joint health. This balance leads to a more agile, flexible, and well-rounded physique.
2. Enhanced Core Stability - Core stability is crucial for overall strength and injury prevention. Combining modalities like Pilates + Strength or HIIT + Pilates or even Pialtes + Yoga help to build a strong trunk (core) to build strength and balance. Pilates (in particular) places a strong emphasis on core engagement and stability through exercises that target the deep abdominal muscles, while strength and/or resistance training often involves compound movements that require core activation and engagement. Combining two modalities that focus or at least incorporate core work, ensures a robust core foundation, to improve posture, balance, and performance in other physical activities.
3. Increased Workout Variety - Like we stated from the jump, sometimes we get into a workout slump, so keeping a varied workout approach can be the key to maintaining motivation and preventing workout plateaus. Choosing a hybrid approach to fitness blends low-impact, precision-focused workouts like Pilates with high-intensity, or muscle-building strength training modalities to keep your motivation high and workouts interesting. PLUS, having this variety challenges different muscle groups and energy systems, leading to more comprehensive fitness gains and reducing the likelihood of boredom.
4. Enhanced Recovery and Reduced Injury - Hybrid workouts can contribute to better recovery and a reduced risk of injury. Workouts like Pilates and Yoga focus on proper alignment, controlled movements, and muscle engagement helping to improve recovery time and prevent injury from overuse. Strength training and HIIT, when combined with controlled movements, ensure that muscles are not only built but also properly conditioned to handle physical stress. This balanced approach helps in maintaining muscle integrity, flexibility, and overall joint health, which is essential for long-term fitness progression and injury prevention.
Why it’s trending: Hybrid workouts offer so many benefits by blending different types of exercises. For example, combining strength training with cardiovascular exercises provides both muscle-building and aerobic benefits in a single session. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded fitness routine that can improve endurance, strength, flexibility, and overall fitness. Hybrid workouts keep exercise routines fresh and engaging by mixing various activities and techniques. This variety not only helps prevent workout boredom but also challenges the body in different ways, which can lead to more effective results and a greater likelihood of sticking with a fitness program.
SUM IT UP, SIS
To achieve a well-rounded fitness routine, it may just need to be that…well rounded. It’s easy to choose one thing and never deviate, but when you combine a couple modalities your body is constantly challenge and your muscle continue to grow. PLUS you are more mentally stimulated making it easier to stick to a workout regimen and avoid plateaus.
Remember, the best workout routine is one that you can stick to. By embracing a variety of workout styles, you can revamp your routine, enhance overall well-being, and stay motivated on your fitness journey.
So, whether you're lifting weights, in your Pilates Era, or embracing the high-intensity cardio workouts, the key is ENGAGEMENT and enjoy the process of discovering what works best for you.
Happy training!
