AS people ran to show support for the fight against breast cancer, to save reefs, to recycle, or surfed to clean up the shores, the year has also seen many firsts in the country?s fitness industry. More and more Filipinos are flexing their muscles, literally, to support cause-oriented events, whether it?s out of personal passion for the sport or the cause, or to stay fit or lose weight.

For as long as people continue to live demanding lives and to dip their finger into the cookie jar, keeping a fitness regimen will never run out of style.

Running

Whether to lose weight, to keep fit, or to be ?in,? running has become more popular than ever.
This year saw the sport going to the extreme with the first-ever trail running ultra marathon held last July. Pioneered by The North Face, the trail running ultra marathon had the first 100-km solo and relay (50 km each), with cutoff time set at 30 hours. Ninety-five brave men and women joined the 100-km leg; only 36 survived.

Yoga

The opposite of speed, the fast-rising star in the local fitness industry is this Eastern meditation practice that originally had very little to do with gym exercise. Now there?s hardly any gym in Metro Manila without yoga classes.

This year yoga in the country went beyond individual activity; it became a competition?first Philippine Yoga Asana Championship was held with 27 yogis and yoginis executing breathtaking asanas to an awestruck audience.

Sports tourism

With the Department of Tourism pushing the country as one of Asia?s premiere sports and adventure destinations, Camarines Sur formally opened its world-class CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC). It hosted the World Wakeboarding Championship.

The Philippines became the first Asian country to host the World Wakeboarding Championship, an event held every three years.

Other adventure destinations making waves abroad are La Union, Zambales, for surfing; Guimaras islands for mountain biking; Cagayan de Oro for white-water rafting; Mount Pinatubo for trekking.

Lifestyle coaching

Health and fitness professionals go beyond the regular diet-and-exercise offered by most gyms by managing the fitness and healthy lifestyle of clients beyond the gym.

Applying cognitive restructuring (character orientation) and behavior modification, lifestyle coaching aims to address real-life issues that get in the way of a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle coaches specialize in weight loss, exercise, forming healthy eating habits and stress management for the complete lifestyle change.

Group exercise classes

Weekend group exercise in public places is not exclusive to Roxas Boulevard or Quezon City Memorial Circle. Jog along the hippest strip in town at The Fort, Taguig, on weekends and you?ll see groups of people exercising to rock or Latin music.

In gyms, group exercise continues to soar in popularity mainly because many people find it more fun to sweat it out while among friends. Besides, one of the best motivators is always the guy next to you who hardly breaks a sweat as you pant and work up a 150 bpm heart rate.