New Year, New You

Fitwall

Body Weight Training, 2015’s Top New Fitness Trend

The American College of Sports Medicine has released their Worldwide Survey of top fitness trends of 2015, and one of the most impactful resources you can add to your workout for the New Year is already in your possession — your own body weight. This convenient back-to-basics form of exercising beats out weight training and can be as simple as doing pushups or squats, lunges or jumping jacks. Using your own body’s weight for resistance can be such a valuable tool (though one you might quickly find dwindling as your program progresses!), you can even cut back hours spent at the gym or on the trail while still seeing results.

Why Body Weight Training Works

While you might not want to “sweat to the oldies”, this tried-and-true fitness modality offers solid research and avoids the pitfalls of fad workouts.

“The thing about body weight training, it’s the oldest and most proven form of exercise in existence. We are finding that complex and functional movements yield better results than those that can be found on rigid and artificial path equipment like reformers or other equipment that doesn’t allow for the body to move as it would naturally. We see more gyms utilizing climbing devices, turf fields, and large jungle gym looking apparatuses that encourage the clients to use their own body to achieve amazing fitness and aesthetic results.”

Body Weight Training Saves Time

“One of the most common reasons people fail to remain consistent with exercise is time restrictions in their life,” says Clifton Harski, Director of Training and Global Head Coach for Irvine-based Fitwall, recently named ‘The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Fitness’ by Fast Company. “Traditional, and arguably outdated, exercise recommendations sound something like ‘30 minutes of strength and 60 minutes of cardio’ – which is totally unrealistic from a time allocation standpoint, and worse, it sets up an unrealistic expectation for busy people who then just give up and don’t workout at all.

“While fitness is certainly necessary for health, it can be challenging to make it a priority in life if it feels like a burden. Luckily more and more research keeps showing that shorter, higher intensity efforts like those performed in body weight training carry many of the same and some additional unique physical and health benefits for exercisers. This means that for the busy parent just spending 40 minutes in a workout is plenty to reap rewards.”

Sender One

Lighten Up with Body Weight Training

Body weight training could be a great solution if you notice a lag in your results, or simply have abandoned your routine during the hectic and stressful holidays. If you’re bored with sit-ups and planks, make exercise fun and marry the classic body weight training concept with these unique workout options around Orange County.

Yoga SUP’ing, Laguna Beach

Get your “ohm” on and let the motion of the ocean work those tiny muscles as you maintain your balance in traditional yoga poses on a standup paddleboard.

Fitwall, Newport Beach

Fitness goes hi-tech at this high intensity interval-training studio, where coaches use data collection and heart rate monitors to track participants exertion on iPads mounted to the top of each 7’x30” exercise wall.

Indoor Rock Climbing, Santa Ana

Awareness of balance and body weight manipulation is key in this all-weather sport option for those who strive to reach the height of their fitness goals.

Fitwall

American College of Sports Medicine 2015 Fitness Trends

1. Body Weight Training
2. High-Intensity Interval Training
3. Educated, Certified and Experienced Fitness Professionals
4. Strength Training
5. Personal Training
6. Exercise and Weight Loss
7. Yoga
8. Fitness for Older Adults
9. Functional Fitness
10. Group Personal Training
11. Worksite Health Promotion
12. Outdoor Activities
13. Wellness Coaching
14. Circuit Training
15. Core Training
16. Sport-Specific Training
17. Children and Exercise for the Prevention/Treatment of Obesity
18. Outcome Measurements
19. Worker Incentive Programs
20. Boot Camp

The results were released in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2015: What’s Driving the Market” published today in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®.