In this second article on fitness trends, I’m going to discuss two popular classes. First, let me tell you about the Insanity workout. It’s another fitness trend from America that is about to become huge in the UK. It has been available to purchase on DVD for a good few years and I know plenty of people have taken on the 60-day Insanity Challenge.

What is it?

Insanity is a bodyweight training programme where you work flat out in three to five minute blocks, and take breaks only long enough to gulp some air and get right back to work.

It’s called Max Interval Training because it keeps your body working at maximum capacity through your entire workout. You keep pushing your limits, so your body has to adapt.

And it’s guaranteed that you will get in “insane” shape in just 60 days.

This is another form of high intensity interval training – a form of exercise I have spoken about in many articles in the past.

Will it work? Yes, it is a great fat burner and it will definitely improve your fitness levels. It’s certainly hard work and is not for those who have never done any type of exercise before as some of the exercises require some body awareness.

If your technique is incorrect you are at risk of injury. You will also get optimal fat loss results only if you are following a good eating programme full of lots of nutritious non-processed food.

The great thing about Insanity is that you will be soon be able to do it with an instructor, rather than just following a DVD, as classes will be starting in the UK. This will ensure your technique is correct which will help you get great results with little or no risk of injury.

The second fitness trend is Indoor Cycling which has been around since the 1980s. It is an incredibly popular fitness class and many gyms have their own studios dedicated to cycling.

There are lots of different forms of indoor cycling: Vibe Cycle, Spinning, RPM to name just a few.

Most indoor cycling classes last from 45 to 60 minutes. You sit on an indoor cycling bike and ride for the length of the class, following cues from the instructor, encouraging you to work harder.

The instructor, and the type of indoor cycling concept, will determine how good the class is.

Spinning classes are very much for those looking to train for cycling outdoors whereas Vibe Cycle, which is definitely my favourite concept, is all about music, rhythm, fun and interaction and can be adapted to suit beginners and the more advanced. When you cycle to the rhythm you actually find you work harder and burn more calories because you are not so focused on the pain. It is a great way to improve fitness, burn calories and, if the class contains lots of high intensity intervals, it can be a great fat burner.