Breathe new life into your fitness routine
For the core queen:
If you’re one of those people who has left a traditional Pilates class wondering what all the fuss is about, you might like Pop Pilates. Dubbed the “super intense, hard-core version of Pilates”, Pop Pilates sees you performing the traditional bridge with weights; a plank on a Swiss ball and dumbbells added to many of the original mat work moves. Turbo-charging your workout is good news for your muscles, especially your core. Over time, regardless of your workout, muscles adapt to a certain load and intensity and won’t continue to respond in the same way so the different routines will help combat that and keep boredom at bay too. Pop Pilates at Reebok Gym, Canary Wharf, reeboksportsclublondon.com
For the dance addict:
Say hello to Bokwa, the brainchild of Paul Mavi, a fitness instructor who wanted to introduce his South African roots into his fitness routine. Bokwa (“Bo” is for light boxing, while the “kwa” comes from South African dance music, Kwaito), involves drawing sequences of letters and numbers with your feet as part of a fast-moving cardio dance routine, making it perfect for the weary Zumba addict. And the best thing about it? It’s available at new gym chain PureGym, the 24/7, contract-free club, puregym.com
For the outdoors type:
Cycling company Evans Cycles are organising a series of mountain and sportive bike rides that take place every fortnight all over the UK. The idea behind the RideIt! series was to create affordable, fun and sociable rides that cater to all levels, making it an ideal choice for the novice cyclist. With around 70 per cent of your body weight being transferred through the saddle and handlebars instead of your joints, cycling is a better starting place for those carrying a little extra weight than higher impact alternatives. evanscycles.com/ride-it
For the bootcamp fan:
The bootcamp favoured by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Jake Gyllenhaal has hit our shores and will launch in Bloomsbury on 26 January. Routines take place on state-of-the-art Woodway treadmills, designed to work with your biomechanics and minimise impact, and on the gym floor where you’ll pump and press your way to your dream new year body. Definitely worth a go at £20 a class with no commitment required. barrysbootcamp.com
For the golf guru:
Clubs gathering dust but keen to save face on the course come spring? Don’t worry, help is at hand. Urban Golf, London’s indoor golf centres, has introduced its Winter Rules Package for players who want to “lift and clean up” their game from January to March. Its new simulators use 3Trak, a revolutionary ball tracking system that not only measures the ball’s speed and trajectors but is also the only system to accurately measure spin, so will really help you brush up your skills whatever the weather this winter.
urbangolf.co.uk
For the summer sports fan:
Virgin Active had the brilliant idea of combining a group exercise class with tennis to create Cardio Tennis, a new workout which is said to burn up to 600 calories an hour. The chain’s new take on the traditional game involves performing high energy moves on a tennis court against a soundtrack of fast tempo music – no prior tennis experience needed. And if you need any further persuasion, scientists at the University of Illinois recently found that tennis may generate new connections between nerves in the brain. virginactive.co.uk
For the couch potato:
If you’re still trying to persuade a lazy colleague to get moving, they might be persuaded to try Zumba Sentao, the latest Zumba workout. Combining Zumba moves and traditional strength and resistance exercises, Zumba Sentao takes place on and around a chair. Yes, that’s right – if you thought your chair was only good for tricep dips and leg raises, think again. Rumour has it Zumba creator Beto Perez came up with the idea for Sentao when he arrived to demonstrate a class only to find his pupils already seated and reluctant to budge, so decided to teach his routines on a chair. It might not get you buff in a fortnight, but if you’re a fitness-phobe, this might be the one for you. zumba.com/sentao