We have recently seen the rise of new female role models. Fitter, stronger women, focused on leading healthy lifestyles and shaping and toning the body they own rather than changing it and themselves.
YMCA fitness instructor Claire Nutton has observed this first hand: “Our ladies talk about feeling stronger and with that achieving a sense of wellbeing and positivity.
“They talk about being inspired by strong female athletes such as Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Rhonda Rousey, Biggest Loser US Trainer Pauline Nordin and fitness model Andreia Brazier.
There’s already a definite shift away from solely cardio focused exercise and it is set to continue and influence female workouts throughout 2016.”
So in 2016 what does this mean for female fitness? More of us will be interested in incorporating weights into our workouts. We’ll be asking for advice about weights based exercises and wanting to understand how the different exercises benefit your body.
But because we are a demanding lot, we’ll also want to feel the benefits in under 30 minutes, as the trend for convenient workout blasts continues too.
30 – 45 minute strength classes such as Les Mills Grit, BodyPump and others will bring the focus into an instructor led class exercise environment. So no more feeling conscious about using weights in front of others when we are all in it together. Exercises will work the upper and lower body through an interval training style programme to maximise working to your full potential through for example 20 second bursts of exercise and 10 second recovery.
The trends over the last 2 years towards the sociable and spontaneous functional training is set to continue. But we are becoming aware of the importance of technique and training in a safe controlled environment where qualified instructors are monitoring participants closely to ensure injuries are avoided.
Claire said: “For females the Spartan and Synrgy functional rigs at Thornton, Poulton and now Fleetwood have really come into their own. The training is delivered in a professional, structured way and the social aspect of the sessions is keeping participants motivated, while ensuring they train safely within their own limits.
And thanks to the This Girl Can campaign, we are welcoming more and more ladies of all ages and abilities through our doors all of the time. In 2015 you could do it, but in 2016 you will do it.”
