Step aerobic classes are usually offered at beginning, intermediate, and advanced level with high or low impact designations. Low impact classes place less stress on the joints whereas high impact classes produce more pressure and jarring to the joints while performing the step movements.
Spinning class simulates bike riding over various terrains. Simulations of sprinting, hill climbing, downhill sprinting, standing, jumping, and pumping make this class exhilarating and highly challenging.
Cardio Kickboxing strings movement from karate and boxing together into a composition of punches and kicks delivered to up-tempo dance music. Participants get an overall body workout as they rhythmically punch and kick their way to fitness. Classes generally incorporate some core exercises to tone and tighten the abs as well.
Plyometrics is generally a high intensity class with its explosive hops, skips and jumps. Plyometrics utilizes explosive movement to simulate the cardiovascular system and lower body musculature. Movements are broken up with intervals of low intensity core or upper body exercises.
Circuit training can be done a number of different ways. Circuits can include all resistance movements alternating between upper and lower body exercises with little or no rest between each set of exercise. Another approach is to do a resistance exercise immediately followed by an aerobic activity such as skipping rope, jogging or running in place for x number of second and then perform another resistance exercise.
Belly dancing is a fun way for women to stimulate hundreds of muscles from head to toe gently and rhythmically. Belly dancing is a soft, relaxing, energetic, way to tone and lose weight aerobically.
Aqua aerobics classes are a popular choice for seniors, overweight individuals and those recovering from injury, due to the very low level of impact. Benefits of aqua aerobics include resistance in all directions, cushioning provided by water, less stressful on the joints, buoyancy (so you’re only supporting about 50 percent of your body weight) and no special equipment is needed. Aqua aerobics are great for toning and burning fat safely.
Many gyms, park districts, YMCAs and health clubs also offer a wide variety of aerobic dance classes. Dancing is a fun, freeing, energetic collection of coordinated, and sometimes not so coordinated, bodily movements done to the rhythm of music. Dancing incorporates hundreds of muscles while one steps, twist, spins, bends, kicks, swings and swirls. The body will also burn, tone, and increase aerobic capacity participating in one of these exhilarating classes.
Some of the many forms of dance classes offered include hip-hop, jazz, ballroom, modern, African, country line, house, Latin, pole, tap, ballet and pop. Classes vary from club to club, but if dancing souinds like a fun way to condition aerobically, finding the perfect class should be no problem . Contact a local fitness facility for a list of the rhythmic boogies sessions they offer.
Aerobic conditioning can be a fun and safe way to break away from the sedentary lifestyle while improving one's fitness level and losing weight. There are a plethora of fat burning, muscle toning, endurance building aerobic activities to choose from. See what exciting fitness activities are on the schedule; don’t be intimidated by inexperience, thousands of people had to begin somewhere!
“I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon.” -Ellen DeGeneres
Chris Christian - Chris Christian has been involved with fitness for over 30 years and personal training for 12 years. In addition he teachs fitness and ...
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