Tag Archive for 'swimming'

Future Fitness Swim Lesson Program Makes Safety Priority

Published on May 2, 2013 in Future Fitness Programs & Classes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

The ability to swim is too often taken for granted. And you never know when it will come in handy.

As part of a campaign to drive awareness about safety in the water, Future Fitness Centers will provide one free lesson to people who sign up online.

The nationally recognized swim lesson program at Future Fitness Centers has changed the local landscape of water safety in South New Jersey for over 20 years. Swim skills and safety methods brought to thousands of children and their families, teaches youths and adults the importance of respecting all bodies of water while having fun.
Common things heard around the Future Fitness pools are ” I was afraid of the water a month ago, now I get right in.”

Although swimming is a fun, family activity, it is important to understand the facts about water hazards. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children 1 to 4 years old, the second-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children 1 to 14 years old, and is the fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for all ages in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So, parents, don’t just rely on luck or a watchful eye this summer in your quest to provide fun, safe activities near the water for your kids. Get swimming lessons for your little ones. Future Fitness has many great pools, facilities and swim instructor experts that are willing, able and highly qualified to help your child feel confident in the water.

For more information on swimming lessons and instruction, please visit our swimming lessons section on our website.

Swimming – Lessons For Life

Published on April 19, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Swimming is a year-round activity, from indoor swimming in winter, family vacations, to beaches and pools in summer. When considering swimming lessons for your child you should feel confident in the swimming instructor, program and pool.

Enrolling your young child in swimming lessons can add to their positive personal growth and development. Swim lessons early in life sets the stage for children to be comfortable in water, whereas, the older child just starting swim lessons may struggle with fear of water before they can develop in to a swimmer.

Having formal instruction on basic water safety is one of many benefits to swim lessons. Knowing how to swim and how to keep oneself safe and aware while in and around water is crucial to reducing the possibility of drowning. It’s also important to understand that swim lessons are for year-round activities and not just summers in the pool.

Why Private Lessons?
Each child is different and has different needs. Also, each parent has different expectations for what they would like to see their child accomplish in the water. Private swim lessons and the swim instruction program can be tailored to your child. Whether they are scared of the water or future Olympians, private lessons cover it all.

Consider these important factors when choosing a swim lesson school for your child:
• Are the instructor’s credentials acceptable to me?
• Do I feel confident about the pool area?
• What class size am I comfortable with?
• How long are the lessons?
• How often are the lessons?
• Are there classes for advancement?

Swimming is fun and healthy only when it’s safe. Starting swim lessons at a young age builds strong bodies and lasting confidence.

Please visit the Future Fitness Swim Lessons section on our website to learn more about our Swim Lessons and Aquatic Programs.

Common Sense Exercise Tips

Published on October 26, 2012 in Fit News, Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you’re considering starting a workout routine and have reached this blog for some advice, congratulations! If you’ve recently joined Future Fitness and want to be sure you have every advantage in keeping your commitment to a healthy lifestyle, here are five simple tips:

1. Consult a fitness professional – Have a professional assessment to determine what types of exercise will be most beneficial. You may learn that following a program based on aerobics or resistance training will get you where you want to go. You’ll also learn the areas in which you need the most attention, and how to avoid injury.

Future Fitness provides free sessions with a personal trainer, plus the industry’s leading instructors for all classes and programs. You can begin your program with complete confidence that you’ll enjoy the maximum benefits – as long as you follow the subsequent tips!

2. Follow an effective exercise routine – The American Council on Exercise (ACE) surveyed 1,000 ACE-certified personal trainers about the best techniques to get fit. They recommended a combination of strength training to help tone the entire body, interval training and cardio/aerobic exercise.

3. Choose a fitness regime you enjoy – Don’t take up a program that you’ll approach like a chore, or a fad workout that’s getting all the media buzz (unless you find that it really is a good program for you, and not just the celebrity who made it famous). For example, spinning may appeal more to you than walking on a treadmill (or vice versa).

Future Fitness members have an advantage in being able to take free demos of classes and programs, and in discussing the range of activities they like with instructors who can recommend the appropriate exercises.

4. Set realistic goals and be patient – If you’ve been a long-term couch potato, don’t expect to see a new slimmer, toned and ripped “you” in a few weeks. Trying to do too much too soon sets you up for injury and/or a lot of frustration. Either way, you’re more likely to give up.

