From NationalPost.com ---
The hottest fitness goal in 2008 will be health rather than image. And health-seekers will have more ways than ever before to achieve it, says internationally known fitness guru Marjorie O'Connor.
There's so much diversity in the numbers of programs, classes and activities people can do, O'Connor says it's impossible to limit hot trends to a simple list of Top 10 the way she could before. "At one time, it was a cookie-cutter approach." People who were already fit were the main group working out and they were primarily running or going to the gym.
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"Now we also have special populations (older adults, overweight children and teens, the disabled), people with health challenges (weight, heart, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia), and all those groups are each looking for something that will fit their challenges as well as their likes or interests," O'Connor says.
They're finding what they need in activities as diverse as outdoor boot camps and sports, to tai chi and meditation.
Fusion-type classes that blend different disciplines such as yoga and strength training, yoga and cycling, Pilates and strength training are hugely popular and will continue to be, O'Connor says. So will dance classes of any kind from ballroom and salsa to belly dancing and clogging, fuelled by popular TV reality dance shows.
Meditation used to be a hard sell -- with or without yoga -- but people are trying anything and everything to relieve their stress levels.
"Nothing seems to be hard to sell right now," O'Connor says.
"And people are willing to spend their money on health these days, more so than ever."
Leading the pack of health-hunting buyers are aging baby boomers who realize that time is ticking and they can no longer just talk about getting fit and healthy. They have to walk, run, dance, yoga or whatever the talk, O'Connor says.
The mantra next year and for years to come will be "active aging, healthy aging." Read on...
Comments: While the shift is on to health instead of image, more people will still fail at weight loss in the next 3 months than ever before... unless they focus on actions. Good health, weight loss, and fitness are a product of daily actions. The Health & Wellness Institute has been recommending that individuals who want to lose weight focus on doing one thing today that will improve their health. If you can end the day a little healthier (and a little smarter), then you'll be on the road to successfully lose weight and keep it off. Plan on reaching your goal in 2008 and keeping it!
The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC
