Coming to a gym near you...cycling through an underwater world
EXERCISE classes can be a bit like Marmite: you either love them or hate them. Whether you think there is nothing more fun than slipping into Lycra and getting sweaty at your local leisure centre, or simply shudder at the thought, there is a gym workout to suit just about every taste in 2018.
From virtual-reality spinning classes to weight-lifting for oldies, even the most ardent gym-dodgers will find themselves spoilt for choice. Here we round up the best ways to blast away the cobwebs and get fitter in the coming year…
A VIRTUAL-REALITY CYCLING ADVENTURE
WHAT IS IT? Persistent pedalling is tough when you’re just staring at numbers on a computer screen. So-called immersive fitness transports you from the stuffy gym to a virtual-reality adventure. Cutting-edge technology such as wraparound cinema screens and projectors places you instead in fantasy scenes including sci-fi rollercoasters and underwater worlds. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? A recent study published in the journal Medicine And Science In Sports And Exercise suggests that immersive fitness increases satisfaction and decreases perceived effort among participants. For the trial, Dr Jinger Gottschall, of Penn State University in the US, compared an audio-only cycle class and an immersive cycling experience. ‘You can reach a high heart rate zone to get fitter, faster, without feeling the discomfort,’ Gottschall says. WHERE TO DO IT Try THE TRIP, a 40-minute ‘multi-peak’ cycling workout (lesmills.com/uk) available at David Lloyd gyms (davidlloyd.co.uk).
JOIN A ROWING TEAM… INDOORS
WHAT IS IT? Think the rowing machine isn’t worth the strain? The latest wave of indoor rowing classes is set to change its reputation by using group camaraderie, interval training and pumping music to empower us to brave the most feared machine. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? Burning up to 600 calories in 50 minutes and using a host of muscles including the calves, hamstrings, glutes, abs, biceps, triceps and upper back. WHERE TO DO IT Gym Box, Bannatyne and Virgin Active gyms offer classes while top coaches at British Rowing (britishrowing.org) have developed Go Row classes to be rolled out nationally throughout 2018.
WEIGHT-LIFTING FOR OLDIES
WHAT IS IT? You don’t need a rippling six-pack to benefit from weight training. In fact, it’s something we should all be doing, particularly as we get older. Industry experts see 2018 as the year when pensioners will form orderly queues at the weights corner in a bid to tackle the loss of muscle – and increased body fat – that happens as we age. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? A recent study revealed that adults in their 60s who combined weighttraining with a low-calorie diet experienced less muscle loss and more fat loss than those who did aerobic exercises such as walking. WHERE TO DO IT Body Pump classes are a great introduction. Try them at most gyms, including Pure Gym (puregym.com).
FOLLOW MEGHAN’S FITNESS REGIME
WHAT IS IT? The latest Hollywood trend to hit our shores is stretching – the exercise of choice for pop star Beyoncé and Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle. What began in LA hotspot Stretchlab Stretch Zone as a way of attracting more people to exercise has exploded into a global lifestyle trend. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? New intense-stretch classes focus on the loosening of dense, fibrous connective tissue that surrounds muscles and bones, resulting in improved posture and increased energy levels. WHERE TO DO IT Equinox (equinox.com) offers classes such as deep stretching and self-massage known as the RX Series. Barrecore Stretch (barrecore.co.uk) involves balletinspired lengthening stretches, and Five (thirdspace.london) employs easy-to-use stretching equipment to reverse the effects of desk-bound postures. To try it at home, invest in the Moving Stretch manual by Suzanne Wylde (£10.55, amazon.co.uk)
GIVE MO FARAH A RUN FOR HIS MONEY
WHAT IS IT? Industry giant Technogym is launching the SKILLRUN, the world’s fastest treadmill (reaching Mo Farah-like speeds of 18mph), and first to combine cardio and power training with a handlebar that can be pushed to increase resistance. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? Relieving the monotony of running while blasting fat and toning legs. WHERE TO DO IT
MOVE TO THE BEAT... OF YOUR HEART
WHAT IS IT? Bin the step-counters and listen to your heart instead. The boom in activity-trackers means that more of us than ever are keeping tabs on our beats per minute in an attempt to accurately measure fitness levels. You can track your own heart rate (see below), but a wave of new classes will do it for you. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? Ensuring that you progress but don’t push too far too soon. WHERE TO DO IT FitRX classes at Heartcore gyms (heartcore.co.uk) use free weights and HIIT exercises to push you into different heart-rate zones, while Orangetheory at David Lloyd uses weights and cardio, helping you to burn up to 1,000 calories in just 60 minutes.