Fitness today is about more than getting in shape the old fashioned way, with a set of dumbbells or by doing a circuit at the gym.  Today fitness is about power, agility, strength, balance and flexibility with an emphasis on wellness versus physical fitness. 

Wellness is the ability to your life to its fullest, free from disease or discomfort. It is the ability to have health in the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and emotional bodies with a common goal of joy and capability.

Functional training, outdoor group exercise programs and an increased attendance in the mind/body disciplines such as yoga and Pilates emphasize that the fitness of the future will be a well-rounded, multi faceted experience which will target all aspects of wellness using all sorts of fitness gear such BOSU balls, stability balls, yoga props, agility ladders, kettlebells and so much more.

The BOSU ball is an excellent fitness accessory because of its complete integration of balance, kinesthetic awareness, proprioception, and gradation of force (in other words, you can make the exercises gradually more difficult.) When on the BOSU ball it is important to perform the exercises slowly, if feet cramp, take a rest, and tie shoes tightly so that the foot is properly supported.

The BOSU can be used on either the dome or flat side – thus the name BOSU for Both Sides Utilized.

Gliders are another excellent choice to mix up your workouts and create a challenging environment which is actually safer in some instances than without the glider. Think about a forward lunge, without the Glider, you need to take a big step forward, land on the foot causing pressure to the knee and then push back.  Now, consider that when you use a Glider , you will slide your foot out and then back in. There is no impact to the knee.

These disks are small, lightweight and portable.  They can be used for legs, core and upper body. These plates create an unstable surface at an economical price.

Tired of using dumbbells for strength training? Try a weighted bar, name brand Body Bar . The benefits of the Body Bar are the ease of use, the cost effectiveness and versatility of exercises. There are many weight selections according to your ability and this is an excellent tool for strength, flexibility and balance exercises.

Still sold on dumbbells? Don’t throw them out they are an excellent aid to improve your work. The benefits to using these are that they add intensity to your workout, speeds up metabolic rate, reduces chances of developing osteoporosis, develops muscle and reduces time you need to spend working out.

When using dumbbells be aware of the risk of injury.  Select the proper weight, where applicable, do not go beyond 90 degrees in the joints, do not swing the weights.  Keep control.

Looking for some great articles on plyometric exercises? Visit Fitness Future for some up date educational information which will add zest to your workouts as well as serious intensity.  Plyometric exercises will improve muscle response time, increases muscle performance, tones muscles, improved balance and posture, increases flexibility, reducing capability for injury. There are some precautions to take however, there needs to be some degree of softness to the landing. Gymnastics mats are ideal, grass is suitable. Hard surfaces such as concrete should never be used. Athletes who are over 240 pounds (109 kg) should be very careful and low-intensity plyometric exercises should be selected. Finally, there must be instruction by a trainer on proper technique before commencing any plyometric exercises.

The list of potential fitness products and ideas are endless. Have fun, seek a trained professional to train you and most importantly, get medical clearance before you commence any workout program.