Californians are enthusiastic about getting fit, and that’s a good thing.

From dietary regimens to gym memberships, many health-conscious adults constantly seek new ways to get fit, keep active and live longer. Take the '80s fad of aerobics…how can we forget Jane Fonda’s moves? And just as yoga, Pilates and kickboxing quickly caught on with the masses, the next wave of fitness training will no doubt change the way we work out in the years to come. While some are new and exciting, others have been practiced for centuries. If you like your current routine and are happy with the results, by all means, stick with what you’ve got. If you are curious about new methods and are eager to mix it up a bit, let us introduce you to a handful of unique programs currently offered throughout the region.

If you like swimming...try aquatic fitness

If you thought the pool was just for laps, think again. “Because of the viscosity, the effect of gravity is greatly reduced, so the stress of impact is reduced on the joints. You can actually work with no impact if you suspend in the water or wear a flotation belt,” says Melissa Thomas, group fitness program director at California Family Fitness.

California Family Fitness, one of many gyms in the Sacramento area that provide pool-based classes, has offered their H20 sessions since the early ‘90s. “It has been an interesting evolution,” says Thomas of a program that at one time included empty milk jugs and weights meant to be used on land. “As the fitness industry has evolved, so has our knowledge of how to work out safely and effectively in the water, as well as all of the wonderful things we can use the pool and the new equipment for.”

Depending on the level, a class might include walking, running, low-impact movement, high-impact power movement, suspended sequences, or deep-water sequences with the aid of a flotation belt. Thomas says, “All classes are designed to use the properties of water to challenge participants' cardiovascular [endurance], as well as gain strength by using the ‘liquid weight room.’”

She adds that those who are recovering from injuries, have a chronic disease, or are new to exercising find water to be one of the only places they can truly allow themselves to work out without pain.

If you like yoga...try tai chi

One of the most fascinating fitness practices of modern times is also one of the oldest. Tai Chi (shortened from Tai Chi Chaun) finds its roots in century-old Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian traditions; their styles named after the families who created them. While physical health is a major component of the practice, meditation and martial arts also play key roles.

It’s a complete health exercise for both mind and body, providing increased vitality with a sense of inner peace and well-being through gentle body movements, as if swimming through water,” says Terrance Chang, M.D., a Tai Chi instructor at Roseville Health & Wellness Center. “Movements are designed to stimulate internal organs and promote bioelectric energy, the life force of chi, which brings increased mental alertness, strengthens ligaments, tendons, posture and coordination,” says Chang. Once participants learn to stabilize their body’s foundation and improve neuromuscular balance, self-defense applications may be taught at a higher level.

Dr. Chang describes the Tai Chi practitioner as someone with patience; someone willing to sacrifice time away from cyberspace distractions and maintain a healthy lifestyle. He adds, “As a medical doctor, I wanted to inform the public over 10 years ago that there is a holistic way to delay the decay of aging in the mind and body; and help people with arthritis, poor posture and balance, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and neurological problems after a stroke.”

If you like golf...try golf conditioning

Although Bonny Cyphers PT, DPT, OCS, spent her life in athletics, an introduction to golf four years ago changed her professional life forever. “It somehow became my passion,” says the 29-year veteran of physical therapy. “Suddenly my focus became sport-specific biomechanics with a special attention to golf.”

As a runner might desire greater endurance or an equestrian might want stronger legs, Cyphers recognized the special needs of golfers, such as improving swing or managing physical limitations due to injuries. She created Fit 4 the Tee to address those sport-specific needs. “We currently use an individualized approach. That means each client begins with a complete evaluation that assesses their physical abilities or restrictions,” says Cyphers of her personalized programs. “We examine the biomechanics of their sport and set specific goals in order to meet each client’s personal goals.”

With her golfers, Cyphers notes the importance of recognizing what each individual brings to their sport and what they are missing to excel at it. This could be anything from the ability of the muscle to hold and stabilize, or to generate power. Finding the right balance between strength and flexibility, and stability and mobility, has helped her clients improve their game and further enjoy the experience on the course. She says, "Except for a very few, fitness – like a great golf swing – is earned, not inherited."

If you like pilates...try the dailey method

Any ballet dancer will tell you, to get the flexibility required for exquisite extension and fluidity – you’ve got to spend a lot of time at the barre. A ballet barre. Launched 10 years ago right here in Northern California, The Dailey Method combines creator Jill Dailey McIntosh’s kinesiology studies, personal training experience, and technique learned as a dancer into a one-hour practice of core-conditioning, stretching and orthopedic exercises.

Stacy Armijo, who recently moved here with husband Adam, brought The Dailey Method with her, making their Roseville location the first of its kind in the area. “I decided to make it happen and follow my passion by bringing this amazing workout to the people in our new community.”

Working with a traditional ballet barre, participants strengthen and stretch their entire body, starting with spinal alignment then moving on to all the muscles that stabilize this area, using the abdominals throughout. “We strengthen the body functionally so that you offset any potential injuries and help rehabilitate past ones,” relays Armijo. “There is also a strong mind-body focus that helps clients relax and gain appreciation for themselves.”

