All You Need Is Gloves
Sun Herald
Sunday September 29, 2002
BOXING is big, yoga is booming and spin classes are hot. But aerobics, tennis and rollerblading are decidedly passe, according to research into health and exercise trends.
The national health survey, the results of which were released by Australian Medical Association president Kerryn Phelps last week, questioned more than 1,000 people about their exercise habits.
It identified yoga and Pilates; boxing-type classes such as tae-bo, boxercise and kick boxing, spin classes, personal training and adventure sports such as snowboarding, climbing and sailing as growth areas for the future.
Popular activities are jogging, pump classes, weight training, cycling, swimming and team sports.
In contrast, tennis, aerobics, rollerskating and athletics were on the wane.
Fitness Institute of Australia education manager Wendy Richmond said the survey results reflected people's reluctance to exercise alone, and the motivating effects of a group. An example was the popularity of spin classes, an intense cycling workout with stationary bikes led by an instructor.
``People will go to a spin class but if they buy a bike it will stay in the garage and they won't use it," Richmond said. ``They are using group dynamics to achieve their fitness goals."
Fitness First national fitness manager Anne Kuczerawy said the popularity of Pilates and yoga had risen ``exponentially" among members.
``They are just huge," she said.
``The whole mind-body connection is very big."
Kuczerawy said a growing area not identified in the survey was the no-frills army-style workout that concentrated on building fitness and stamina.
``Complex, choreographed routines and circuits are on the way out," she said.
``People want the training benefits and they don't want it to be fussy."
Sports Medicine Australia president Anita Green said convenience was behind the rise of gym classes such as boxercise, and the fall of sports such as tennis and squash.
``A lot of people can't commit to a set time, or organise a squash game with someone else but gyms are open late," she said.
``Jogging, cycling and swimming are also popular because they require little equipment and you don't have to go far from home."
Green said personal trainers continued to be in demand, despite the cost, because they offered a combination of motivation and convenience.
But by far the biggest exercise trend was that people were doing less of it, she said.
This was reinforced by the survey, which found almost half the participants felt they should be doing more exercise.
Only a third said they exercised regularly, with men more likely to exercise than women.
Green said many women stopped exercising in puberty, because of concerns about their body shape, and after they had children.
WHAT'S HOT
* Yoga and Pilates: Stretching and strengthening for those seeking a mind-body connection.
* Boxing-type classes such as tae-bo, boxercise and kick boxing: A high-energy fitness fad that is macho enough for men and aerobic enough for women.
* Spin classes: The exercise bike comes out of the garage and into the gym for a group workout.
* Personal training: For the cashed-up, time-poor professional willing to pay for motivation.
WHAT'S NOT
* Tennis: Still popular with the kids but not with busy adults who are finding it too difficult to organise the time for a game with friends.
* Aerobics: Choreographed gym-based routines that are fast going the way of legwarmers and Lycra.
* Rollerskating and rollerblading: A sometimes dangerous fad imported from the US that has finally gone off the boil.
* Athletics: Too intimidating for the average couch potato.
© 2002 Sun Herald