Making Your Workout Fun

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

July 24, 1998 / 4:10 PM EDT / CBS

Thousands of experts in the field of health and fitness are on hand at the World Fitness Expo in Orlando, Fla., and CBS 'This Morning' Fitness Contributor Bonnie Kaye is among them.

Among the many trends and concept being presented at the Expo, reports Kaye, is the idea of taking what's normally an individual sort of activity or sport and turning it into a group exercise class. So if you don't like working out alone, you're in luck.

Bodypump lets you lift weights with others to music. Kaye says Bodypump makes pumping iron fun, easy, and accessible to the everyday exerciser.

You don't have to worry about bulking up, because you control the amount of weight you add to your barbell. And, although you're exercising with the group, you go at your own pace, making it as hard or easy as you want it to be, for a great total body workout.

"It's all about the music; resistance with rhythm is what we call it," said Bodypump Master Trainer Steve Renata. "Strength, endurance, prevention of osteoporosis, general conditioning and empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem. It's fantastic."

Treading is another new approach to exercise. For those who find running on a treadmill boring, a treading class may be just the thing. You work on the treadmill in a group. The instructor cranks up the intensity, helping you get better results than you might get running down the lonely stretch of road by yourself.

"The difference is," says Ellen Abbott, treading program creator, "that people tend not to push themselves the same way. They don't challenge themselves."

If treading isn't your cup of tea, you might try rowing. You don't have to be on the crew team at Harvard to get the benefits of rowing. Indoor group rowing classes provide similar benefits to outdoor rowing without the boat or the water.

Rowing works. The upper body and lower body, As well as the abdominal and back muscles to tone And strengthen the entire body, while giving you a good aerobic workout.

And if you'd like to slow down the pace a bit, here's something different: the aqua class. The aqua class takes yoga moves and modifies them for use in the water. Partners help each other into poses for toning, strengthening, balance and ability. You rejuvenate your mind and your muscles.

Now, that particular class is called mindful water exercise. Meditation and yoga-type moves in the water. No matter what your body type or fitness level or age, there's something for everybody.

There is also quite abot of new exercise equipment on display at the World Fitness Expo. There's Powerboards, a trompoline-type device.

And if you like to jump during your workout, try jumping shoes. These are called Exerloafers. You can put your shoe into this. This s called the kangoo boot. The ladies are having a good
time getting their heart rate up jumping around.

So another fun way to work out. And rollerblades, hattie. I know you're into that. Check these out. What is the abt extreme all-terrain mountain bike of Rollerblades. This has an actual thick tire wheels.

You're supposed to be able to go on the skate anywhere you can mountain bike. Grass, ski slopes during the summer. This is for the serious extremist. Cost about 500 bucks.

Now, you heard of the infamous thigh masters of the '80s with Suzanne Somers, and this is the thigh master of the '90s. It is pilates-based strengthening exercise for your inner and outer thighs. Costs you about 60 bucks.

if you like working out in the water, we mentioned aqua aerobics is a big deal this year. How about an Aqua Jogger? It helps you stay afloat while you're doing your exercises. Strap it on and then while you're doing your workout.

You can actually stay up straighter and it gives you support in your back. Keeps your abs in position while doing the jogging under water. If you can't swim, it's a great device because it helps keep you afloat.

Now, stretching is an important part of any workout for flexibility. Here is something that i kind of liked. It was called the stretch right stretcher. Of course you can do this with a basic white towel from the bathroom, but, hey, not as colorful and doesn't have the beads that you can grab on to. The further you go down, the further you grab on to the beads. A fun item.