I thought it would be fun to end the week with this light-hearted list from Newsweek. The magazine names seven of the silliest fitness fads – it says some of them don’t give you much of a workout; others put you more at risk of getting hurt. Can you guess what they are? (Hint – the picture is one of them)

1. Weighted Hula Hooping - it’s like the Hula Hoop we’ve known for 50 years now, only a lot heavier.

2. Strippercise - sensual “aerobic striptease” classes that include pole-dancing, chair-centered lap-dance routines, and floor exercises to work your abs.

3. The Bodyblade – you take a long, sword-like plastic bar, hoist it overhead and shake vigorously for a trunk-targeted workout.

4. Cirque du Soleil-Inspired “Aerial Aerobics” - at aerial fitness studios, you can tone up by defying gravity – in one exercise, you shimmy your way to the top of a cloth lanyard, wrap it around your feet and hang with your limbs dangling.

5. Wind-Relieving Asana – yes, we’re talking about the flatulence kind of “wind” here. This series of yoga postures helps you get air out of your digestive tract – in a room full of people. Nice.

6. Wii Fit Ski-Jump – this requires you to remain in a slight squat position for a few seconds before quickly straightening up.

7. Dorm Room Workouts – just 20 minutes of milling around your 9-by-10-foot room can help you ward off the dreaded Freshman 15.

This is just a summary – so if you want to see more on this, go to the full Newsweek article, which includes workout warnings.

So, have any of you tried any of these exercises? I haven’t, but the Weighted Hula Hoop kind of sounds fun to me… maybe after Boot Camp is over.

Photo Credit: Aerial Dance over Denver

Related posts

• Wii Fit – More reviews from Consumer Reports
• What is the purpose of heart rate monitors?
• Top 10 fitness trends for 2010
• Top 10 fitness trends for 2009
• SELF Magazine’s Workout in the Park 2008