by Edie Summers

Created on: January 11, 2009   Last Updated: February 10, 2009

Fitness is hot. Though Americans are more overweight than ever, and obesity is on the rise (72 million of us are now considered obese), new ways to stay fit are more diverse than ever as well.

Here are the top five trends for 2009:

1.Mind-Body Fitness

Pilates and yoga are here to stay. People are becoming more aware of the mind body connection and how controlling stress influences health and fitness levels. You can often find these programs at your gym. You may have to pay a nominal additional fee to take Pilates, but it's cheaper than taking it privately. In addition to stress reduction and core training, mind-body programs are great for adding flexibility, relieving back pain, and building moderate muscle mass.

2.Core-Based Training
Strengthening the "core" is a central theme to many mind-body programs like yoga and Pilates, as well as some equipment like kettlebells and the balance ball. Balance balls and kettlebells are relatively cheap at around $30 for basic sets. The core consists of the abdominal, hip, and leg muscles. Having a strong core can help relieve and/or prevent back injuries as well. Another core-based workout is dance. All the rage right now are Zumba and Bollywood dance. Ballroom dance, Afro-Cuban, and hip-hop are popular as well. Dance classes are relatively cheap at $7 - $10 a class, and are a great overall workout.

3.Activity-Based Video Games

With gaming as popular as it is, it's no wonder that it has wandered into the realm of fitness as well. Especially great for motivating kids to take an interest in fitness, technology-based exergames like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii-Fit are all the rage. Wii-Fit is moderately priced from $80 - $200. It offers balance and BMI testing, as well as 40 different activities such as strength training, aerobics, and even yoga. Blurring the lines between entertainment and exercise seems like a natural progression in the overall pattern of combining workouts and trends in the fitness industry.

4.Back To Basics
Many people are getting back to the basics and just walking outdoors and lifting free weights at home. Although buying fitness equipment and going to gyms are still popular, people are realizing that fitness can be attained under any circumstances. For people who do go to the gym, bootcamps and group workouts aim to accomplish many tasks at once. They incorporate cardio, and high-low intensity strength training, all in the same hour. "Budget-friendly" workouts can be to tied to another trend: functional fitness.

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