BALLET BARRECORE
Despite the name, tutus are not necessary for
Ballet Barrecore, currently one of the hottest fe-
male fitness trends. Only 2 per cent of Barrecore
attendees are male – and perhaps with good
reason. Niki Rein, who founded the movement,
says: “A lot of men who come to the class don’t
make it through as they find it so tough. They
need more breaks and find it quite humbling.”
Isometric static squats form the basis of Bar-
recore. Lifting repeatedly shortens and length-
ens muscles, but isometrics are about holding
the contraction in one spot – something that men
are less likely to do. They’re proven to give su-
perior strength gains and have a lower risk fac-
tor than lifting, but they won’t build big muscles.
While this is often seen as a benefit for women,
when men are looking to add mass, they often
opt for short-term bulking. Counterbalancing the
shortening of muscles that comes with lifting is
key to maximising gains, so the elasticity that
Barrecore can provide is a shortcut to maximis-
ing results.
ZUMBA
Created by Colombian dance guru Beto Perez,
Zumba takes the fundamentals of salsa danc-
ing and combines them with aerobic exercises
that improve not just your rhythm but stamina
too – and guess where those two come into their
own? If you usually do cardio on the elliptical or
treadmill, Zumba can mix things up by activating
the brain at the same time. Learning the routines
is less about nailing them Timberlake-style, and
more about loosening the hips and shoulders to
achieve more fluid movements. Zumba covers
a wide range of movements, using muscles that
you otherwise wouldn’t use, so soreness is sur-
prisingly common after a class. For anyone look-
ing to start strength-training, an hour-long class
provides a solid foundation for muscle memory
and developing flexibility.
AQUA AEROBICS
Not just for OAPs, Aqua Aerobics classes are
popping up all over trendy fitness venues. Vigor-
ous underwater exercise burns through around
500 calories an hour, but without the impact
damage – making it a great rest-day activity.
Plyometrics – or power building explosive move-
ments – are a major component of Aqua Aer-
obics, plus large, sweeping movements and
lunges combined with water resistance tax ar-
eas rarely worked out in the gym, and your core
will be working overtime keeping you balanced
in the water.
Because Aqua Aerobics is a low-impact alterna-
tive to on-land activities, it’s also a great back-up
during injury time that will still push you.
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