Kaara Kallen hasn’t seen a doctor, but she knows she suffers from an allergy that keeps her from something she loves.
“I’m allergic to gyms,” said the 34-year-old Irving Park resident, who says she loves to exercise.
But running on a treadmill doesn’t get you anywhere, she says, and there’s no point to lifting weights.
Apparently Kallen’s not the only fitness buff looking for an alternative workout. The number of gym memberships dropped 3 percent to 41.5 million between 2006 and 2007, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.
And several Chicago gyms and other facilities are offering classes that go beyond the standard weight lifting and treadmill workouts — including Body Web, Israeli street fighting, Hula dancing and even Go-Go dancing.
Kallen created her own Go-Go workout. Now she teaches Go-Go dancing classes and is getting the exercise she craves.
Her one-hour classes take place at The Galaxie, 2603 W. Barry Ave., at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
“Doing something that’s fun, and doing something that’s in a group environment is a better workout because you’re not watching the clock,” she said. “You get your adrenaline up and you work harder.”
Kallen learned what gyms have been discovering for the past few years: If you find a workout you enjoy doing, you’re more likely to continue.
That’s why Crunch gyms recently began adding alternative, quirky group fitness classes to its roster, said Lois Miller, Chicago regional group fitness director for the chain of gyms.
“People get bored, and they want more to their workouts than spinning and lifting weights,” she said.
Ever since Crunch began adding such workouts as Body Web with TRX — an exercise class that allows you to literally hang from a web in Spider-Man fashion — more and more people have been flocking to the gym to take the classes.
There’s more to it than having fun while you work out, Miller said.
Everyone knows you’re supposed to mix up your fitness routine so your body doesn’t get used to the exercise, which makes the workout less effective. Mixing up your routine with alternative classes prevents your body from getting accustomed to a single routine and your mind from getting bored, she said.
Now that people are more informed about their bodies and their fitness regimens, they’re more open about experimenting with workouts that aren’t weight- or treadmill-based.
“We’re seeing that more so, and we’ll definitely see it more in the future,” Miller said.
In fact, it’s the so-called “experimental” workouts that have MaryAnn Rouse of Long Grove willing to drive an hour so she won’t have to take a step aerobics class ever again.
She attends Kallen’s Go-Go dancing classes, as well as Latin Salsa dancing classes.
“I had been doing the traditional stuff for so long, and I got bored with it,” Rouse said. “I look forward to my workouts now.”
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DIETS JUST FOR YOU
Workouts aren’t the only thing people are personalizing. Do-it-yourself diets are popular too. According to a new survey by NPD Group, the number of people dieting in the U.S. is the lowest it’s been in more than 20 years. And for those who are dieting, the most popular regimen, according to survey respondents, is: “My own diet.” In 2004, 29 percent of dieters were following a self-created regimen they described as “my own diet.” By last year, the number had risen to 35 percent.
— THE BOSTON GLOBE
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New wave of fitness
If you’re bored with simply lifting weights or running on a treadmill, don’t fret: You can find other fitness options in Chicago. RedEye tested some of the workouts here that will give you an alternative to the daily gym grind.
— DB
GO-GO DANCING
Why try it? We got our groove on ’60s-style with this fun dance class. The Go-Go routines are surprisingly easy to follow (and trust us — we’re not great dancers) and are loads of fun — especially if you dress up as a Go-Go girl (or boy) in short shorts, boots and a head band. Sweats and T-shirts are perfectly acceptable too. Learn cool moves like the Pony, the Jerk and the Hully Gully. Since you’ll be bouncing around for an hour, you can rest assured you get a good cardio workout.
Details: The Galaxie, 2603 W. Barry Ave.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays; $12 per class; galaxiechicago.com or 773-267-6010.
KRAV MAGA
Why try it? So you think you’re tough? You’ll get a reality check when you show up for this Israeli street fighting class that uses boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai techniques. You’ll learn how to kick, punch and even run under pressure in this gritty studio. We picked up the self-defense methods one class, but it’s best to take a few classes to build up your endurance, stamina and technique. You may have to use what you learn in an actual scary situation.
Details: Pow! Mixed Martial Arts, 950 W. Washington Blvd.; memberships and times vary; powkickboxing.com or 312-829-7699.
HAWAIIAN HULA KAHIKO
Why try it? If you checked out the bodies of the Olympic rhythmic gymnasts this summer, you’ll understand why you should try hula dancing — think tight abs, strong legs and a perfect bum, according to the folks at the Old Town School of Folk Music. This ancient form of dancing hails from Hawaii where it is a vital form of expression. Use your skills to show off during that Hawaiian honeymoon.
Details: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; 10:30 a.m. Sundays; $145 for eight weeks if you register before Oct. 20; oldtownschool.org or 773-728-6000.
BODY WEB WITH TRX
Why try it? If you’ve ever been curious about how Spider-Man manages to hold himself up while climbing webs, this is the class for you, said Kelsey O’Neill, Crunch spokeswoman. While you won’t be hanging from buildings, you will be dangling from durable cables. Put your feet into the top cables, and you can do reverse crunches, which use different abdominal muscles to give you a rock-hard core. Or hang from the top and use your body weight to do curls.
Details: Crunch, 939 W. North Ave.; 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; $16 for a one-day pass for non-members; crunch.com or 312-337-1244.
THAI MASSAGE
Why try it? It’s technically considered to be a private assisted yoga session, and it’s pure bliss. The instructor/therapist puts you into various yoga positions while you lie on a firm mat. He or she stretches your body while massaging you to loosen your joints and muscles. We found that it’s an amazing complement to a traditional yoga class.
Details: Soulistic Studio and Spa, 805 N. Milwaukee Ave.; by appointment only; $95 for 60 minutes; soulisticstudiospa.com or 312-226-7685.
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Four things to know about workouts
If you’re wondering if alternative workouts actually work, the federal government is nearing the end of a major effort to clarify things. Two years ago, the Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a panel to comb through the available science to clear up conflicting reports about exercising — how often? how long? how hard?
The panel’s report can be read online, and the agency is expected to issue a set of physical activity guidelines based on its findings, possibly as soon as October. Here’s four major statements from the panel’s 600-page report:
– A little goes a long way. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym, hire a trainer or do anything uncomfortable to receive many of the health benefits associated with exercise. A half-hour walk five days a week, according to the study, translates to better health.
– More is better. The body adapts to stress, and if you progressively work harder, you’ll see the results. The panel was agnostic as to what you do. Run, bike, swim or, yes, belly-dance: It really does not matter, as long as the intensity is there.
– For weight loss, even more is better yet. To lose weight, the panel found, you need to work out longer (roughly that same hour or more a day) or harder.
– Resistance isn’t futile. Regardless of how old or strong you are, the panel found that resistance/weight training improved bone and joint health, and muscular strength.
THE WASHINGTON POST
