Fitness Trends in 2001

People are bored day-in, day-out at the gym, so to keep their members in the gym, some will now provide entertainment such as computer screens and DVD players attached to cardiovascular machines. Gym members will be able to watch movies, read e-mail or surf the Internet while pedaling on a stationary bike.
Many Health clubs like Crunch and LA Sports Club offer 70 classes each week, including the mind body workouts like NIA -- a neuromuscular interactive class that combines tai chi with dance improvisation.

The American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe fitness instruction, has the following list of predictions for 2001:

• ACE says personal trainers will focus on the whole person, coaching clients on overall wellness in 2001. Preventive health will be important like hiring a lifestyle coach to help people with busy lives find time to workout.



• The ACE reports core-strength training will rise in popularity, especially among women, as exercisers discover its value for osteoporosis and overall health. Pilates, Yoga, Martial Arts and other mind/body type classes will become more mainstream.



• New technology will define the year 2001. ACE predicts health club owners will buy Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and heart monitors that talk, motivate and coach people during exercise.



• The year 2001 will blend fun, functional fitness and outdoor adventure. Trainers will take more clients outdoors to walk, run and hike. Classes will diversify and focus on styles of dance and music from Eastern cultures.

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.