By Katie Copple–With warmer weather right around the corner, people are gearing up for the summer trends and poolside parties. After being cooped up inside for so many cold months, getting up and active can be a bit of a challenge, especially for those unfamiliar with the local gym.
One of the new fitness trends of 2014 is call High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT for short. HIIT incorporates simple exercises like lunges, squats and planks done in 30-45 second bursts, with a short 10-15 second break in between each round.
Danielle Hemingson, a personal wellness coach at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA said HIIT is a great way to get a full body workout. “The great thing about HIIT is that you can make it your own and do it anywhere,” she said. “You don’t need any equipment.”
Another fitness trend that is similar to HIIT is Tabata. Another full body interval training workout, Tabata incorporates both anaerobic and aerobic training, something that is hard to find. Four minutes of circuit training followed by a one-minute break gives you a total cardiovascular and muscular workout that leaves you exhausted after just a 45-minute session.
Both of these classes can be found at the YMCA.
For people who want to take their workout outside, HIIT and Tabata can easily be done outdoors as well! Besides circuit training, yoga is also another great workout that can be done outside. “There are many great apps that people can use for yoga,” Hemingson said, “All you need is a large towel or mat and a pair of headphones.”
For parents on the go or those who just want to get in touch with their inner child, the local playground is also a great place to get in a quick workout. Jogging around the outer edges of the playground, using the bench or picnic table for tricep dips or pushups are just a few of the things you can do while you watch the kids get some exercise of their own.
As the summer months grow closer, jump on the opportunity to participate in mud runs, 5k’s and other endurance races as they can be a great way to challenge yourself. Grab a friend and start a workout routine. Having a buddy there to push you and hold you to a schedule makes you that much more likely to hit the gym.
Whether you join a local gym like the YMCA or take your workout outside, finding the perfect workout is key. Find something you love, like jogging or biking or even create your own HIIT or Tabata workout, the most important thing to do is to get up and get moving.
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