Fitness health centre

Fitness crazes

Tired of the treadmill? Bored of the bike? Why not pep up your fitness routines with something a bit out of the ordinary?

A pom-pom, pole or hula-hoop could be all it takes for a new, fitter you! Or why not pack a punch, or party on down? There’s something for everyone!

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It may be the Glee or High School Musical effect but one activity which is becoming more and more popular is cheerleading. It is not just for pretty, popular teenagers with abs of steel. Anyone can join a club, whatever their age or ability.

In fact four out of 10 secondary schools in the UK now have a cheerleading class.

In the past, many girls just give up on sport and exercise when they get to 13 or 14. President of the UK Cheerleading Association, Pat Hawkins says cheerleading has changed that.

“You are offering girls an activity that sounds glamorous but, once you get to the nitty-gritty, it’s engaging, motivating and a great all-round exercise that makes you more mentally focused.”

Pat says, “You need to get past the stereotypical image of a tall, leggy blonde and just look at the benefits. Cheerleading is not about being a bit of fluff on the side. It ticks all the boxes for the girls and, at the higher levels, they are pure athletes.”

You can do cheerleading at schools, colleges and universities and clubs. There are cheerleaders in their thirties, forties and fifties and even some in their seventies.

In the UK there are 5,000 cheerleading coaches. The UK Cheerleading Association has well over 100,000 cheerleaders registered with them and that’s probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Realising what a good workout cheerleading gives, fitness classes have begun to spring up.

Samantha Rea is a fitness instructor and a cheerleading coach who runs Cheer Fit classes.

She says her classes provide participants with the five components of fitness: cardiovascular, muscular endurance, flexibility, motor skills and strength.

So does it burn the calories? Samantha says definitely! “The average class contains a pom dance section, which is a cheerleading style, fat burning dance routine using pompoms, that safely raises your heart rate. We sweat - a lot!”

Poles apart

If that doesn’t float your boat, how about pole dancing? In the past, pole dancing had a bit of a sleazy image but, these days, its fitness benefits are propelling it more into the mainstream.

You can do pole dancing at fitness classes at gyms across the UK or have personal tuition.

Pippa Caesar is the director of Polenastics which runs classes in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

She says, “Your bingo wings vanish, your shoulders and back are more toned and your waist is trimmed by pole dancing.”