Health-and-Fitness online information.

Want to try a new kind of workout in the new year? You'll have plenty to choose from. According to Shape fitness director Linda Shelton and fitness editor Linda Lewis, the following phenomena will continue to boom in 2004.

Core training Workouts that strengthen the deepest layers of your abdominals and spine extensors will be huge this year--especially those that use stability balls and other kinds of balance tools. According to the October 2003 IDEA Fitness Trends Report, more than 70 percent of gyms and clubs offer core classes.

Pilates If you haven't tried it yet, you will, says Shelton. You now can find Pilates classes at 65 percent of fitness facilities, notes IDEA.

Hybrid workouts Gyms and studios will keep combining popular activities like Pilates, yoga and stability-ball workouts in 2004 to create new classes. Sixty-five percent of clubs currently offer combo classes.

Mind-body workouts Pilates, yoga and anything that emphasizes stretching, balance, stress reduction and overall health will climb in popularity this year. Eighty-two percent of clubs now offer such classes, says IDEA.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:10 AM