Virtual Reality – 30-Minute Core – Grit – The Orange Theory – HIIT – Sprint – It’s a Fitness Revolution

Photo Credit: InShapeNews, 2017 – Fit Fads 

By Guest Contributor Peter Manning – Founder Circuits4Life:

NEWS FEATURE

The face of the fitness industry is changing rapidly with the latest trends in fitness training – short, intense workouts have taken over, because “TIME IS MONEY”!

The major players are listening to the young, time-poor masses, who are demanding shorter, more intense, and purportedly more effective workouts and the ‘Big Boys’ are coming to the party with training regimes that would put Navy SEALs, MI-6 and Spetsnaz recruits to shame.

For more information, visit info@circuits4life.com.au.

Les Mills gives us a myriad of options to push the consumer to their physical and mental limits, with promises of rapid results and smashing personal goals. The 30-45 minute high-intensity workouts are being sought out by today’s overworked, overstretched, leisure and lifestyle challenged young high achievers, and gym owners are paying a pretty penny for the privilege.

Orange Theory tells us that they have “the best one-hour workout in the country”, backed by the science of EPOC, with big screen heart rate monitored group training designed to motivate and inspire its participants to maintain a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy.

And the latest power player in fitness, F45 – F for “functional” and 45 for “45 minutes” – is the fastest growing fitness giant, who is taking over the world with their group training facilities, 27 “unique & systemised programs”, and expensive, restrictive weekly schedules.

It’s All About the Music

Ask any Fitness Professional – they know all too well that these gym-junkie-giants, with their shiny new facilities, funky branding, gleaming, sculpted “trainers” and extreme generic workout sessions have changed the face of the fitness world, and today it’s “all about the music”.

10 years ago, fitness training was all about healthy lifestyle choices and healthy bodies, but the advent of franchised training has turned the training world upside down. They pair basic, limited training techniques with extreme tempos and target heart rates, state-of-the-art facilities with modern, thumping music (that have nothing to sing along to), and the latest in fitness technology and gadgetry –all fitting very neatly into the over-crammed schedules of the ‘must have the latest’ time-poor.

Of course, this is nothing more than just a very clever ‘McMarketing’ approach to revamping good old fashioned physical training. Why? Because these guys have discovered a short-term secret to securing their piece of the 9 billion-dollar annual fitness industry pie. Get in, hit hard, and get out!

One of the major flaws of some programmes being offered by the slick players on the fitness scene is that they are so extreme so as to be, shall we put it out there, dangerous, many fail to take the holistic approach required for the health and fitness of the participant, and do not take into account that the vast majority of the general population are simply not able to do the workouts without any degree of safety. They certainly don’t fit most of us every day ‘working stiffs’, who struggle some days to walk up a set of stairs, let alone reach for the ab-tearing, knee-jolting, gut-churning targets that are bound to set our wallets on fire, as well as our butts.

What of Australia’s Ageing Population?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia has an ageing population, with 41.55% of the population being aged 25-54, 11.82% aged 55-64 and 15.82% aged 65 years and over. (Figures released August 2016). That means that almost a third of the population is aged 55 years and over. And with only 12.96% of the population aged 15-24 years, possibly the only group whose bodies can actually withstand the rigours of the workouts on offer, the big end of town is targeting the wrong demographic for the wrong reasons.

Despite it being common knowledge in modern times that we can’t spot-reduce our ‘trouble areas’ (that’s politically correct talk for backsides and saddle bags), we are still lured by the shiny promises and ultra-fit marketing models that the big boys are peddling, only to once again waste time and money travelling the well-worn path to rebound weight gain, injury, and disappointment.

Back to Basics For All Demographics

Can the average Fitness Professional compete in this new fast-paced, fly-by-night, cult-style arena? Of course. It’s all about getting back to basics, with simple, full-body techniques and classes that pack a punch, that can be tailored to individuals and groups and their different needs and abilities, to deliver real, safe health and fitness results, cost-effectively, and keeping clients coming back.

Fitness Professionals understand physiology and energy balance, and that to make real changes and optimise the health of the individual, no matter their age, programmes need to deliver flexibility exercise, dynamic strength-training, static strength training, aerobic exercise and circuit training.

Circuits4Life – The Trainer’s Toolbox

Peter Manning, the creator of Circuits4life, is a 20-plus year veteran Personal Trainer and outdoor events creator. Peter has seen many a gym-giant come and go over the years, yet he also sees that one thing remains true in the world of fitness and health.

“The problem with a lot of these franchise-style set-ups is that they don’t cater to the general population, who generally speaking have little to no knowledge about health and fitness, yet have the greatest health and fitness needs. It takes years and years of training experience, and quite a good deal of understanding of how the body works before an individual can be anywhere near capable of safely and effectively navigating some of these extreme workouts and programmes.” Says Peter.

“Unfortunately, clever marketing has taken over from common sense. Yes, most individuals who start a new programme of any kind will see changes to their bodies, and perhaps even their health, in the initial stages. However, some of these extreme programmes quickly lead to over-training, lack of recovery, loss of motivation, rebound weight-gain, and injury. We need to get back to basics, and make the long-term health and well-being of the average person the number one priority again.”

Peter says that it’s time to stop looking for quick-fixes that do little more than empty your wallet, and have the potential to leave the participant mentally scarred and physically impaired.

“My wife and I are both Personal Trainers, with many years of experience between us, and a track record of safety and effectiveness. Over the years, we found that the biggest hurdle for us wasn’t that we couldn’t create effective, safe programmes, but that there just weren’t enough hours in the day to both deliver classes and training sessions, and plan fresh, safe, engaging programmes, whilst fitting in a family life. We understand why some trainers simply give up and join the franchise mobs – it is extremely hard, and highly competitive, running your own fitness business, but you never give up your passion for wanting to make a real difference. This is how I came to create the “Trainer’s Toolbox”.

Peter’s “business in a box” Trainer’s Toolbox was created to give Personal Trainers the edge in an ever-changing fitness environment. With over 160 almost indestructible pre-printed PVC exercise cards, across 8 different series of exercises, the Trainer’s Toolbox comes in its own sturdy carry case and can be used indoors or outdoors.

About Circuits4Life

Partnered with the Circuits4life pre-planned ‘Done4You’ training sessions, Fitness Professionals can now offer their clients literally thousands of consistent, professional and safe workouts, without the headaches that come with having to come up with fresh session ideas, or relying on dodgy stick figure drawings or ‘winging’ sessions. The Trainer’s Toolbox allows the trainer to cater to every sector of the population, who come from different backgrounds and age groups, and have varying degrees of fitness, as well as the young time-poor, to deliver real results, without all the expensive razzle dazzle, or the prospect of long-term damage.

The Trainer’s Toolbox is real training for real people by real people.

For more information, visit info@circuits4life.com.au.