Cross Training

Bosu boards. Bosu is an acronym for "Both Sides Up," because you can stand on either the inflatable dome or wooden side of this board while performing squats or bicep curls with weights. Working out on an unstable surface, which wobbles when you stand on it, requires your core muscles to work harder, along with your abdominals and glutes. 

Boot camp. Boot camps involve outdoor circuit training combining cardio (running hiking, obstacle courses) with strength training (dumbbells, bodyweight exercises) and flexibility (yoga, Pilates). The end result is full-body conditioning that builds strength and cardiovascular fitness (stronger heart and lung muscles) and blitzes fat because of the high calorie expenditure. It is especially suitable for those who need pushing and like group camaraderie.

Bodyweight exercise. Bodyweight exercise eschews weights and hi-tech machines in favor of exercises that use your body weight, like squats, push-ups and pull-ups. Your own weight provides resistance for the exercises and it works all the major muscle groups. It can be as effective as weight-training.

Capoeira, This Afro-Brazilian martial art combines dance, acrobatics, and fighting moves performed to rhythmic music, drumbeats and chanting. The fluid, dynamic moves are great for flexibility, balance, coordination, and working muscles you never knew existed. Especially challenging for the quads (front of thigh), hamstrings (back of legs) and abdominals.

Circuit training.Involves a number of exercises performed one after the other, repeated in circuits. Short bursts of resistance exercise with light weights are interspersed with cardio work like shuttle runs, then more resistance work on different muscle groups. The circuit allows greater intensity, because there is little rest time. This training is anaerobic (your muscles are using oxygen faster than you can replace it), so you're burning calories fast.