Get into Fitness. Why ? How?
What is Fitness exactly? The Larousse defines this term as a "set of fitness activities including bodybuilding, stretching and cardio training". Nowadays, you see it everywhere: from CrossFit to the gym, from the beaches of Los Angeles to the Swedish Gym. This sport - of American origin - has continued to evolve and diversify in order to meet ever more expectations from novices, who are more and more "getting into fitness" every day, like initiates.
The variety is such that there is something to get lost in. Especially when you decide to "get started". This is why the experts at TeamStimium have developed this Fitness guide to help you see more clearly and make the right choices.
The importance of Fitness, from sedentary to seasoned sportsman
1) The origins of Fitness
The Fitness, created at the end of the 60s by the American doctor and lieutenant-colonel Kenneth Cooper, had for original objective to gain the body and to keep in shape. His work, “Aerobic”, laid the foundations of the discipline which was then popularized by Jane Fonda through “Work Out”, her television program during the 1970s. Ten years later, in France, Véronique and Davina popularized this new sport with Gym Tonic every Sunday morning on television.
As Fitness has evolved, Aerobics has become one of the disciplines of this sport whose primary objectives remain:
Losing weight
Refine the silhouette and draw the muscles
Improve your cardiovascular condition
Gain flexibility
The clientele of sports halls, which remains predominantly female (60%), continues to grow: more and more of us are "getting into fitness". It is also becoming common today to meet at the Bike course (note: indoor bike course in a specialized studio) from 7:30 am rather than at the Happy Hour at the local bar.
Since 2010, bodybuilding has experienced a real boom in France, with a consequent increase in the number of sports halls and a diversification of the activities offered there. These weight rooms, which were originally intended more for a male clientele, have adapted to a female clientele who no longer hesitate to come and lift melt.
Another demonstrative phenomenon of the enthusiasm for the discipline is the Salon du Body Fitness. This “meeting of fitness enthusiasts” brings together, in Paris, professionals and fitness enthusiasts around the latest innovations via exhibitors, conferences, demonstrations and conventions in which everyone can participate.
2) Fitness, an ideal complement to all sports
Throughout its evolution, fitness has largely exceeded the framework of its original objectives, affecting at the same time an increasingly large audience. It is now aimed at all types of sports and is seen as an ideal complementary activity for the marathon runner, the cyclist or the footballer.
When we talk about Fitness, we include different practices that can range from Yoga to Body Combat. A diversity that is an undeniable advantage for the member of a sports hall.
Indeed, the marathon runner can practice Pilates to strengthen their transverse (note: the deep abdominal muscles that keep the organs in place) and, thus, improve their posture during running and optimize their performance. The cyclist can vary his physical activity by practicing more fun and danced lessons like Zumba or Step. The footballer can practice LesMills courses such as the Body Pump to strengthen his muscles, without being a bodybuilder and thus keeping his explosiveness. Access to devices and free space allows tennis players to perform dynamic plyometric work and have better quality of movement.
Made of simple movements, exercises that can be practiced at the pace of your choice, fitness is a universal sport par excellence, aimed at all ages, at all levels and as much for the female as for the male audience.
3) The advantages of the gym
Being inside
If you don't live in the South of France, your long outings seem twice as difficult in winter. Running in the Bois de Boulogne is certainly nicer than on a treadmill, but the advantage of the latter is that it is always warm, well maintained and, if you get tired, you always have the solution to go to a cardio class to vary the sensations.
Follow-up
Although some rooms offer a service with videos and guided devices only, the majority of Fitness rooms benefit from qualified sports coaches (compulsory in France). The eye of an expert allows you to surpass yourself whatever your goal: weight loss, improve your endurance or build muscle.
Socialize
Unlike a pool session, it is rare to not talk to anyone during a fitness class. It is also nice to be there with colleagues before or after work. The group effect strengthens motivation. It is less easy to abandon the TRX course where we find a group of friends on Wednesday evening than the swimming sessions carried out alone after work ...
The variety
This is one of the major advantages of the discipline. Bodybuilding and cardio training, stretching, choreographed courses, aqua-bike, Crossfit, New Zealand concepts LesMills, etc. Each year, the range of fitness room proposals is enriched with new programs to help you reach your goals, and this for all levels.
It is therefore not a question of categorizing Fitness as an activity apart from your favorite sport but as a perfect complement. Whether it is to strengthen certain aspects of your preparation or, quite simply, to vary the pleasures, you can find your happiness in the wide range of exercises that fitness includes.
How to get into Fitness? Overview.
1) “Classic” fitness rooms
By “classic fitness rooms”, we mean sports halls which offer group lessons and a body-building area.
Most of the time, the bodybuilding area is supervised by a qualified sports coach. Its presence is included in the subscription price. If you want personalized sessions, these are usually paid extra.
Regarding group lessons, these vary depending on the halls and coaches. The emblematic “abs-gluteal” and “TBC” (Total Body Conditioning) type courses are gradually being replaced by new concepts.
2) Specialized rooms, or "studio"
The first rooms that were called "studios" were rooms specializing in either Yoga or Pilates (sometimes both).
YOGA
Yoga can be practiced alone or in a group. Its benefits on body and mind are recognized all over the world and the original discipline is called Hatha Yoga. There are 8 major disciplines of yoga.
Hatha Yoga
A session is composed of different chained postures and associated with breathing exercises, we seek an improvement in its flexibility, a strengthening of the joints and better stress management.
Ashtanga Yoga
Based on 8 principles: mastery of the senses, meditation, concentration, ecstasy, others, letting go, calm in posture and work on breathing. This method is very dynamic and is based on six series of postures.
PILATES
Pilates, named after its founder Joseph Pilates, is a physical practice suitable for beginners as well as experienced to improve its concentration, flexibility and sheathing. Just like Yoga, Pilates can be practiced alone, via a machine called Reformer, or in a group, we will call it in this case Mat Pilates because the session is done on a mat. In both cases, Pilates is based on 6 fundamental principles:
Centering
The abdominal strap, from the pubis to the ribs, is called the “energy center of the body”. The practitioner should pay attention to it throughout the session.
Concentration
In Pilates, the most important thing is performing the exercises. We favor quality over quantity and this requires permanent concentration.
The fluidity
Like a dancer, the Pilates practitioner seeks grace and fluidity in his movements for the sake of quality of performance.
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