Being a fitness professional for more than twenty-five years has allowed the opportunity to see fitness trends come and go. Starting out, the fitness rage was high impact aerobics. Then low impact, step aerobics, cross training, and so on. But now the continued emergence of extreme boot camp high intensity type workouts are all the rage. But is harder necessarily better?

Not all exercise programs are right for all individuals. Elite athletes do workouts that are not appropriate for the average fitness client. Sometimes we get confused in what we are looking to achieve. Many variables have to be considered when developing a fitness program. Clients need to have concrete health and fitness goals. Are they training for a marathon, then they would train a different way. Athletes from all walks of life train differently depending on what season they are in. The off season training is very different than when they are in a season. But for most of us being fit does not equate to extreme training programs. First of all, your joints need to last a lifetime. Grinding away on a regular basis of extreme workouts just might lead you to the orthopedist and physical therapist. Baby boomers, yes I am one, tend to push the envelope in all areas of life including fitness. I agree that we are at a time in our lives that age really does not limit what we can do. People of all ages are doing amazing things. Running marathons at 90! I bet they train smarter, not harder. Because exercising smart is a much safer bet to protect soft tissues and joints so exercise can continue to be a part of life. One major injury can really put a halt to the best intended exercise program. Remember the "no pain, no gain" motto, well we put that to rest decades ago. Exercise and pain do not go hand in hand. A good fitness program should not be painful. Yes you should feel the work, but not to the point of pain. Pain is an indicator that something is wrong. Many fitness professionals from all walks of life are suspicious of workouts that are of extreme intensity. Research is ongoing and the injuries from some of these types of workouts are being reported. For now, make sure fitness goals are clear and your workout is not compromising your ability to continue to live an active and healthy life. For more information about fitness, please contact Kay Colgan at Middleburg Pilates and Personal Training, 14 S. Madison Street, Middleburg, Virginia or call 540-687-6995.