Fit and trendy - Time, money on consumers' minds in '09

Like everything else, fitness is dynamic and evolving.

The economy, science and psychology, marketing and the aging population continue to be forces that shape what is increasingly a part of people's lifestyle, or should be.

For nearly 20 years, the American Council on Exercise has tracked annual trends via a survey of thousands of ACE-affliated fitness professionals. In more recent years, as Charleston's fitness community has caught up with the national one, those trends have tracked more closely and now are almost a mirror image of what's happening in Charleston.

This year, economics of both the nation and the region will appear to play the greatest role in what happens.

"The overarching theme for fitness in 2009 is getting more bang for the buck," says ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant. "Consumers will engage in workouts that provide multiple benefits due to time and economic limitations. We will also see continued trends from 2008, including boot-camp-style workouts, technology-based workouts, out-of-the-box programming and an increased interest in fitness for those who are over 50 years old."

Dave Fox, owner of ECO Fitness clubs in Mount Pleasant and Charleston, reflected those same thoughts.

"People are concerned about the economy, but they are still exercising. We've always known that exercising is a great stress reliever. What's different now is that people are more vocal about saying that," says Fox, adding that people are seeking ways of staying in shape that are reasonably priced and require a reasonable time commitment.

And it's that combination that is keeping "boot-camp-style workouts," regimented, group workouts led by a trainer or two, as the top fitness trend in the country.

Boot camps also offer a level of efficiency that people, who are as time-strapped as they are money-strapped, are looking for.

Trainers are increasingly picking up on the idea of "interval training," which incorporates multiple shorter periods of intense strength and cardio exercises followed by short rest-and-recovery periods over the course of a workout.

Similarly, trainers are moving away from new-fangled weight machines and equipment and mixing of the more old-school exercises — push-ups, squats, lunges — and core-strengthening, basic equipment such as the kettlebell to focus on fitness more reflective of the physical challenges of everyday life.

The exception to that is technologically based fitness. Expect "exergaming" to join the lexicon of fitness terms in '09 as the Wii Fit becomes a common household item.

With personal training being one easy-to-cut line item and with technology on the rise, some trainers are turning to the Web to offer their services to more people for less money.

Mel O'Keefe of East Shore Athletic Club in Park West in Mount Pleasant has been in the personal-training business, on and off, for three decades and recently started offering his services online.

"I virtualized me," says O'Keefe, a native of northern England. "Hundreds of people are paying money for a gym, and they don't know what to do. I can offer the same services someone pays a trainer $50 an hour to do for $50 a month."

He adds, though, that his approach is more along the lines of a coach than a trainer: "The difference between a trainer and a coach is that a trainer trains people and a coach empowers them. Football teams have trainers and coaches. I want to be the coach, not the trainer."

Along the same lines, many people who have struggled with motivation issues are turning toward training for a sport or event, such as getting in shape for playing basketball or training for a triathlon or marathon. Because of that, many are seeking the help of a coach with a background in that sport.

Anne Finch, a former partner in Tempo Indoor Cycling and local triathlete, recently received her certification to be a triathlon coach because of the demand for people wanting to attempt a triathlon or improve their skills in swimming, cycling and running. She's currently working with five people qualified to run the Boston Marathon.

"I can either write up a plan and be someone's coach for six weeks or six months, depending on what they want to do," she says.

Trends for 2009

Boot-Camp-Style Workouts: These remain extremely popular because they provide a total-body workout that's varied, fun and challenging.

Budget-Friendly Workouts: With today's economy showing no signs of strengthening, more people will cut costs to stay in shape.

Specialty Classes: While yoga and Pilates will remain strong, dance-based classes are all the rage this year. Look for Zumba, Bollywood, ballroom, Afro-Cuban and other exotic dance styles to grow in popularity.

Back to Basics: Despite the fact that many exercises and equipment are becoming more advanced and trendy, trainers will continue to focus on basic movements and techniques with their clients.

Circuit Training: Studies have shown that interval training combined with strength training and cardiovascular activity at different intensities provides a more time-efficient workout than participating in traditional aerobic and weight training sessions.

Use of Kettlebells: The reason for the surge in kettlebell training is that it gets back to basic training that requires functional, whole-body fitness.

Boomer Fitness: Individuals ages 50-plus have the means, motivation and desire to enhance their quality of life through physical activity, and the numbers are growing. Since September 2007, AARP's fitness initiative for boomers, aimed at providing a range of affordable fitness services to its 39 million members, has been going strong.

Technology-Based Fitness: From iPods to Cardio Cinema and exergaming (i.e., Wii Fit, Expresso Bikes), the latest in technology will continue to infuse itself in all aspects of fitness.

Event or Sport-Specific Exercises: Despite the emergence of new and trendy workouts, sports or recreational activities will remain a popular way to stay in shape.

Mixing It Up: Traditional programming is changing from what fitness professionals call "linear progression" to "undulating" as research shows similar if not better results. For example, mixing low-intensity cardio with intervals on different days, and mixing high-volume, low-intensity weight training with low-volume, high-intensity training on alternate days.

Reach David Quick at dquick@postandcourier.com.