Punch, kick and roll

Vegetarian Times, May, 2001 by Amy Rapaport

If your exercise regimen needs a jump start, check out these 7 hot workouts

If diet alone were enough to keep us healthy, then every vegetarian would be the picture of perfect health. But the truth is, to achieve optimum health, we must exercise too. A regular fitness program helps keep weight off, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce stress and improve your mood. And while committing to a workout regimen can be difficult, most experts agree that if you can find an activity you enjoy--as long as it elevates your heart rate and gets you moving at least three days a week--you're on the right track, so to speak. What matters most is finding something that inspires you to exercise. That's where we come in.

Just as spinning and step aerobics were the hot trends of the '90s, a whole new roster of workouts has cropped up, ranging from boxing to yoga to swinging from a trapeze. Whether you're a hard-core athlete who likes to keep up with the latest sport or someone whose idea of a hip workout is still the stationary bike in the basement, it's important to mix things up. It's not only for the sake of your muscles, which get used to an exercise rather quickly, but--even more important--for your mind. Of course we're not suggesting that you give up an activity you enjoy. Biking, walking, running and swimming aren't fads; they're exercise staples. But if you're looking for a new challenge, fresh motivation or are just curious about what everyone else is doing, we're sure you'll find something here that piques your interest.

1 Strike a Pose One of the year's hottest fitness trends is to take a mind/body approach to exercise. And within that category, nothing is more popular than yoga. With advocates like Madonna, Oprah and Sting, it's clear that yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream. In fact, more than 18 million Americans regularly practice yoga--compared with 6 million in 1994, according to Yoga Journal. Kathie Davis, executive director of IDEA Health and Fitness Association in San Diego, has a theory as to why. "In these stressed-out, work-around-the-clock times, relaxing, quieter classes like yoga, tai chi and Pilates are having a heyday. They demand more internal focus, which relieves stress while improving strength and muscle tone, coordination, posture, balance and concentration all at the same time." The best part about yoga is that with so many styles and approaches, it offers something for everyone. "People who like to sweat and push themselves to their aerobic edge should try Ashtanga Yoga, also known as Power Yoga," points out Andrea Mather, staffer at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Mass. "For die-hards who want to concentrate on precision and alignment a la ballet class, there's Iyengar Yoga. And for folks looking for meditation in motion, Kripalu Yoga is a great choice. Today you'll find yoga for pregnant women, children and even people with disabilities." If you still aren't sure if yoga's for you, try a class, rent a video or log on to www.theyogastudio.com or www.yogasite.com for some easy poses.

2 Have a Ball You used to see them only in physical therapists' offices, where they were first introduced nearly 30 years ago. Yet today you'll find medicine balls in practically every gym, where both men and women use them to do sit-ups, push-ups, squats and lunges. It's no wonder these overgrown beach balls have become so popular. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the vinyl, leather or plastic orbs not only give you a good stretch but also help you develop core body strength, target specific muscle groups and improve your balance and posture. "Ball workouts teach your body stability because you're using muscles you wouldn't necessarily use while sitting or standing," explains Lisa Simonsen, fitness consultant and founder of Simonsen Says in New York City. "Even if you just sit on the ball and do bicep curls, you're working to keep your body still." While almost everyone can get a great workout using medicine balls, people with serious back problems or those with poor balance (like the elderly) should be extremely careful using these on their own, cautions Simonsen. Try one in the gym first, then consider ordering your own from www.nefitco.com/balls.html or www.theraband.com; most come with an exercise chart or video. Prices range from $15 to $35.

3 Exer-tainment The days of choreographed aerobic routines and rigid exercise formats are over. "We're seeing an element of playfulness in exercise, where you can let go and simply have fun--and get in a good workout at the same time," says Ken Alan, a personal trainer in Los Angeles and spokesperson for ACE. Lisa Simonsen agrees. "People are remembering that walking, dancing and even jumping on a trampoline all count as exercise," she says. Witness the new crop of "fun" classes, like cycle karaoke, Broadway dance, disco yoga and water yoga. While these activities promise a good time, they also build strength, coordination, balance and flexibility because they require you to use all the muscle groups, explains Alan. Crunch gyms in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco (www.crunch.com) are even offering circus sports fitness classes that involve tumbling, back-bends, juggling, hula-hooping, forming a human pyramid and flying through the air on a trapeze, promising participants "the abs of an acrobat, triceps of a gymnast and lats of a trapeze artist." While we can't guarantee you a spot with Cirque du Soleil, we do know you'll feel like a kid jumping around again.