Fitness dance fast replacing workouts

UPBEAT dance fitness workouts are replacing strenuous gym workouts as the new trend and preferred choice among local women in their daily exercise regimes.

Maria Wong, a mother in her 40s, who recently joined a dance programme at one of the studios in Kampung Kiarong said that doing dance workouts is less stressful than doing gym work. "It's a better way to relieve the stress," said Maria, who is also a teacher.

Amalina Hj Ali, 25, joined the dance studio programmes because she found it more interesting than normal gym workouts. "Body-jam, body combat...they sound more interesting than gym!" said the engineer from Kuala Belait.

Co-owners Haszrin and Shikah of Paul and Olivia Body Image Studio in Batu Bersurat said that "the trend now is that people, especially women, go for less strenuous workouts and more upbeat ones."

The studio caters to women and offers exciting aerobic programmes such as bollyaero (which incorporates bollywood dance steps), salsacise, aerodance, body-pump, flooring exercise, pilates, bellydance as well as traditional dances.

Haszrin said that bellydance (a middle-eastern dance), which focuses on the torso and helps increase both flexibility and strength, is the most popular workout programme among the ladies. "They like and enjoy these programmes."

He added that when the women dance, they are less conscious of the fact that they are doing an exercise routine. "They don't go for typical aerobic routines now. No more typical ones."

"Another reason why they prefer these kind of workouts is probably because they see carrying weights and treadmills in the gym as strenuous work suitable mostly for men and not for many women," he said.

Men do also come to the studio, especially for the Malay traditional dance, hip hop dance and body-pump programmes, added Haszrin.

He said that most of the programmes they are offering provide opportunities for their members to learn new talents, which are not readily available elsewhere.

"There are some places that do offer traditional dance classes, but they are usually for those who become serious dancers," he said, adding that some people would just prefer to do things for fun.

To date, the studio has been joined by some 50 enthusiastic members since its soft opening in May this year. The majority of people who come to the studio are women in their mid-20s, 30s and 40s.

Zunic Wellness club manager and coach, Nobel Lee, said that women joining the dance programmes "do not feel intimidated" by the workouts compared to workouts at the gym. "They usually come in groups," he said. "They are in their social cliques, so to speak."

According to Nobel, by being in a group the women are "more comfortable" doing their exercise routines.

In addition, he said that gym workouts tend to be an independent workout where the individual usually has a set of goals in mind and is able to motivate himself. "For most women, being in dance programmes help them to be more motivated in doing the fitness routine continuously and not stop halfway."The Brunei Times