Let’s face it—Zumba was new five years ago. You’re in luck. These days, whether at home or at the gym, fitness choices extend way beyond Zumba and the occasional sit-ups and jogging. So, from novices to female fitness buffs, this list covers five different types of new workouts that you can try. I’m pretty sure you’ve never had your hand in at least two of them, and believe me, they will make your workouts a whole lot better (and less boring):
1. CrossFit
Here’s what happens in a day in the life of CrossFitters: they go to the gym, do a WOD (Workout of the Day) that involves combinations of pull-ups, Olympic lifts, and jumps. In each WOD, they perform a certain number of exercises as fast as they can in a specific amount of time. CrossFit is essentially a high-intensity interval training or HIIT routine that involves short bursts of extreme activity. Even if you’re a new mom or an out-of-shape CEO, it’s a workout that’s perfect for everyone, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
There are a number of specialty gyms within Metro Manila that specifically focus on offering Crossfit, but there are also selected regular gyms that offer this one as part of their services. If you don’t want to shed money for a gym membership, though, you can still find equipment-free Crossfit workout videos in Youtube.
2. Tabata
With Tabata, you don’t need to spend hours on the treadmill or elliptical bike to burn some serious fat. All you need is four minutes. Here’s a good example of a Tabata routine: sprint for 20 seconds, walk for 10 seconds, and repeat 7 times for a total of 8 sets. You can perform a Tabata routine with a number of different exercises. The main idea is to simply use an exercise that gets the whole body involved.
Because the Tabata workout lasts for only four minutes, you can do it at the comfort of your own home. Like CrossFit, you can find tons of Tabata workout videos on Youtube. You can do pretty much any exercise you wish, like squats and rows. Any exercise that works on your large muscle groups is strongly recommended.
3. Bokwa
Bokwa is a cardio-filled workout that borrows many elements from its predecessor—Zumba. The difference is that Bokwa combines hip-hop and aerobics, which taps into South African-style dance. The dance steps are based on letter and numbers, not choreography. The movements are in the shape of the letters in the English alphabet (e.g. L, J, and C). With Bokwa, once you get the steps down, you can jazz it up with extra hip bumps and other freestyle moves.
There are no Bokwa classes offered in the Philippines just yet. Much like its distant cousin, Zumba, though, you can do a full Bokwa workout by following Youtube videos.
4. The Animal Flow Workout
The Animal Flow workout is a fresh, no-equipment workout that blasts even the hard-to-reach fats in record time. It works by mimicking certain primal movements, such as squats and crawls. Low squats excellently sculpts thighs, while crawls can chisel abs. The movements may look straight out of a safari, but those who have tried it have gone wild for the results.
The Animal Flow Workout is not available in gyms in the Philippines as of date, but it’s available in DVD format much like Zumba.
5. Reformer Pilates
You’ve probably heard of the Pilates—the one usually done on the mat using none other than the weight of the body. If you’re a fan of this workout, change things up by giving Reformer Pilates a try. It might look difficult and intimidating at first, especially with the narrow platform attached to springs, but really, it’s not a torture device. The equipment is flexible, and it not only strengthens your core, but other parts of your muscles too, especially when combined with Pilates. On the platform at the gym, you can do various stretches and poses you may not even able to duplicate on the mat.
So, if you’re the type who easily gets bored while exercising or if you need a little more excitement at the gym or at home while doing your early morning exercise, try these new types of workouts. And let us know the results when you can!