Fitness flavors of the Midwest - exercisers set their own pace

American Fitness, March-April, 1994 by Pam Mellskog

Compare Omaha, Nebraska to Venice, California and you'll find a one or two year gap," reports Judy Argentine of Gold's Gym, Omaha. Her peers in America's heartland agree--much of what makes it big in the Midwest hit one or both of the coasts first.

Even so, large-scale trends are prevalent nationwide. Shari Strebler of Bally's in St. Louis, Missouri hires presenters from around the country to keep her clubs up to date. Though she recognizes regional differences in terms of cutting edge industry introductions, she says typical clubs post nearly identical schedules no matter where you work out. "The regions are not as different as you think," she says.

One example is the step phenomenon. High- and low-impact classes keep shrinking while step classes keep swelling. "In Chicago, it's step, step and more step," says Sara Kooperman, owner of Sara's City Workout and presenter of the annual Midwest Mania conventions.

Step stands out as the catchlest trend in the land with good reason. "The instruction and choreography don't intimidate people as much as traditional aerobics," says Kooperman. "I think people feel more acceptable in a step workout. They can adapt to the class easily."

But just because step classes stomp on all others in terms of popularity doesn't mean it's a revolutionary dass without flaw. "Step tends to be quadricep/hip flexor oFtented," says Kooperman. "For a balanced workout, you'll see the slide added to step classes now because it accentuates inner thighs and hamstrings."

Lateral training recently slid into fitness vogue because it helps fight boredom and offers a convenient way to cross train within the time frame of a single aerobics class. Step classes as well as body sculpting classes often incorporate the slide. "People look for it," says Kooperman. "But I don't know how long that will last." Considering its endurance on the coasts, slide may stand the test of time.

Step dominates, but other trends still try to find a place in today's fitness scene. Some fizzle fast. "Outdoor body walking classes didn't work for us," says Strebler with resignation. "In Kansas City they tried boxing aerobics and that didn't really take off either."

The hip hop trend may also be short-lived in middle America, according to Kooperman. "Although people are trying to do a little more of it, hip hop just doesn't sell very well," she says.

That doesn't mean all specialty classes sink in the wake of the almighty step class. Bally's "Fit to Fight" martial arts self defense classes consistently attract participants in St. Louis, according to Strebler. This specialty class gives members a unique workout plus a valuable self defense education. She says it's especially hot on the coasts and getting bigger in the Midwest. Street dancing or street jam classes also continue to draw participants, Strebler adds. "We got funk from Chicago in 1987," she says. "And it's still around."

Kooperman raves about specialty instruction for pre and postnatal fitness. Her pregnancy and exercise classes always reach sold out status. "I thought the women would already be fit and trying to stay fit," she says. "But over half of the class members are beginning an exercise program for the first time."

"Doctors recommend no exercise for the first 12 weeks, but after that time the miscarriage percentage rate drops from 30% to only 5%," says Kooperman. When a woman reaches her second trimester, it's safe to participate. From that point on, Kooperman instructs women to exercise to the end of their pregnancy if they feel up to it. "The day before I delivered, I was in class having contractions 10 minutes apart," says Kooperman.

For some women, expecting a baby is the reason they begin an exercise regimen. The challenge, of course, is to keep the new exercise participants' interest postpartum. "When women bring their newborns in to show our class, we talk about how to keep in shape after you've had a baby," explains Kooperman, who believes this specialty class fosters responsibility and promotes longterm fitness.

Not everyone ventures to try a specialty class, but they still follow trends in the changing fitness industry. "Things change all the time," says Argentine. "In Omaha, we're not as health conscious as they are in California. That's not to say Gold's Gym in the Midwest is a slouch gym--it's not. We are staying up with the times by adding more personal trainers, offering Nutritionalysisr classes and working with corporate management to design wellness programs."

Like fashion, fitness trends sometimes recycle. Such seems to be the case in Chicago's pools. "Water aerobics is picking up here again," says Kooperman.

In the nation's continuous pursuit of different ways to stay in shape, water aerobics may enjoy another popular summer. After its first splash of success in the 1980s, participant numbers tapered off. "Now more people see it as a great multi-generational sport," says Kooperman. "People are also into cross training, and they appreciate the low-impact benefits of water aerobics."