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Fitn e
To keep exercise from getting boring,
fitness experts have found a number of
ways to keep you burning the calories.
JOHN GODFREY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
ne way to spice up a dull cardio-
vascular routine is to use one of
the videos on the market that
combine strong, rhythmic music
and a simulated outdoor envi-
ronment.
"To realize success with your
home fitness equipment, you
must incorporate the fun factor,"
said Mark Lange, spokesman for
CVT Productions, which man-
ufactures exercise audio/videos.
"Music is a powerful motivator,
and perhaps the key component
in the fun factor.
"Strong, rhythmic music syn-
chronized at tempos just right
for treadmill walking, ski ma-
chine gliding and cycling can
make a dramatic difference in
your exercise attitude."
Another way, of course, is to
experiment with completely dif-
ferent exercises. Here are a few
of the latest crazes, along with a
description of the workout and
fitness benefits:
• Power yoga: "X-Files" star
David Duchovny, a longtime
devotee of power yoga, has pros-
elytized repeatedly for this mind-
body training. A high-intensity
version of the familiar granola-
and-tofu yoga, power yoga em-
phasizes difficult poses and
movements designed to work
against your body weight and in-
crease strength.
Quick shifts from position to
position also create an aerobic
workout.
• Water yoga: Great for the
less flexible among us, especial-
ly older folks, water yoga incor-
John Godfrey writes for Copley
News Service.
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porates all of the stretching and
toning benefits of traditional
yoga, but with the stress-reduc-
ing buoyancy of water.
Poses such as Climb the Wall,
Hold the Leg and Tree Pose
should be executed in chest-high
water and may also benefit more
able-bodied athletes as wind-
down stretches. Contact local
pools for info on water yoga class-
es.
• Spinning: Created by en-
durance cyclist Johnny Gold-
berg, spinning utilizes a specially
designed stationary bike that
simulates the outdoor biking ex-
perience.
Instead of computer simula-
tion, spinning uses a 38-pound
flywheel and fixed gears to re-
create the racing experience.
Schwinn has developed the of-
ficial spinning bike, the Schwinn
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Johnny G Spinner Pro, which
can be found in more and more
exercise clubs.
• Ballroom dancing: If you
really hate the whole idea of ex-
ercise for exercise's sake, try
something social.
Popularized by films like
Strictly Ballroom, young and old
alike are getting out and cutting
the rug two or three times a
week.
The cardiovascular workout
of the waltz or even the jitterbug
isn't going to put step aerobics
out of business, but every expert
on the planet will tell you that
doing something is definitely bet-
ter than nothing.
• Jet skiing: Philadelphia
Flyers superstar Eric Lindros
told Men's Health magazine that
"Spinning" is one of the new exercises.
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one of the ways he keeps his legs
in shape during the off-season
was by hopping on a jet ski and
riding the waves.
"You wouldn't think that tool-
ing around a lake is much of a
workout," he said, "but when you
get off that thing, man, you can
feel it." One thing to keep in
mind, however: Mr. Lindros
missed the beginning of the
hockey season with a serious
groin pull.
• Rowing: Now that tread-
mills and stationary bikes are all
the rage, those lonely, underused
rowing machines are starting to
attract interest from those who
don't like to stand in line at
health clubs.
Proper rowing machines give
a great power/aerobic workout if
you can master the sometimes
tricky motion.
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