It lengthens limbs, whittles away fat and leaves you with a flat stomach, so its proponents claim, but will Pilates help you to get fit? Not according to the results of a new study. When scientists at the University of Wisconsin, led by Professor John Pocari, analysed the demands of 50-minute beginner and advanced level Pilates classes, they found that the intensity of each was lower than the recommended level for improving cardiovascular fitness. The advice is to continue with Pilates but to make sure you also do aerobic activities.
Walking for just 30 minutes has immediate benefits for moderately depressed people, giving them the same sort of pick-me-up they might normally get from cigarettes, coffee or binge-eating. Researchers at the University of Texas, discovered that those who walked on a treadmill felt more vigorous and upbeat for an hour after the workout ended.
Jump on a treadmill, perform some vigorous martial art moves, throw in some break-dancing, and what do you get? Odd looks at the gym, certainly, but also extremely fit, according to the creator of Fre Flo Do, a class incorporating these three elements. The man responsible, Kappel LeRoy Clarke, says the workout will be launched in Europe this year (www.freflodo.com).
Gym-goers who perform tough workouts at least three times a week are less likely to take sick leave, the British Journal of Sports Medicine reports. A study by the Research Centre for Physical Activity, Work and Health in the Netherlands suggests that the positive health effects of exercise contribute to fewer days away from the office.
TRAINING TIP: If you are training for a marathon or just aiming to get fit, incorporate hilly routes on your runs or walks. Hill running will push your cardiovascular system; it is also a natural form of resistance training. As you climb, the muscles in your bottom and thighs work harder than usual, leaving them nicely toned. Bruce Tulloh a running coach and author of Running is Easy, advises running hard up a hill for 30 seconds before jogging or walking down, and repeating 5-6 times.