Exercise Goes Low

Sun Herald

Saturday April 15, 1995

By MARJORY BENNETT

IN an exercise culture that has more changes than a set of traffic lights, aerobics classes themselves are undergoing a metamorphosis. The old style of high-impact, bone-busting aerobics is a rarity in most gyms and even lowimpact aerobics isn't as popular as it used to be.

Julie Trethowan, director of the Hyde Park Gym in Sydney said: "People are wanting more body shaping now and are looking for more circuit work. They are busy and want to get more out of their hour of exercise.

"The main thing you get with the ordinary aerobics class is aerobic conditioning; it doesn't change the shape of the body. Stretch classes and yoga for strength and flexibility are becoming popular."

Step Reebok (structured moves to music, performed on a special platform) appears to be here to stay but even that has its parameters.

Step went through a more complicated phase in the past few years where high-speed manoeuvres were introduced (called Step Moves) which required more concentration and coordination. Most gyms have dropped these classes now.

Ms Trethowan said: "We have to be very careful to keep these classes as simple as possible. People don't want to comes here after a hard day at work and have to think to much about coordination."

Slide Reebok (set moves on a piece of plastic sheeting done to music, like skating) was a recent fad that slid out the door as quickly as it started.

New aerobics classes have more circuit routines comprising cardiovascular work with short sessions on different weight equipment.

Sue Stanley, three times world aerobics champion, who runs a gym in Melbourne said she could not foresee any more exercise fads coming up in the near future.

"In Australia we are more into low-impact work and body conditioning. High intensity classes are out because they are bad for backs and knees."

However not all exercise buffs are happy to lose high-impact aerobics.

Ms Stanley, who won a championship in America last year said: "In America where high-impact work is also on the way out some gym junkies have complained that they are missing the adrenalin rush you get with high-impact work.

"It's doubtful that we will ever go back to this kind of work in Australian gyms."

Ms Stanley said the anorexic and androgynous look was out. Women want some shape but plenty of muscle tone.

And we could be seeing the last of wall-to-wall lycra and G-string leotards.

She said that from her gym experience women preferred to be more comfortable and wear baggy shorts and cropped tops.