Emerging Trends Shed New Light on Shedding Pounds
By Jamie Dillon

Put down the weights. Get off the treadmill. Press pause on your aerobics DVD. 
Yes, it’s New Year’s resolution time. And yes, finding time for fitness continues to rank high in the list of most popular resolutions ever made. Resolving to firm up the flab is nothing new, but there’s a whole host of emerging exercise trends that are shedding  new light on shedding pounds.
Take a look at these five alternative exercise ideas to make good health a priority.

SUP
You don’t have to live in a coastal town to hop on the latest workout craze – and the paddle board it requires. Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP for short, combines core, strength and endurance training for a splashing good time.

Idaho River Sports offers Intro to Stand-up Paddleboarding as well as SUP bootcamp. The introductory course helps students master balance, paddle position and general board movement, while the bootcamp offers more advanced exercises. Both classes include all the necessary gear, including life jacket, paddle, board and a wetsuit (if needed), says Idaho River Sports owner Jo Cassin. Instructor Michelle Tullis teaches students on Quinn’s Pond, which is adjacent to Cassin’s store (3100 W. Pleasanton Ave, Boise, www.idahoriversports.com). Students who hone the skill enough to go on their own can head to Eagle Island State Park or the Boise River.

“It just takes a little bit of time to get comfortable with your balance. A class cuts the learning curve, and then you can go do what you want,” Cassin said. “It’s a great way to get fit and have fun.”

Once the SUP basics are in your skill-set coffers, consider paddleboard yoga, too.

For the past few years, the 105-degree Bikram (Hot) Yoga studios seem to have the corner on the yoga market, but its cooler sibling may be getting more and more attention in 2012. Posturing and breathing exercises performed on a narrow board balanced in water challenges your core and your mind. If you’re new to yoga, you may want to master your downward dog on land before trying it in the pool or pond.

Aerial Yoga
If water’s not your thing, look upward. This modified version of yoga lets you move through the air and channel your inner monkey.

A stretchy, fabric swing attached and suspended securely from the ceiling swaddles the off-the-ground yogi, allowing for a balance challenge while offering up the other benefits of traditional yoga.

Ophidia Studio owner and trainer Allison Holley said this form of exercise is surprisingly approachable. “The inversion sequences decompress the back, and you don’t have to worry about gravity,” Holley said. “You can hang upside down and work on balance without having your head on the ground. It’s fun and different, and the feeling of being weightless is awesome.”

Holley said those who find yoga either not exciting enough or too difficult may enjoy aerial yoga. “People who’ve never done yoga before are falling in love with it. It’s difficult in different ways, but it’s a bit easier because it’s less strenuous.”

Burlesque Cardio
Sweating is definitely sexy, Holley says.

You might be wearing sneakers and a wicking-shirt on the outside, but on the inside it’s all sequins and high heels for you. Burlesque cardio relies on seductive, striptease-like moves to big-band music to tone muscle and burn fat without sacrificing an hourglass shape. “Think Vegas show girl. Think old-school Burlesque meets Pussycat Dolls,” Holley said. “We use feather boas and chairs and great music. It’s really, really fun.”
Check out aerial yoga, burlesque cardio at Ophidia Studio, 4464 Chinden Boulevard, Garden City, www.ophidiastudio.com.
 

ElliptiGO
If gyms aren’t your thing, but you long for the comfortable stride of the stationary elliptical machine, the ElliptiGO may be for you. This elliptical machine on wheels appeals to runners, bikers and other cardio junkies and offers a low-impact workout. Costing between $1,800-$3,500, ElliptiGOs are available online at elliptigo.com or at Idaho Athletic Club (875 E. Plaza Drive, Eagle, www.idahoathleticclub.com).

CrossFit Training
Flipping tires, battling ropes, throwing sandbags and hanging on rings. CrossFit training is a love-it-or-hate-it activity, says Trina Kubitschek, owner of CrossFit Station in Eagle (www. CrossFitstation.com, 1396 Iron Eagle, Suite 100).

If you do land on the love-it side of this increasingly popular fitness regimen, plan on getting the results you want quickly.

This multi-functional, multi-dimensional approach to exercise doesn’t isolate body parts like standard circuit training, Kubitschek says. While it’s considered among the newer trends in high-intensity workouts, it’s actually a rather old-school approach.

“We’re talking about going back to the kinds of exercises people did before gyms and weight systems popularized by Jack LaLanne,” Kubitschek said. “It’s high-intensity. You can get your workout done in 20 minutes versus spending two hours at the gym with the same or better results.”

Kubitschek admits CrossFit can intimidate, and while adapting the program to tailor each person’s needs is possible, it’s still not for everyone.

“It’s true, we range from 12-year old to 70-year old clients, however, it’s still not for everybody. It’s for  somebody who likes to work hard and step out of their comfort zone. It’s for someone who’s looking for a change. This is for them.”