Those who work hard to stay fit know that a fixed exercise regime can quickly become dull and repetitive. The hunt is always on for fresh new options, and the search can lead to some very interesting places.
One fitness trend heating up the scene has actually been sizzling throughout the world for centuries. Raks Sharki, better known as belly dancing, has recently been embraced as a part of mainstream fitness.
Cathy Skora, of the Allen Street Dance Studio, said her classes attract all types of people because the dance is based on subtle movements that come naturally to everyone. She said she has had students ages 12 to 70, everyone from doctors to mothers.
"The dance is historically a healing activity," she said. "I like to teach people how to feel good through moving."
According to Skora, belly dancing provides an excellent full-body physical workout and also benefits the dancer's mental state.
"There's the physical stuff, and that's wonderful," she said. "But the most dramatic results are what it does for people inside."
Despite claiming to build confidence and grace, the nature of belly dancing as an interpretive dance is said to have farther-reaching benefits.
"It helps us to explore inside of ourselves and to be more expressive of our feelings," said Skora.
One of the trendiest fitness classes of the moment also happens to be one that is a bit more traditional. In spinning classes, participants pedal stationary cycles over music at an instructor's direction. Students adjust the resistance on their bikes to simulate climbing and descending hills and alternately cycle while sitting and standing to replicate sprints.
Senior exercise science major and soccer player Emily Russell was excited to try a new aerobic workout, but admitted she was a little nervous as she waited for her spinning class to begin Thursday.
"I think I'm more nervous than excited," she said. "It just sounds so intense."
UB spinning instructor Jen Cason said her classes have attracted everyone from students, members of the UB cycling team and professors to members of the surrounding Buffalo community. She attributed that to the program's focus on the individual.
"There's no mirror at the front of the class, no comparing yourself with others," she said. "Each person concentrates on their own ability."
Spinning is purported to build strength, endurance and mental focus. The intensity of the workout brings results fast, but also tends to scare some people away.
Cason acknowledges that the prevailing attitude toward Spinning is one of intimidation, but insists there is no need for it.
"People find that it's so much fun they get addicted to it," she said.
Though some may work out to get sexy, others opt to get sexy while working out. There is a new phenomenon called Strippercise, in which students get pole-dancing lessons from exotic dancers.
While the number of classes offered has exploded in New York and Los Angeles, it has been slow to catch on here in Buffalo.
" I know Carmen Electra just made that video for it," Kristin Buscaglia, Buffalo Athletic Club for women in Depew. "Yeah, I guess maybe we would see how something like that would catch on and if people started asking about it we would try to learn how to do it and maybe start up a class."
Web sites like www.polestars.net claim that the classes build confidence as well as muscle tone.
"Imagine having to support your entire weight with one arm, or supporting your upper body weight with your stomach muscles to get an idea of the level of effort involved," the Web site said. "You can expect increased muscle definition and toning all over, especially in the arms, thighs and buttocks."
Katherine Indovina, a junior media studies major, said she would rather stick to her daily running routine.
"I wouldn't try it," she said. "Only because I can't imagine that the pole dancing would burn that many calories. The dancing is so slow."
According to Polestars, one can burn up to 250 calories in a single pole-slithering session. Still, Indovina has her suspicions. She said believes the classes would only appeal to those who are already in peak physical shape and who might have a secret inner desire to "show off."
"I used to be overweight," she said. "I can't imagine showing up in what I perceived to be this large hulking body, dancing half naked in front of a bunch of people as a way to get in shape."
This year's fitness trends seem to vary wildly. But according to experts, all that matters is that people keep moving and stay interested.
"The treadmill can get boring," said Debbie Page of Terrie's Workout Center located at 1473 Hertel Ave. "If dancing around a pole gets you off the couch, then what's wrong with that?"
