For many, a common obstacle to getting fit is inspiration.
Finding the motivation to get off the couch and go for a walk, a push to do that one last rep, a reason to hold a yoga posture for one more breath, can be a challenge.
Inspiration is what challenges Gina Geres, a local fitness instructor at Servus Credit Union Place and Mobile Fitness and Pilates Studio, because she’s supposed to be the source of it for her clients.
“It’s not just about the physical aspect, it’s about embracing the mind-body connection. Inspiring them to get moving again, whether they’ve relapsed because of fitness motivation or health reasons … (my) job is to inspire people,” she said.
Geres recently returned from the 2013 IDEA World Fitness Convention in Los Angeles, Calif., where she sought out new techniques and fitness trends to bring back to inspire her St. Albert clients.
She explained one of the main fitness trends into the fall and 2014 is fusion workouts.
“I wouldn’t go in now and just teach BOSU crush it,” she said referring to workouts for cardio, core, balance and agility done on a BOSU ball, which looks like a stability ball cut in half and attached to a rigid platform.
Geres explained she plans to adapt popular drills done on the BOSU ball by adding in cross-training components such as the ballet barre.
“Maybe (we’ll) do three minutes of BOSU crush it – high intensity – (then) go over to the barre, bring the heart rate down and do some toning,” she added. “I’m going to start fusing some of these sessions together.”
Other exercise routines she plans to combine are BOSU with TRX suspension training as well as cardio kickboxing with yoga – workouts that will keep her class participants stimulated and therefore motivated. Other hybrid workouts making their way into the Edmonton region include Barre, Piloxing (Pilates and boxing) and aerial yoga.
Servus Place is picking up on many of the up and coming fitness trends for the fall, with September offerings of new programs such as HIIT; Fast, Fit & Fab; Barre; Warrior Workout; Spin & Suspend; Suspension Training for Seniors and a Sandbell workshop.
Geres said the efficiency and adaptability of body weight training as well as high intensity interval training (HIIT) will continue to be popular in 2014. Her class participants will also be using small pieces of equipment in different ways, from changing how they use a step apparatus, to using a partner for different Pilates poses.
“For me as a trainer, a lot of the participants … really inspire me and move me,” admitted Geres, adding that she plans to take in the feedback from her clients to think even more outside the box with regards to planning new exercise regimens.
She explained the convention also opened up her eyes to adapting exercise routines to the needs of her clients, whether they are suffering from an injury or illness.
“I can look out on my class of 70 or even 10 people … and know there is somebody (who might) inherit dementia, Alzheimer’s, or depression. It just gave me a whole new appreciation to … take a different approach with them.”
