Myth: Guys don’t do dance fitness

The Myth and The Madness

Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good

 

 

 

MYTH: GUYS DON’T DO DANCE FITNESS

 

 

 
While most of us are still adjusting to the New Year, for a lot of gym users, this time of year means one thing – it’s tourist season. Not in the traditional sense that people are coming to see Anne of Green Gables, but rather lots of new faces are piling into the gym with every intention of making good on their fitness resolutions only to stick around for a couple of weeks never to be seen lifting a weight again…that is, until next January.

It’s great to see people getting active and all, but nothing grinds an avid gym user’s gears more than inexperienced people taking over all of the equipment, slowing down everyone else’s workout. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you want to be successful in the New Year, you’ve got to set realistic goals, don’t give up early on, and keep trying new things that will keep your fitness interest.

Guys sweating it out at a dance fitness class? Now THAT would be trying something new for sure…or would it?

The truth is, guys are into dance fitness. Well, at least the smart ones are, anyway.

Guys who already like to get down with dance fitness know it’s a great cardiovascular workout that works muscles in a different manner than more traditional workouts. It improves coordination, helps with flexibility, and increases range of motion. Plus, you get to workout with a group of women and pick up a few dances moves along the way. The worse case scenario is you end up having a few laughs and losing a few pounds.

Dance fitness has become really popular in the last few years, and as I mentioned last month, it’s one of the hot fitness trends of 2012. Classes like Zumba, UFIT, belly dancing and pole dancing continue to bring in big attendance numbers. Shows like So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing With The Stars show really strong, muscular men dancing with beautiful women. From personal experience as someone who teaches both group and dance fitness, I can tell you the number of male participants has increased steadily in the last four years. I have seen men lose lots of weight just by attending these types of classes.

My friend and Charlottetown Zumba fitness instructor, Julie Whitlock, weighed in on this myth with her own observations:

“My classes have attracted more females than males, but Zumba Fitness worldwide has so many guys that participate and teach. In fact, the creator of Zumba is a male. It can be intimidating for men to walk into a class that is mostly made up of female participants. The guys that do participate quite enjoy it. You don’t have to be coordinated or even know how to dance; you just have to follow the instructor’s lead. It’s a very welcoming environment and the music is infectious. I would enjoy having more males attend the class because it’s fun, easy, and a great workout for everyone.”

Fitness, like life, is usually more interesting and successful when you step outside your comfort zone, so if you’ve found that your resolutions have been unsuccessful for too many New Year’s in a row, try something new. Dance fitness is affordable, but if it’s not for you, check your local gym or community centre for other new classes to try. But don’t knock it till you try it. You might actually like it!

Yours in fitness and health,

Ryan Cairns
CSEP-CPT

Catch Ryan Cairns each month in G! and online at www.sparkfitnessnow.com.

 
How to spot a “Gym Tourist”

1. Pays for a year membership and comes for less than a month.
2. Wears the nicest designer fitness clothes, but has no clue how to use any of the equipment.
3. Talks on their cell phone.
4. Never works out their legs.

The Myth and The Madness Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good       MYTH: GUYS DON’T DO DANCE FITNESS       While most of us are still adjusting to the New Year, for a lot of gym users, this [...]

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Island Briefly: Get Rec’d!

Recreational sports with a sociable twist? The Charlottetown Sport & Social Club is on it

Photography by Alanna Jankov
Text by Meredith Morrison

Competitive sports not your thing? You’re not the only one.

Considering most of us hit our athletic peak somewhere around sixth grade, the thought of joining a sports team where people actually know what they’re doing can seem pretty intimidating. What if all you really want to do is get out of the house once in awhile and just have fun?

Luckily, people like Darcy and Ashley Murnaghan get that not everyone is into competitive sports, which is why they started the Charlottetown Sport & Social Club as a way for adults to be active, have fun, and network with one another.

Think of it as recess for adults. The CSSC organizes co-ed recreational sports leagues where anyone 19 and older can resister for a full eight week season playing basketball, floor hockey, dodgeball, or indoor soccer once a week. After the games, instead of juice boxes and cookies, club members get together for a post-game social hour at a local bar. Even if you’ve never been a part of a rec league before or this is the first time in a long time you’ve played on a team, the CSSC is a great way to stay active and social during the winter months.

The idea of a Sport & Social club isn’t new, but it is new to PEI. “We had never heard of it until a friend in Halifax told us about the Halifax Sport & Social Club,” says the couple. “She was playing in a co-ed dodgeball league, which we thought was pretty cool. She told us about all the new people she was meeting and how easy it was to get involved. We thought it would be great if there was a club in Charlottetown.”

They contacted the HSSC who got them in touch with Nicki Bridgland, who founded the Ottawa Sport & Social Club in 2003 and has since expanded to cities such as Halifax, Moncton, Kingston, London, Victoria, and Boulder, CO. Bridgland encouraged the couple’s effort to start their own Sport & Social Club in Charlottetown and within six months, they had a home for the CSSC at the Murphy Community Centre and were ready to get the word out.

