Ramp up your fitness

If you're into group fitness, keep an eye out for the newest cardio class on the block, called "Ramping." Developed by Step creator Gin Miller, Ramping is scheduled to make its debut this year at a gym near you. This new form of fitness fun is done on--what else?--a ramp in time to different-tempo music, a huge departure from the typical beat of every other cardio-based class you've ever taken. Instead of stepping up, up, down, down (your four-count cadence), exercisers execute dynamic lunging sequences against the adjustable incline surface (aka "the Ramp") in time to the music. Think the cha-cha meets the mambo meets Step.

I took the first public class offered by Gin herself at the ACSM Health & Fitness Summit this spring, and since I've taught group fitness for more years than I care to admit. I feel justified in offering my two cents on this new mode of exercise: It's very different. I really enjoyed the backward-emphasized movement, which had my calves screaming on my run the next day. The sequences Gin taught combined familiar moves with some brand-new ones. This could be the next "big thing." If you have a chance to check it out, do so and let us know what you think!

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