Five Workouts to reach your New Year Resolution

The New Year has just begun and this is the perfect time to make resolutions that will set you on the right path for achieving your goals. Reaching your health or weight loss goals is perhaps the most popular resolution of them all.
But the problem is, after the initial burst of enthusiasm we slowly start losing interest in working out and soon we are back to square one.

If you are like me, then lack of variety in the workouts might just be the reason why you cannot stick on to your resolutions.  So here are Five Super Fresh Workouts that will spice up your workout mix.

1) HIIT: (High Intensity Interval Training)

This workout gathered immense popularity in recent times majorly because it is intense, effective and quick. This is a mix of short period of intense cardio exercise coupled with less intense recovery periods. With this workout you can lose up to 10-15 calories per minute.  Check this out for a customized HIIT workout routine.

2) Boxing: This workout has found a permanent place in my workout sessions for 2 good reasons. Firstly, you learn the art of self-defense. Secondly, it guarantees a full body workout with a strong focus on the core. The core muscles are exerted and in turn strengthened as you punch; with the arm and leg muscles facilitating the movement. You will see a great improvement in your agility, endurance and strength as you practise boxing. It will be great fun to practise in groups, to box and defend alternatively. We can make it even more interesting by combining it with squats, burpees or even the plank position. Include sessions of active rest to make your sessions more productive. 30 minutes of a boxing session can help you lose 300 calories or even more. Now if you want to take it a notch higher, try kickboxing. Almost all health and fitness experts swear by it.

3) Hot Yoga: This is one of my personal favorites. Hot Yoga, popularly known as Bikram Yoga is one of the best yoga practices for burning calories and losing weight. One session of 60 minutes can burn up-to 300 calories and is practised in a room that is heated up to 40 degrees. Your body is in constant motion, moving from one pose to another generating vinyasa or a flow. This in turn generates heat which is utilized to stretch your body further by mobilizing your muscles. Hot Yoga adds the benefit of heat to Yoga wherein you feel more flexible, relaxed and rejuvenated. Once you are familiar with the practice, this is nothing short of mediation itself.

4) Pilates: You have heard top models raving about it and you have even heard Oprah Winfrey vouching for it. Yes, we are indeed talking about Pilates! It works on your most stubborn areas especially your core and lower body. Mix up the floor and stand-up exercises and your body will be toned in a matter of a few weeks. To achieve optimum results in minimum time, combine Pilates with other cardio workouts like Spinning or Running.

5) Zumba: Now here is the one you have heard time and again. And yes, it is as fun as it sounds. Zumba is a dance form which combines aerobic movements with choreographed dance forms like Hip-Hop, Salsa or even Samba. You can pep it up with squats or lunges as well. Having your partner join you in your Zumba routine is a great way to make the workout more fun and exciting.

Co-Authored by Anju Anna Alex.

Image Source – Flickr