Through pamphlets, social media and good old fashioned word of mouth, the couple started generating buzz around the city about the sporty social concept. They approached local businesses and groups to gauge their interest in putting together corporate teams, stressing the importance of happy, active employees and the impact that has on productivity. “Playing sports is a great way to meet new people in a positive environment,” says Darcy. “Employers are now trying to encourage their employees to maintain a balanced lifestyle outside of the office. Playing sports builds teamwork skills and camaraderie among staff.”

Whether it’s a team, a few friends, or individuals, everyone is encouraged to get involved in the CSSC. “We realize that not everyone wants to play in a competitive league,” says Ashley. “We hope the CSSC will fill this gap and provide a fun league where males and females can play together and have fun. All skill levels are welcome. The main thing is that everyone has fun.”

As CSSC membership grows, Darcy and Ashley hope to develop the social aspect of the club to include special events on off-game nights, such as cross-country skiing. But for now, getting together with the players for post-game drinks is a great way to kick things off and make connections within the community.

“If we can get a few more people to be active and connect socially, we will consider it a success,” says Darcy. “We tried out Ultimate Frisbee for the first time this summer and had a blast. You don’t realize how much fun it is until you give it a try.”

The first season of the CSSC kicks off January 30 and runs until April 7. If you missed out registering for the winter season, the next season picks up again in the spring with sports such as soccer, slow pitch softball, flag football, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Want to learn more about the Charlottetown Sport & Social Club and how to register so you’re not missing out on the fun? Check them out on Facebook at Charlottetown REC, or email charlottetownsport@gmail.com.

Recreational sports with a sociable twist? The Charlottetown Sport & Social Club is on it Photography by Alanna Jankov Text by Meredith Morrison Competitive sports not your thing? You’re not the only one. Considering most of us hit our athletic peak somewhere around sixth grade, the thought of joining a sports team where people actually [...]

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Myth: Resolutions don’t work

The Myth and The Madness

Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good

 

 

 

Myth: Resolutions don’t work.

 

 

 

Did you achieve your fitness and health resolution for 2011? While some of you may have hit your fitness goals (good for you, by the way!), it’s safe to say the majority of resolution-makers out there didn’t.

It is far too common that people have the same fitness resolutions year after year. While most people have great intentions for the year ahead, the only difference ends up being the amount of weight they want to lose is now higher than the year before.

Let me hit you with some knowledge. Here are three tips to keep in mind when making your resolutions that will make them easier to keep:

1) Make realistic goals. Aim to lose 1-2 pounds a week, not the 10-20 they lose on The Biggest Loser. Making realistic goals will set you up for realistic success.

2) Don’t give up before you even start. So many people get completely off track around the holidays. Exercise goes out the window and eating goes through the roof. A healthy lifestyle is just that, a lifestyle. You have to make exercise and healthy food choices a part of your EVERYDAY life.

3) Do something different. Stop doing the same things you always do. It’s a new year, so it’s time to shake things up! If it didn’t work last year, it isn’t going to this year. Try something new.

Speaking of something new, here are the fitness trends to look for in 2012.

Bootcamps
Originally based on military style training that usually involves running, jumping, bodyweight, and interval styles of exercise. People are pushed harder than they would normally push themselves.

Dance fitness
The dance fitness craze has taken off in the last couple of years and shows no signs of stopping. With the popularity of TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, fitness classes like Zumba are still bringing in big numbers.

Yoga
Yoga has been around forever…literally! Yoga is used to strengthen muscles in isometric holding positions. Yoga can be used to breathe, relax, and meditate as well. Hot Yoga will stay hot this year (pun intended).

Activity-Driven Kids
Childhood obesity rates continue to soar, so in 2012 we’ll be seeing more fitness geared toward children to get them up and moving around. Interactive video games for Nintendo Wii or XBOX Kinect are a great option to get kids active when it’s too cold to go outside.

Older Adult Fitness
Baby Boomers are taking their health seriously and trying lots of new fitness classes that are less intense, or hiring personal trainers who can create age specific programs. They want to be able enjoy their retirement and staying active is key to making that happen.

Personal Training
More and more people are looking to hire educated and certified personal trainers to help tailor a plan to achieve their goals. Personal trainers teach safe techniques, give advice, and motivate.

Functional Fitness
Gone are the days of doing bodybuilding exercises for an hour and then cardio for another hour after that. Functional fitness combines compound movements to work lots of muscles at once, getting your heart rate high and burning lots of calories. Examples are CrossFit, kettlebell, and TRX training.

Technology
You will see more people in the gym this year with their Iphones out. There is an app for everything these days including how to monitor and achieve optimal personal health and fitness. It brings fitness to your fingertips.

Whatever your fitness resolution is for 2012, try something new. Doing different things is good for both your body and your mind.

Yours in fitness and wellness,

Ryan Cairns
CSEP-CPT

 

For fitness tips, videos and more check out Ryan’s website www.sparkfitnessnow.com.

The Myth and The Madness Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good       Myth: Resolutions don’t work.       Did you achieve your fitness and health resolution for 2011? While some of you may have hit your fitness goals [...]

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