Also, don’t strive for perfection or a goal that’s improbable based upon your physical limitations (which we all have). Talk with your instructor or trainer about your fitness goals, and the process involved in reaching them.

5. Be consistent – Achieving physical fitness is a process, and progress is made in increments. Schedule a regular time (at least three times weekly) for your workout. No matter how good your program, you won’t get results unless you do it consistently.

Make Working Out a Reason to Party with Zumba Fitness

Published on August 20, 2012 in Fit News, Fitness Fun, Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

A great exercise program that’s more like a party than work seems too good to be true. But those who’ve discovered the Zumba Fitness® phenomenon enjoy numerous health and fitness benefits – while thoroughly enjoying themselves in the process!

Developed by Alberto “Beto” Perez in the mid-‘90s, this Latin-inspired dance-fitness program blends Latin and world-music beats, choreographed to allow people of any fitness level or dance experience to get a beneficial workout they’ll love. The Zumba program has grown to become the world’s largest – and most successful – dance-fitness program, with weekly classes held in more 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries.

Although it may initially look like a typical aerobics class, Zumba has a distinctly party vibe, from the coin-bangled hip skirts to the Latin and hip-hop dance club music and the high-energy instructors who lead the festivities.

This fun and effective program uses interval training that combines fast and slow rhythms for an effective aerobic workout, while at the same time targeting your legs, abs, glutes and arms. The dance moves aid in strengthening the core muscles of the abdomen, while also strengthening pelvic muscles – which helps prevent back pain.

As with any cardiovascular workout, the benefits of Zumba can include calorie burn, increased aerobic threshold, more stamina, increased bone density, improved balance and muscle tone, less body fat, and lower blood pressure.

As a fat-buster, Zumba is choreographed to provide alternating intervals of low and high intensity levels in both the pace of music and type of movements. This helps you burn more calories in each workout – typically 400 to 600 per hour, depending on individual physical factors. Fitness moves are also incorporated in Zumba classes, so you could find yourself moving from a fast merengue beat to a slow set of push-ups on the wall.  To promote flexibility and reduce muscle strain, warm-ups and cool-downs are a regular part of the Zumba program.

But Zumba’s fun factor is what keeps people coming back week after week. The lively music and upbeat mood encourage participants to forget their inhibitions and get caught up in the moment. Zumba’s inclusive spirit is another big appeal, with specialty sessions geared toward baby boomers, and Aqua Zumba for those who favor a low-impact workout with a pool-party atmosphere.

The best way to find out what Zumba is all about is to experience it for yourself. Sign up today for a free Zumba class at your favorite Future Fitness location. In this case, what seems too good to be true really IS true!

 

Reform Your Workout With Pilates Reformer

Published on June 26, 2012 in Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

As the popularity of Pilates continues to increase, the Pilates reformer is taking this exercise program to a new level of effectiveness. The Pilates reformer is an exercise machine that incorporates the Pilates technique for a challenging and intense workout. Springs, leverage and body weight are used as resistance while performing movements that target specific muscle groups.

Workouts consist of controlled, smooth movements working the muscles through a full range of motion. The reformer adds increased resistance to the movement. By working to overcome this resistance, training results in increased fitness levels. With regular training, using the Pilates reformer improves muscle fiber endurance, size and strength, as well as connective tissue strength. Muscles become highly toned without appearing bulky.

The main reason the Pilates reformer has become a sensation is because it can be used by anyone, at any age or fitness level, and make possible significant gains in strength and muscle tone. Those with arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, or recovering from orthopedic injuries can successfully use this program – as well as athletes. Pilates reformer truly offers something for every body!

Overall benefits of Pilates reformer training include:

  • Building strength without excess bulk
  • Development of core strength
  • Prevention of injuries
  • Alleviates chronic pain
  • Improves posture, balance, flexibility and coordination

Sports and activities-related benefits include:

Martial Arts – Will greatly increase flexibility, alleviate hip pain and improve kicks while elongating muscles.

Dance – Will allow you to better isolate your muscles, improve coordination and elongate your body.

Golf – Will strengthen your back muscles to improve your swing.

Swimming – Will help improve core control to improve your strokes and speed while increasing flexibility in your legs, arms and back.

As advanced as the Pilates reformer equipment itself is, optimum benefits can only be accomplished through instruction by an experienced trainer. To get the most out of this exciting workout program, sign up at the front desk of the Future Fitness Center in your location for a free Pilates reformer demo session!