Because the routine is low impact, Armijo says the practice is perfect for a wide range of people. “We have all types and ages of clients – moms coming back from giving birth or living a sedentary lifestyle, triathletes, high-schoolers, and even people in their 70s,” she notes. “The one thing we hear all the time is that nothing has changed their body like this,” shares Armijo.

If you like salsa dancing...try zumba

“It’s an energetic dance party,” says Donna Webb, who teaches Zumba to an enthusiastic clientele at The Studio in Granite Bay. While she acknowledges that there are other exercise routines that work the same muscles as Zumba, “none are quite as fun.”

Created by dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez in Columbia, Zumba is 60 minutes of Latin and international music and movement for all dance abilities and fitness levels. The craze has caught on like wildfire, with classes popping up everywhere from gyms to special events.

“There are many benefits to dancing, laughing and having fun,” says Webb of the amazing energy her Zumba classes inspire. “Outside of that, you work the heart and lungs, plus get a 500-700 calorie burn, so it's great for weight loss and slimming and trimming the body.” With the entire body in motion during the routine, there’s also a strengthening component and an abdominal workout with each session.

And, who keeps showing up to her Zumba classes time and time again? According to Webb, “People that love to dance,” adding, “they want to ditch the typical workout and have fun while getting fit.”

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL…
MORE fun classes to mix it up!

“Ball Fit”
Lord’s Gym El Dorado County
Diamond Springs
lordsgymedc.com

“BAM (Bad A## Moms)”
Folsom Taekwondo/The Studio
Folsom/Granite Bay
trainatthestudio.com

“Body Combat”
Millennium SportsClub
Shingle Springs
millenniumsportsclub.com

“Bodyattack”
Gold’s Gym
Roseville, Granite Bay
goldsgym.com

“Chizzeled”
El Dorado Hills Sports Club
El Dorado Hills
sparetimeclubs.com

“Feel the Burn”
Roseville Health & Wellness Center
Roseville, rosevillehwc.com

“Fit Camp”
The Red Pit
Folsom, theredpit.com

“Full Body Blast”
Johnson Ranch Racquet Club
Roseville
sparetimeclubs.com

“Hip Hop & Breaking”
Lord’s Gym
Roseville, lordsgym.org

“Look Good Naked” Series of Classes
Anytime Fitness
Placerville
anytimefitness.com

“Piloga”
California Family Fitness
Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin
californiafamilyfitness.com

“Power Vinyasa Yoga”
Zuda Yoga
Folsom, zudayoga.com

“Reformer”
Granite Bay Pilates & Yoga
Granite Bay
granitebaypilates
andyoga.com

“R.I.P.P.E.D.” with Jen O’Neal
Anti-Gravity School of Dance
Roseville, fitnessgirljen.com

“Tight Assets”
Broadstone Racquet Club
Folsom
sparetimeclubs.com

“Triple S” (Step/Sculpt/Stretch)
Fit For Life
Placerville
placervillefitness.com

“Turbo Kick”
24-Hour Fitness
Folsom, Roseville
24hourfitness.com

“Vertical Virgins”
Vertical Fitness Studio
Roseville
verticalfitnessstudio.com

“A Vicious Cycle”
Snap Fitness
Placerville, Shingle Springs, El Dorado Hills
snapfitness.com

Ready, set, go! Here’s just a few local places where you can get started on your new workout:

BARRE

The Dailey Method, Roseville
thedaileymethod.com/roseville

TAI CHI

Eastern Ways Martial Arts
Folsom, easternways.com

The Lotus Garden Medical Center
Carmichael
lotusgardenmeditation.org

Roseville Health & Wellness Center
Roseville, rosevillehwc.com

CHI YOGA

Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community
Sacramento, chiyoga.net

ZUMBA

Broadstone Racquet Club
Folsom, broadstonerc.com

El Dorado Hills Sports Club
El Dorado Hills
eldoradohillssc.com

Fit For Life
Placerville, placervillefitness.com

Folsom Health & Wellness Center
Folsom, folsomhwc.com

Jammin' Dance & Fitness
Diamond Springs
530-626-9242

Johnson Ranch Racquet Club Roseville
sparetimeclubs.com

Snap Fitness
Placerville, Shingle Springs,
El Dorado Hills
snapfitness.com

The Studio – Martial Arts & Fitness
Granite Bay
trainatthestudio.com

AQUATICS

24-Hour Fitness – Super Sport
Folsom, Roseville
24hourfitness.com

Broadstone Racquet Club
Folsom, broadstonerc.com

California Family Fitness
Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin
californiafamilyfitness.com

El Dorado Hills Sports Club
El Dorado Hills
eldoradohillssc.com

Folsom Health & Wellness Center
Folsom, folsomhwc.com

Johnson Ranch Racquet Club
Roseville, sparetimeclubs.com

Roseville Health & Wellness Center
Roseville, rosevillehwc.com

Steve Wallen Swim School, Inc.
El Dorado Hills, wallenswim.com

GOLF CONDITIONING

Fit 4 the Tee
Folsom, fit4thetee.us