Four of the Finest Fitness Fads

words by larissa klerck

The Gold Coast is known for being a health and fitness haven, even more so today with the pressure of needing a bikini bod pretty much all year round! Locals would know that the boardwalks and esplanades of the GC are literally pumping with people from as early as 5 am every single day. Whether it’s dog-walking, HIIT training, yoga or just a quick swim in the ocean before work, people just love using this amazing place as a backdrop for their fitness routines. Like all things “Instagrammable”, the Gold Coast goes through fitness fads faster than you can say free weight!

A few popular ones we’ve noticed of late…

Zuu
Unleash your inner beast with this high intensity, high energy, and bodyweight workout. As the name suggests, Zuu is all about mimicking the movements of animals in a series of push, pull, bend and twist movements. The workout is designed to go for just 20-40 minutes in duration but believe me when I say, that’s all the time you’ll need. Moves like “The Bear Crawl”, “The Iguana” and “Frogs” will have you burning up to 1000 calories in just one session. Hard, fast and intense. You can see why people love it.

Pilates
Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Pilates Barre, the list goes on and the ladies are loving it. Pilates offers a very targeted workout (think abs, butt, thighs) in a fun and welcoming setting. You can pretty much do Pilates anywhere, anytime and without any equipment whatsoever, but the group classes is where it’s at. There’s something about the half supportive, half (secretly) competitive environment of these classes that keeps Gold Coasters coming back for more! If you haven’t tried Pilates Barre yet you should definitely give it a whirl! Barre workouts offer a unique experience with extra balance and super fun ballerina vibes.

Scenic Walks
Ah, the old walk through Burleigh Headland followed by an acai bowl and latte… a classic GC fitness fad. Not the hardest of workouts but still an opportunity to get the legs moving with some Vitamin D as a bonus. There are SO many scenic walks on offer here on the GC, both long and leisurely and short and sweet. Kirra to Dbah is a must do for ocean views and surfer stalking whilst Mount Warning, a little further down south, offers more of a challenge in terms of a workout! Something nice to do while catching up with a friend or going for a romantic walk with lover boy/girl.

Home Workouts
Even though I’m an advocate for getting outside and enjoying the fresh air, sometimes time just does not permit. Home workouts are not only popular among the mummies of the GC but for those social butterflies or corporate workers, it’s the way to go. The internet is your best friend when it comes to in-house training, just jump on Google or via the App Store and you’ll be spoiled for choice. Most of the time all you’ll require is a mat or towel to lie out and your computer/iPhone open with the routine.

Who knows what the future will bring in the way of future fitness trends, I just hope those wobbly vibration contraptions are well out of fashion by then.