Older adults, retirees are a growing fitness market

Piloxing (Pilates and boxing) and other top trends for 2011

HERE ARE THE top health and fitness trends for 2011, based on the results of a worldwide survey among American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certified professionals. These are the personal trainers, health fitness specialists, clinical exercise specialists, registered clinical exercise physiologists, health/fitness directors and program directors.

Educated and experienced fitness professionals

Aside from fitness certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) like ACSM and ACE , more health and fitness courses will be offered, to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in colleges and universities.

More fitness centers will hire certified fitness professionals to ensure quality service and to remain competitive in the growing fitness market.

In 2011, make it a habit to ask for your trainer’s certifications, training, experience and area of specialization, to get updated on the latest fitness trends, and enjoy safe and effective quality workout.

Fitness programs for older adults

Fitness is not only for those aiming for weight loss or higher fitness level. More fitness professionals will focus on people of retirement age, both the athletic and sedentary type. The seniors or the elderly group will have more time and means to afford fitness.

If you are of retirement age, it’s time to make arrangements with a qualified fitness professional. Most personal trainers can visit you at home. Special fitness programs for older adults should be conducted by a fitness trainer, with training and certification in exercise science and physical rehabilitation.

Strength training

More and more types of strength training equipment and styles of training are getting popular each year to address the needs of busy people. The minimum recommendation is at least twice a week of weight training, targeting major muscle groups to be able to improve or maintain one’s strength, to avoid injuries, to improve fitness performance, and to improve body composition or fat loss.

For 2011, incorporate strength training in your workout. A recent study published in PLoS ONE shows that you don’t really need to lift heavy weights to build muscles. Light weights but with more repetitions, to the point of fatigue, will have effects as significant as lifting heavier weights.

Children and obesity

The serious problem of worldwide childhood obesity is a growing concern in the health and fitness industry. More efforts will be given towards exercise programs for the kids.

One of the American Council on Exercise (ACE) top fitness trends is youth-based. Schools will offer more fitness and nutrition education. Health clubs will welcome kids and will offer fitness programs to help solve the problem of childhood obesity.

As a parent, you can help battle childhood obesity by being a role model yourself, by supporting your kids’ interest in sports and by being responsible enough to prepare healthier meals at home. During vacations, don’t hesitate to spend on fitness or sports activities for your children. Get them a sports coach or fitness trainer specializing in kids’ fitness.

Personal training

Personal training as career will continue to shine amid the strong growth of the fitness industry. Fitness professionals will continue to devote time to and efforts in their education and even spend more for certifications and continuing education.

Getting a personal trainer is a wise investment for 2011. There are more well-rounded and educated trainers now who can serve as fitness and lifestyle coach. You pay personal trainers for injury prevention and to help you maximize your potential.

Core training

Aside from strength training, popular exercises use balance boards and balls to challenge one’s core, which consists of muscles of the pelvis, lower back, hips and abdominals. Core training has been proven to improve one’s activities of daily living and sports as well.

For 2011, do core training aside from pure weight training and cardio workout. But fitness trends show that more fusion classes are becoming popular. People want to save time. In one exercise session, cardio, flexiblity, strength and core training can be combined to create a dynamic and balanced workout.

Exercise and weight loss

This trend simply describes a weight loss program combining exercise and eating programs for long-term results. Exercise or diet alone will not work. Fitness professionals need to be well-equipped to be able to design the most effective weight loss program for their clients.

Do not start your 2011 with “diet alone” strategy. Always combine your program with a physical activity to avoid weight cycling.

Choose the best physical activity which suits your interest and goals. You don’t need to complete 30 minutes of elliptical machine if you enjoy dancing. There are new workout routines to choose from like Zumba, Piloxing (Pilates and boxing), pole dancing or hoola-hooping.

Boot camp

Boot camp classes will continue to be popular, either indoor or outdoor setup. This is a military-style, high-intensity training combining strength, cardio, core and sports drills like plyometrics which attracts a greater percentage of exercisers.

You can ask a fitness center offering boot camp-style fitness classes using different exercise equipment. A qualified boot camp trainer can combine the use of the most popular fitness equipment like kettle bells, medicine balls, TRX, cones and agility ladders, combining the most effective moves to improve one’s agility, power, strength, endurance, balance.

Functional fitness

Being functional is about performing your activities of daily living safely and effectively to avoid accidents. Functional fitness promotes strength, endurance, coordination and balance by combining the most common moves designed to optimize one’s daily activities such as lifting objects, pushing and pulling heavy things at home, even cleaning the house and taking a bath.

If you haven’t been exercising for the longest time and you decide to sign up for a gym membership at the start of 2011, you will see and experience from your trainer different moves focusing more on rotation, pulling, pushing moves using lighter weights and incorporating balance.

Physician referrals

More medical professionals will refer patients to the fitness community for a more effective preventive strategies and/or treatment. Fitness facilities will be extensions of physicians’ clinics and hospitals to ensure continuity of care and management.

This 2011, as you undergo your medical check-up, do not hesitate to ask referrals of fitness professionals from your doctor. The medical community is more open to promoting physical fitness and even healthy eating to their patients. –Mitch Felipe-Mendoza, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Email the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com