In and Thin

Looking to change up your boring exercise regimen for something new and exciting? One of these trendy workouts could rekindle your relationship with fitness.

Looking to change up your boring exercise regimen for something new and exciting? One of these trendy workouts could rekindle your relationship with fitness.

Belly Dancing. “Belly dancing puts an end to the boredom that’s frequently experienced with exercise,” says Amira Mor, a belly dancer and fitness trainer. It also improves your posture, makes your spine more flexible, strengthens your back and works your arms, shoulders, neck, abs, hips and butt. “Expect to think, feel and move like a beautiful woman,” says Mor. Enough said. Where: Bellydance Revolution, Morristown, 862.485.1233, bellydancerevolution.com; Broadway Performing Arts, Bloomfield, 973.748.2787, broadwayperformingarts.net

Piloxing. Invented by celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen, Piloxing is a hybrid workout that blends the speed, agility and power of boxing with the body sculpting and flexibility-building benefits of Pilates. It promises to make you sleek, sexy and powerful—results worth fighting for. Where: Real Body Boot Camp, Clifton, 917.613.9121, realbodybootcamp.com; Morris Community Adult School, various locations, Morristown, vivapilates.net/locations

Pole Dancing. Forget its racy reputation—pole dancing is attracting women who want to get fit and add a little zest to their workout. “It’s a great regimen: It works the core and the upper body, and offers a fullbody workout as well, since it uses all the muscles,” says Rena Christie of 201 Pole Dancing. It also confers a host of psychological benefits: “It gives people a sense of freedom and empowerment,” Christie says. Where: Wellness on the Green, Morristown, 862.485.1233, wellnessonthegreen.com

Smoother Moves

If your back, neck or shoulders are hurting as you read this, you could be a candidate for the Alexander Technique. Developed in the 1890s by an Australian actor who discovered that his poor posture was hampering his onstage delivery, the technique targets physical and mental habits that cause us to stand, sit and move inefficiently. “People usually come to us with some form of pain—back pain, repetitive stress injury and so on— that’s been unsuccessfully treated in other ways,” says Bette Chamberlin, an Alexander teacher in Montclair.

Through a series of gentle touches, teachers like Chamberlin give their students the tools to release unnecessary muscle tension that has accumulated over the years. “In many cases, this means doing less with your body, not more,” she notes. Generally, after mastering the technique, students report that they feel more comfortable, relaxed and energetic. And for many, it’s an end to pain that has plagued them. “After learning Alexander,” says Chamberlin, “moving naturally becomes second nature.” To learn more, visit Bette Chamberlin’s website, bettechamberlin.com, or go to alexandertechnique.com.