With a new year, comes new resolutions and for many, health and fitness tops the list - well, we all have good intensions at least.

So if getting in shape, maintaining a healthy lifestyle or just trying something different interests you, there are lots of trendy options, as well as some tried-and-true favourites to explore.
What do industry professionals advise?
Do your research before starting out.
“No matter where your interests lie, always make sure your environment and equipment are safe, your instructor is welcoming, knowledgeable and adaptable, and most importantly – a certified professional,” says Jenn Litt, CSCS, NSCA-CPT.
Boot Camps
Combing a high intensity workout in an outdoor setting, boot camps remain near the top of the fitness trends list.
Boot camps are a total-body workout, which includes a combination of cardiovascular and metabolic conditioning, core strengthening, resistance and circuit training, and sometimes even yoga.
Participants complete a range of exercises, from squats and pushups, tubing pulls, medicine-ball throws, to agility drills and group challenges, which make for a stimulating and rewarding workout.
“There are a lot of benefits to boot camps,” says Litt, boot camp director at Enerjennics.
“The motivating atmosphere and high intensity workouts produce great results, such as toning and weight loss, while you’re outdoors getting lots of fresh air.”
Participants burn a large amount of calories per session, which is one of the greatest benefits, along with weight reduction and toning, a boost in the immune system, and an increase in strength and stamina.
Class sizes average between 10-20 participants, generally run for an hour and are available across all fitness levels, from beginner to high intensity. And there is limited equipment to buy: comfortable outdoor clothing, proper footwear and a yoga mat.
“I think boot camps have longevity because of the outdoor component,” says Litt, “you’ll see people doing these for years to come.”
Vibragym
A new addition to Barrie, opening in May 2009, Vibragym focuses on the use of whole body vibration. Originally designed for Astronauts, whole-body vibration might seem odd at first, but the concept is really quite appealing.
Clients perform a variety of exercises on a vibrating platform, which transfers energy from the platform to the body, causing the muscles to contract at a rapid pace.
The intensity of the vibration can be adjusted to meet each client’s fitness level.  Each exercise is held for 30-60 seconds and a session usually runs for 10 minutes on the machine. Clients are advised to train three to four times per week, but even once a week is a start.
The vibration platform allows clients to customize their own regime with a total body workout, or an individualized approach that focuses on: abdominal, upper body or lower body.
“The platform is unique because of the various ways in which the machine can be used,” says Beau Scott, CPT and president of Vibragym.
“It can be used for massage, stretching and flexibility – increasing circulation, to build bone density and lean body mass, and it’s even good for cardio, as the fitness classes really get the heart rate up.”  
At just 10 minutes a session, and with flexible hours, Vibragym is great for people on the go – no excuses now.

Hypoxi
Hypoxi therapy is not only revolutionary in concept but is also the first of its kind in North America. Developed in Austria, the therapy can be found at Barrie’s Bodystream, a new company that takes pride in a comprehensive wellness experience.
Performed in modern, high-tech machines, Hypoxi uses vacuum compression therapy and moderate exercise to increase circulation to problem areas of the body, including the stomach, buttocks, hips and thighs. With an emphasis on body shaping, Hypoxi therapy focuses on losing inches in a targeted area.
Conventional exercise and dieting doesn’t help everyone achieve their ideal body weight, as fat isn’t being burned in the problem areas due to poor circulation. However, when proper diet and exercise are mixed with hypoxi, clients often see improved results because of the increase in circulation to the problem areas. Hypoxi can be used by anyone, but is ideal for people with weight challenges, especially people who may have fat resistant areas.
After completing a Hypoxi session, no further exercise is needed for the day, as the therapy continues to work for eight hours. Emphasis is also placed on a well-balanced diet. Clients are advised to stay away from carbohydrates after a session and are encouraged to fuel up on proteins and vegetables.
One of the biggest challenges is retraining people to do gentle exercise, in the case of Hypoxi, less is actually more, says Debbie Burke, CEO of Bodystream International Inc.

Hot Yoga
Hot yoga, inspired by Bikrim and Moksha yoga, is series of yoga postures practiced in a room heated between 95°F and 110°F.
As the body adapts to the heated room, the body temperature regulates, muscles and ligaments begin to relax and the client enters a state of meditative relaxation – connecting the mind, body and soul.
Performing yoga in a heated environment not only helps speed up the metabolism, it repairs injured and damaged muscles, increases flexibility and builds strength.
Additional benefits of hot yoga include weight loss, detoxification and a strengthened immune system. Clients are advised to drink lots of water during a session in order to remain hydrated and aid with the detoxifying process.

So is hot yoga trendy or here to stay?
“I think it stared as trendy, but I don’t think it’s something that will go away, as the benefits are so great. I only see it increasing in popularity for both men and women,” says Monica Tranter, yoga instructor and owner of the Tranter Institute.

Zumba   
If keeping a little or a lot of hop in your step is important to your fitness routine, then Zumba is for you.
The dance-infused movements mesh many great things: aerobics, dance and Latin rhythms, in a fun high-energy class. The classes feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt the body.
Zumba really is for anyone, as the movements are easy to follow and the vibrant music keeps you pumped. If you miss a step or two, just keep moving, no one will notice.
As a total body workout, there isn’t a muscle that hasn’t been stretched, toned and strengthened after the class. While any cardio-based workout is great for the heart, along with burning calories and fat, the added benefit of Zumba is the positive energy you feel after.
Zumba is one the hottest trends around right now, with classes filling and new locations opening.It’s the perfect activity for those dark winter days, so grab a friend and dance the winter blahs away.

Detox and Cleansing
Feeling a little sluggish after the holidays and are wondering why?
It may be due to the build-up of toxins.
So, start with some self-help. Beef up the fiber in your diet and incorporate some of the more popular detoxifying foods like broccoli, cabbage, beets, radishes, lemons and of course garlic into your lifestyle.
And don’t forget to drink lots of water.
But if you need a little more help, try one of the mentioned therapies and sweat, soak or flush those toxins good-bye.

Infrared sauna treatment:
Infrared sauna’s help generate two to three times the sweat produced in a hot-air sauna, as the infrared waves go beneath the skin’s surface to cleanse, detoxify and improve circulation. One 30-minute session can burn 300-600 calories and eliminates toxins such as lead, mercury, aluminum cadmium and fat-soluble toxins.
Benefits include improved skin tone and purity, pain relief of the soft tissue, a stronger cardiovascular system, reduced stress and fatigue, and a strengthened immune system.

Japanese Soaker Tub:
While mostly therapeutic, the Japanese soaker tub at Bodystream combines warm mineralized beauty water with Chromatherapy. Soaking in the tub helps the body’s detoxification process and leaves the skin hydrated and glowing.

Colon hydrotherapy:
Colon hydrotherapy is a safe, hygienic and natural way to eliminate harsh chemicals and toxins from the body.
When build up occurs, it causes a wide range of symptoms and health issues (to name a few): diarrhea, bloating and indigestion.
If the waste is not removed, it decays and is absorbed through the walls of the colon into the bloodstream, causing more serious issues, like depression.
By infusing filtered warm water through the entire colon, stagnant matter and toxins are removed, allowing the colon to perform normally again.
Roughly 20-30 gallons of water is used, and flows into the body through one tube an out through another. The procedure uses disposable components to ensure the process remains sterile.
A single session takes 45-60 minutes.