Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 21 | Page 54

what’s
Here’s a rundown of some of the hottest health and fitness
trends to hit the planet—or at least found at a location near you!

> Tabata Training

> Aqua Spinning Class

What in the world is tabata? Well, it’s actually an
equation. But don’t worry. You don’t need a math
degree to do a tabata workout. The equation is: 20/10
x 8 = 4. The 20 represents seconds of work, the
10 stands for seconds of rest and the eight
represents the number of sets performed.
The entire workout equals four minutes
of intense exercise. Originating in
Japan, tabata is a form of highintensity interval training (HIIT)
that’s more “intense” than what you
may be used to. The best part is
that you can do this at home with
little or no weights. Start with squats
for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds
and repeat eight times. Then rest and
hydrate for a minute, and then do pushups
for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and repeat
eight times. Then add two more moves, such as
sit-ups and jumping jacks. Get the idea?

Doesn’t everyone want to ride his or her bike into the
pool? Well, maybe not. But one hot trend across the
country is aqua spin classes—a specially designed
stationary bike is grounded in a pool,
providing a double whammy of a
workout. According to most people
loving this trend, the water’s
resistance to the cycling motion
makes for an intense workout
and offers something
different to those who are
bored with cycling on dry
ground! Obviously, these
classes are being offered at
select gyms and health clubs
with pool facilities, so you may
have to do your homework to find
a location.

> ViPR Weight Training
The ViPR, which stands for Vitality, Performance and
Re-Conditioning, is actually a large rubber tube that
weighs between 8.8 and 44 pounds. It’s touted as
providing over 9,000 potential moves that involve the
ViPR being carried, tilted, dragged, thrown, flipped
and swung around. Not for the faint of heart or the
novice, trainers are boasting great results for their
clients with this total body workout device. There are
many online videos available—but it’s best to seek out
a professional to get you started and to ensure the
moves are being performed properly.

> Smart Helmets
Developed by the Swedish company Mips and backed
by 15 years of research, many sports that require a
helmet are getting “smart.” Revolutionizing helmet
technology with a system that reduces forces to the
brain by up to 40 percent when the head strikes
something at a 45-degree angle, Mips is partnering
with various sport helmet manufacturers to provide a
safer alternative to standard helmet gear. From cycling
to football to snow skiing to equestrian—look for this
trend to take off in 2014.