Fitness Goes Digital And Online

Released on: Sunday, August 5, 2007 8:00 AM

    

Fitness Goes Online And Does Digital

Spring brings thoughts of baseball, bathing suits, and beach fit toned bodies. This may be the time to tie action to the fitness thinking.  If a trip to the web sounds like more fun than a trip to gym, perhaps your home computer can come to the workout rescue. Fitness has definitely gone digital.

Digital Fitness Resources

Cycling, rowing, and running programs are available at NetAthlon’s fitcentric (www.fitcentric.com).  This is a Windows based program and the basic version is priced at about $100.  This site offers programs for fitness machines that have either USB or serial ports.  The program itself has courses for rowers, treadmills, step mills, and cycles.  The ‘add a course’ options range from the Olympic cycle course, a ride through New England, or a row down the Charles River.  If your sense of adventure includes outer space, you might choose the Lunar Bike mission.  Each additional course comes with a small additional fee.  If you are in need of competition, the program also allows you to race against other digital fitness enthusiasts through your Internet connection.

If you prefer to power your workout with core strengthening Pilates Method type exercise, Power Pilates Online (www.powerpilantesonline.com) may be of interest.  If the Pilates Method isn’t in your workout vocabulary, it is a physical fitness system that was developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates.

The method encourages the use of the mind to control the muscles. The program focuses on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and strengthening the deep torso muscles. Strong torso muscles are important to help alleviate and prevent back pain.

If Yoga is on your learning list, check out Yoga Learning Center (www.yogalearningcenter.com).  This is a membership site that uses streaming video and downloadable audio to teach Yoga.  Annual membership is offered at about $90.  You also get the option of ‘Yoga to go’ in the form of downloads for Ipod or MP3 player.

Choosing a computer enabled fitness program comes with its own challenges.  The personal touch in the form of personal accountability and personal trainer is missing. You won’t hear that voice telling you to adjust your form or exhort you to do “just 5 more.”  Plus, your fitness equipment usually must be used in relatively close proximity to your computer. Wireless helps here.

            

---

    Print this page   E-mail this page