Muscle Pumping

We list some unusual exercise techniques that you can adopt in the new year. Lisa Antao reports

We’re living in an age where, staying fit and eating healthy is the mantra. Therefore, being aware about latest workout trends are sort of become general knowledge. We give you a low down of some of the most unusual workout regimes that you can follow in the new year.

Felon Fitness Back-to-basics is the fitness mantra of prisoners serving time in different jails in California, and while they may not have the latest fitness equipment, that has not stopped them from staying fit. How they do it is a question that perplexed criminal attorney William Kroger and LA-based personal trainer Trey Teufel, who went on to compile a book titled Felon Fitness – the complete guide to getting a body just like a convict serving 20 years to life. The book uses a combination of lunges, squats and push-ups to build strength and power. The stress is on using your body weight effectively to help you stay fit, which is a good way to exercise. You don’t always need expensive equipment and a trainer to work out.

Barefoot technique We do a variety of movements daily like sitting down, standing up, picking up objects, throwing, catching, jumping, skipping, running. We can make all of these movements without thinking (or falling over) is because of a phenomenon called ‘proprioception’ – our body’s sense of its own position, balance and movement.

Proprioception provides us with ‘body awareness’ and is commonly referred to as our “sixth sense”. The proprioceptive system involves the use of stretch receptors and pressure receptors situated in our muscles, joints and skin to inform our brain about our physical environment and how we are interacting with it. This Barefoot technique training system aims at enhancing three distinct movement like walking/squatting, jumping and running. The trainers will teach you to avoid injurious running and enhance your running experience.

Piloxing Piloxing is spin on both Pilates and boxing – as the name entails. It is the brainchild of Swedish dancer and celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen and the culmination of her mission to physically and mentally empower women through fitness. At the core of Piloxing is the principle that being feminine is powerful and it aims for women to attain a sleek, sexy and powerful self-image. It blends the power, speed and agility of boxing with the beautiful sculpting and flexibility of Pilates. Add to the fun and sexy dance moves that reflect Viveca’s personality. In addition to Pilates and boxing movements, the exercise incorporates the use of weighted gloves, which add to the workout by toning the arms and maximising cardiovascular health. An overall strengthening and toning program, it helps sculpt muscles and burn fat in a way you may not have done before. Currently, certified Piloxing is only available in the United States.

Using Apps to Provide Support With the increase in technology, everyone began to turn to their beloved electronics as a means of providing support their workouts. Mostly through a fitness tracking application on their phones and Ipads. These Apps help you set goals, create a daily calorie budget, record food and exercise, and view graphs of progress with this full-featured weight management app. After you enter your stats, you can create a custom plan, with an end date in mind, based on how much weight you want to lose per week. People looked at these apps to help provide the much needed support to help them to get into shape.