Not Your Usual Aerobics Class

For people who love exercise, but are tired of jumping up and down to the same tune, some gyms are now providing more entertaining ways for their members to workout, reports CBS News Fitness Reporter Bonnie Kaye.

Gym enthusiasts today have come to expect cutting-edge technology, with all the bells and whistles, and sometimes, sirens.

Crunch Fitness Gyms in New York City offers a training class that simulates physical situations a firefighter might confront. If you don't mind carrying 20-pound hose on your shoulder while climbing stairs, using a weighted body bar to poke holes in an imaginary burning roof, hitting the deck when things heat up or hauling a 125-pound dummy across the room in a mock rescue effort, this class may be for you.

In another class, live drummers give the energy to African dance students.

"You have to interact with the dancers, the drummers," says Christopher Freer, a dance student. "There is a total energy in the room that you're able to just release and get a full body workout as well as a full spiritual workout as well."

If you long for the old-fashioned type of aerobic dance class, they still exist, although the one a man named Truly teaches adds a little twist to the usual scenario.

This is aerobics with an attitude, in which Truly -- a self-proclaimed 'aerobics diva' -- stars as a cross-dressing instructor who really puts on a show.

"The theme is aerobics-meets-nightclub," Truly explains. "It's aerobics, pop culture, diva worshipping."

Whips and other kinds of encouraging equipment are Truly's weapon to keep the class smiling.

Since 90 percent of the gym's revenue comes from monthly membership dues, turnover can be expensive for the company.

Jon Bernstein, President of Crunch International, says the key to membership re-extension is making exercise fun.

"Being able to provide members with a good time starts to get them over the drudgery factor of exercising," Bernstein says. "It's the drudgery factor that after so many weeks starts to get in the way of people even if they are well motivated to keep coming back."

Reported By Bonnie Kaye