From ballet pumps to prison weights - top fitness fads for 2012

By RUTH WALKER
Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 12:02

WE’VE had the step class, the boot camp, the high-heel workout, pole dancing and multiple variations on the yoga theme.

Then there are the Swiss ball, the ViPR, TRX, kettlebells, power plates and resistance bands ... Just thinking about the choice of fitness classes and equipment out there is enough of a workout for some of us. But, wouldn’t you know, 2012 has arrived with its own collection of fitness trends. Which ones stand the test of time and which ones collapse in a heap before we reach the summer remains to be seen. But if variety is, indeed, the spice of life, this little lot should see things hotting up nicely in a gym, park or forest near you.

Felon Fitness

“FOR California state prison inmates, either they are fit enough to fend off an attack or they can end up in the morgue. It’s that simple.” So goes the theory behind Felon Fitness, which brings the same methods, if not the same ethos, to workouts on this side of the razor wire. Fitness may not be a matter of life or death for most of us, but you only have to look at the biceps on some ex-cons to realise they must be doing something right. But, without free weights (which can be used for more nefarious purposes than simply pumping iron in the prison gym), prisoners are forced to use their own body weight in exercises that require a high number of reps to make them effective. So this regime will have you doing push-ups, squats, burpies, cherry pickers and pull-ups – hundreds of them – as well as following a healthy diet. Some of the exercises are more tricky than others, but they’re great for those who want a hard body without doing hard time.

www.felonfitness.com

Target Focus Training

THIS is the workout that takes no prisoners. Billed as the ‘kill or be killed’ regime, it is a form of self-defence aimed at vulnerable people who feel threatened by gangs, knife-crime, sexual predators, intruders and muggers. There are no prizes for guessing this particular trend comes from the US, and is the brainchild of one Tim Larkin, who has taught self-defence to elite military and police in 58 countries. But he believes anarchy has now arrived on Britain’s streets, and it’s time for us to fight back. “Decent, law-abiding UK citizens have a right to use whatever force necessary to defend themselves,” he says. His techniques are outlined in his book, How to Survive the Most Critical 5 Seconds of Your Life, and collection of DVDs – there are a whopping 23 of those bad boys, including a series focusing on combating knives, guns and clubs. He explains how, regardless of strength, a person can generate more than their bodyweight and use themself as a battering ram. “Your best self-defence in a life-or-death confrontation,” he says, “is injuring the other guy.” His workout claims to be able to help you do that.

www.targetfocustraining.com

Paleo Fitness

Talk about getting back to basics, this is the movement that eschews all gym equipment, heart-rate monitors and specialist clothing and focuses on the body’s natural physicality. At the forefront of this trend is MovNat, brainchild of “one of the fittest men in the world”, Erwan Le Corre (above). He believes we are becoming “zoo humans”, disconnected from the natural world and suffering physically, mentally and spiritually as a result. A bit like those big cats that pace from one end of their zoo enclosure to the other, oblivious to their surroundings. To fix this, claims Le Corre, we need to relearn how to move naturally, the way our hunter-gatherer ancestors did, walking, running, jumping, balancing, moving on all fours, climbing, lifting, carrying, throwing, catching, swimming and defending ourselves. This can be done inside or – even better – outdoors, reconnecting with nature. A bonus (for the ladies, at least) are myriad images of fit chaps on the website.

www.movnat.com

Xtend Barre

THE ever-popular pilates meets dance meets strength training in these 55-minute classes that already have Drew Barrymore, Madonna and Anna Paquin as fans. Based around the barre in a ballet studio, it is a total-body workout designed to lengthen, strengthen and stretch, delivering a toned, flexible Black Swan bod. They take the principles of pilates (concentration, precision, control), add some up-tempo music and cross-training to deliver a fun, energetic workout. “We offer a workout that equally combines strength, cardio and flexibility,” says Andrea Rogers, the professional dancer behind the regime. “Our goal is to help each person find their best dancer body, and with consistent practice the results are impressive.” There are plans to launch classes in Edinburgh and Glasgow later this year, but for now there’s the DVD. Tutus are optional.

www.xtendbarre.co.uk

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