Bend it like Phelps - Fitness tips

by Valeria Cristina Mecozzi (staff) | Monday, December 14th, 2009

Following the 2008 Beijing Olympics Italians have got the fitness bug, deserting the beach in favour of the gym, according to the nation’s statistics agency. (First published in October 2008.)

Any gym buff will tell you that no matter the diligence, there comes a moment when the same old routine takes its toll. The treadmill no longer seems like the elastic trail to good health and happy living, and your muscles seem to yell vengeance to the lineup of weights. Gyms and trainers hear these cries and constantly whip up new classes and workout routines to keep it fun and functional. Traditionally, the year’s novelties are presented at the summer Rimini Fitness Fair. Here are some of what the festival presented, and more of what can be found in Rome.

Pelvicore Technique: Specifically designed for older women, the Pelvicore Technique was created by Oslo’s Norwegian School of Sport Science professor Kari Bø. It guarantees to improve muscle strength, especially in the back, spine and abdominal regions, promising a ?atter stomach, cured incontinence problems and enhanced overall core power.

Gymstick: Dreamed-up in Finland and developed by a group of instructors, physical therapists and personal trainers, it was created to work as cardio, and improve muscle strengthening, self-awareness, mobility, flexibility, toning and weight loss at once. The 400gram fiber-glassed stick with elastic bands tied to the feet improves resistance, balance and various body tensions, and works for all age groups.

Fitness Lap Dance: A time-saver for anyone looking to improve both their seduction skills and fitness routines at once. his variation of the myriad of sexy workouts available works around a chair, where the attention is focused solely on the lucky seated man for whom the workout-turned-night to remember is intended. The class improves flexibility and body awareness, using music to discover the hidden moves ready to surface from within.

City Ballet Workout: Ballet is often not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of fitness, but it somehow found its spot within the workout limelight. Blending hip hop and ballet, the courses feature modern music with ballet steps, without denaturing the natural forms of the dance. Expect to plié and rond de jambe to funky jazz rhythms: anything can happen.

Reggaeton: Inspired by the controversial Puerto Rican dance “perreo”, Reggaeton has no connection to reggae (though proclaiming itself to be its gangster cousin) and has proven to be a great workout based on combining the hip-hop and Latin dance moves to create a funky routine. The dance is a mixture of grinding and overtly sexual moves, toned down for the gym in exchange for an intense workout using stomach muscles, hip dexterity and leg strength. he steps are taken directly from the hottest clubs in Panama (its creator) and Puerto Rico (its continuer), and also combine the dance moves from the “bachateo” and “romantico”, which is generally more romantically-inclined and modified to match the music’s heavy and repetitive beats. The workout will leave you sweating and panting, but more coordinated and fit overall.

If all else fails, or if the moment’s trends are not what your heart –or muscles- desire, new studies have shown that the world’s most basic activity still soars higher above the rest.
Stanford University researchers found that habitual runners were half as likely to die over the next 20 years than non-runners. Running reduces the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer, results in fewer injuries than athletes of other sports, as well as consistently dropping weight and encouraging smokers to quit their habit. Running works well with all ages, but if the intensity proves to be too much as the years go by, research published from the University of Melbourne showed that brisk walking helps with health, heart and memory problems in senior citizens. Just 50 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week improved memory and cognitive skills in 65 and older, and noticeably reduced the cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia.