It's the weekend, your time to sit back, relax and enjoy some late-morning snooze sessions. While weekends are great for catching up on sleep and much-needed R&R, they can offset your diet and weight loss goals that you've been keeping up with all week long. The antidote? Rev up your workout routine and squeeze in a bootcamp-style workout (or two).

Experts say that interval training, otherwise known as circuit training, is a great way to rev up your metabolism and get over any weight loss plateau. If you're still struggling to lose those last few vanity pounds, your weekend could be the perfect time to get your body in shape. A few ideas for your weekend bootcamp sessions:

1. Kickboxing. This high-energy workout is a great way to blast away a few hundred calories per hour and get yourself in fat-burning mode. It's also a stress-reliever, giving you the chance to kick and punch away your worries from the week! Try and schedule this in the early morning hours of the weekend for optimal benefits.

2. Dance aerobics. Dance aerobics are a fun, high-energy workout routine that can help you work all your major muscle groups and without feeling like a workout. Check with your local gym for an early morning weekend or afternoon class to give your metabolism a makeover in a few short hours. Better yet - take a friend along so you can enjoy some company during your sweat session.

3. Sunrise yoga. If you've been sitting at a computer desk all week long, your body may need some much-needed stretching and toning. You can get this with some sunrise yoga. Head outdoors if you can with a friend or significant other on the weekend and enjoy the sunrise as you stretch and tone your legs, arms and torso. The deep breathing exercises will do wonders for clearing your mind of the week's stresses, and can also help to boost circulation throughout your body. All you need is a yoga mat and comfortable workout gear to get into the habit!

Whether you settle for a dance aerobics class or yoga with your roommate, think of some fun exercises you can look forward to on the weekend. A weekend bootcamp session could be all you need to get into shape fast this season.

If you're still doing crunches and sit ups to achieve that six-pack, you could be wasting your time. Fitness experts say that it's important to strengthen your core muscles with a variety of isometric exercises that encourage deep muscle contractions in your abs and obliques, and these can help to improve your posture while giving you a killer workout. If you need to ramp up your ab routine, here are some essential exercises for a svelte midsection:

Oblique Twists
Oblique twists, also known as oblique crunches, are better than the standard crunch because they target the core muscles around your waist. You will need to perform these on both the right and left sides, and hold for a count of two to five seconds depending on your strength level. These exercises are among the easiest and most effective ways to achieve that streamlined midsection.

Renegade Rows
This routine involves lifting weights up off the floor while keeping the body in a push-up position with feet spread apart. The idea is to keep the hips as stable as possible while contracting the biceps and triceps during the lift. You'll feel the contraction in your midsection and sides, and a few sets of these each week can help you get those rock-solid abs you crave.

Planks
Plank routines, also known as hover exercises help build strength and stability in your core muscle groups and will also elongate your midsection. These can be performed on a workout mat with your forearms and toes on the floor. Your torso needs to be straight and rigid, and you will need to raise yourself up on your elbows slowly for a count of 10, 20 or 30 seconds depending on your strength level.

Medicine Ball Sit Ups
If you like doing sit ups but want to get better results, use a medicine ball. You can perform these crunches on a basic workout mat or yoga mat with or without shoes, and will need to hold at least a 5-pound ball between your legs and slowly lift it to your chest. The weight from the ball will encourage a deep contraction of your oblique and stomach muscles.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and is both a self-awareness exercises, and a great workout for the entire body. The poses and exercise sequences of the average yoga routine can help to increase flexibility, reduce stress and even give you a slight calorie burn. Researchers at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California report that just four weeks of regular yoga workouts can reduce chronic pain.

Yoga can also help you to reduce stress, so getting through difficult workdays and day-to-day activities becomes that much easier. If you've been looking for ways to improve your health, now may be a good time to get into the yoga habit.To perform the exercises, all you need is a yoga mat and some comfortable clothing that has enough give to help you move easily through each movement. Yoga can be practiced indoors or outdoors, and you don't need any special equipment.

So how do you start adding yoga to your weekly routine and make yoga a habit? You have several options for maximizing the benefits of yoga. If you can do just 10 to 15 minutes of yoga first thing in the morning, you can increase circulation and wake up sore muscles after your eight-hour snooze fest. You can also do some stretching exercises over lunch hour. While it's not a good idea to perform exercises that require bending forward right after you've eaten lunch, you can undertake some deep breathing exercises and flex your leg and back muscles in an upright position after the afternoon meal.

Another good time to do yoga is in the late evening before you head to bed. Winding down with some deep breathing exercises and deep stretches can help you fall into a deeper sleep state because you're much more relaxed. Just avoid doing the routine too close to bed time or you may find yourself wide awake for a few hours from the extra movements.

Practicing yoga regularly can help to increase flexibility, reduce stress and make it easier to manage chronic pain. Whether you choose to wrap up your routine at sunrise or late into the night, you can start enjoying the benefits of yoga without special equipment or by attending a special class.

Strengthening your core muscles not only improves your posture, but it also makes it easier to carry out your most challenging workout routines. Dancers, gymnasts and other athletes do a number of exercises to strengthen and tone up their core muscles - the obliques, abdominals and lower back - because it helps them maintain balance and allows them to shift and control their body weight easily.

Strong core muscles will also reduce the risk of back pain and injury when you're working out. So how do you go about strengthening and toning that midriff? You'll need to start with a set of simple floor exercises that will train your muscles to move in a certain way.

You can begin with some simple oblique stretches and ab-lengthening exercises. Lie flat on your back with your toes pointed forward, then slowly raise each leg for a count of five, then lower it. Do the same with the other leg, and make sure you inhale on the lift and exhale as you lower the leg. Do the same movement with both legs to warm up the lower abdominal muscles, then slowly move your legs to the left or to the right to warm up the obliques.

Another great midriff-strengthening exercise is the standing twist. Here, you can hold two light weights at your side and lift your arms to shoulder length. The next step is to twist to the left, then the right in a fluid motion, all while keeping your abs tucked in. You won't feel a burn until you do several twists, but it's a simple and effective exercise for training your core muscles.

Finally, enhance the effects of your average floor-based crunch movement by focusing on keeping your shoulder blades off the floor, and not doing a complete sit up. Sit ups don't work if you have weak abdominal muscles. You need to focus on contracting the abdominals and obliques, then holding them in place for several seconds in an isolation move.

Don't think you have time to strengthen your core? Just grab your yoga mat and yoga gear during a commercial break and squeeze in some posture-enhancing stretches and crunches to tighten that midriff. Just a few quick spurts of intensive activity is all it really takes to help train those core muscles and start seeing results!

It's another week of looming deadlines and the calendar's chock full of to-do items, which means getting to the gym might not be high on the priority list for yet another seven days. If you want to stay in shape, you do have some options outside of the usual gym circuit. A few tweaks to your morning routine, and modifying your daily activities ever so slightly, might just be all you need to keep that metabolism revved up and keep you in shape.

Start things off with a power walk in the early morning. As soon as you get up, throw on your workout gear and head outside for a brisk 15 to 20 minute walk around the block. This will get your blood circulation going and help you enjoy some fresh air before your all-day-indoors agenda the rest of the day. Walking is a great aerobic activity that will keep your heart strong, and give your total body a much-needed workout. Don't forget to stretch before and after the session to avoid injury and pain.

Your next get-fit opportunity rolls around at lunch hour. Instead of brown-bagging it in the company cafeteria, you can eat your lunch on a picnic table outside, then take a brief walk around the building or up and down some of the large hallways around the office. Anything physical will do; climb up a few sets of stairs, give your calf muscles a good stretch outside, and just re-energize your muscles after those back-to-back meetings.

When you finally make it back home, get into the habit of doing a brief 10 to 20 minute yoga routine to elongate and flex all of those muscles that didn't experience the joy of movement as you hunched over your desk all day. Yoga and deep breathing exercises will let the oxygen flow throughout your body, and will help you feel lighter and limber. You can do these right before dinner to give your metabolism a boost before the meal ahead.

Getting and staying in shape doesn't require a commitment to the body-pump workouts at the gym, or even going to the fitness center. Plan your day around some simple exercises so you can keep your body in great shape whether you're hitting the gym, or not!

The world of the gym (or health club, recreation center and YMCA) may seem daunting at first, but it can be well worth it. Some churches now have health clubs for members, like the mega-church Southeast Christian in Louisville, Kentucky, where worshipers can bike, treadmill walk or aerobicise their way to physical fitness.

For those who don't have a lot of money or a mega-church in their life, gym memberships have become much cheaper than before. Even chains like 24 Hour Fitness usually only charge $30 to $55 a month, depending on your city and health club plan. The best bet is still to put on your sneakers and go to a recreation center or YMCA. Recreation centers usually charge a fee of $25 or less and charge extra for aerobics classes or yoga. YMCAs often charge $50 a month but have low-income plans of $25 or even less per month, especially for those with children.

Once you join a gym, you might be wondering where to take those tennis shoes from here. Most facilities offer a free tour and some personal training. Some of the machines might look strange, and if you're a novice exerciser, learning proper form is important. If you are at a local recreation center, your choices are probably going to be limited to the basics, such as exercise bikes and treadmills. Recreation centers in major cities tend to be a bit more creatively stocked.

Many facilities have swimming pools and even aqua aerobics classes. You don't have to be a master swimmer to enjoy the benefits of the water. If the pool has waist or chest high water, you can walk the length of it safely and get a killer aerobic workout without putting your joints at risk. Even if part of your facility's pool has a deep end, you can walk in circles at the shallow end.

Aerobic and yoga classes, along with stationary cycling and treadmill walking or running, are also great for beginners. It doesn't matter how much money you have or don't have, how good of shape your body is in or is not, because getting started at a gym is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

We've said goodbye to holiday revelries and the season of New Year's resolution making, but promises to keep up with the fitness routine may have slipped into the abyss of post-holiday bliss.

Chilly temperatures, icy streets and cold, dark days are less-than-inviting reasons to head to the gym in the wee morning hours. Winter season may have you cooped up indoors, but there are plenty of ways to get buff and fit before it's time to hit the beach. Grab that yoga mat, pick up a new water bottle and jump into any of these fun indoor activities to boost that sluggish winter metabolism:

Spice Up the Day with Zumba
Get a DVD of this fitness craze to practice dance and cardio moves that will get your heart racing. Zumba workouts tap into your Latin-music-lovin' side so you can heat up your workouts with a little salsa, rumba and hip-hop - and do it all from the comforts of home!

The Great Yoga Tone-Up
Yoga moves designed to burn fat can tighten and tone your entire body, reshaping that couch-loving figure within a few weeks. Get this routine done early in the morning before breakfast for the ultimate calorie burn.

Become the Dumbbell Master
Grab a pair of 5- or 8-lb dumbbells and pace around the house or apartment while doing bicep curls, overhead presses and other simple arm lift exercises to tone up the upper body. Adding weights to a basic walk or stroll can burn up extra calories and train new muscle groups.

Do The Jump Rope Jive
A jump rope and a pair of tennis shoes are all you need to blast away over 800 calories per hour. Jump roping at a moderate pace will give your heart a mega-workout and condition your muscles to the max.

Practice Your Trampoline Pose
Mini-trampolines, also known as rebounders, give you a quick and easy way to tone up the lower body. Get your cardio blast any time of day with a quick 15-20 minute routine on the mini-trampoline; just load up the iPod with your favorite tunes and, jump, jump, jump around.

Just remember, spring break season is right around the corner, which means now is the time to step up the fitness routine and start melting away those excess pounds. Try any of these fun exercise routines to get a head start on that spring body.

Let's face it. When it comes to working out and getting in shape, most of us hit the gym for the treadmill or elliptical trainer to get that sweat-inducing workout that promises to burn mega calories.

As exhilarating as these workouts are, the reality is most of us also adapt to the cardio routine within a few short weeks, which means the effects will diminish over time and it gets harder and harder to burn more calories in less time. If your goal is to get in shape or lose weight, you'll need a strategy to get out of "cardio crazy" mode.

Signs that you're going cardio crazy include:

• Spending more than one hour on the cardio machines during each workout session
• Dreading your trip to the gym each day because the cardio workouts aren't fun anymore
• Obsessing about how many calories you've burned with each step on the stair stepper and every round of spinning classes

The best way to get out of a cardio rut is to add resistance training, weight lifting and different types of aerobic exercises into the weekly routine.

You can:
Hit the outdoors for a change of scenery and get started on a trail running program. Just strap on some super-grip running shoes and head off to the nearest state park or nature trail for a running route with resistance.

Take a deep breath and hit the yoga circuit. Pick up some comfy yoga capri pants and try Bikram yoga, which is guaranteed to make you sweat away your cares, or head outdoors for a sunrise yoga session to embrace the day. If you've been hitting the cardio machines a little too much lately, yoga can help bring your body into balance and give you a much needed stretch session.

Dive into swimming and water aerobics. Pick up a swimsuit and hit the diving board for a change of pace. Swimming is a great aerobic workout and burns several hundred calories per hour. You can also start training a number of core muscle groups with lap swimming or water aerobics. Pool routines will give your body a much-needed break from the usual cardio circuit.

Baby boomers are looking for ways to enjoy life and retirement, but in the process they also want to stay fit while enjoying the deserved down time. Yoga is one of the most popular ways to get fit. Yoga offers the benefits of becoming more flexible and toned, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. One of the important aspects of yoga is comfort. To get into the yoga mode and mood you'll need to get geared up for yoga fitness.

The basic concept to yoga clothing is comfort and flexibility. Baby boomers don't want to wear something so loose the yoga instructor cannot see their form, but you also do not want to wear something tight. Buying clothing geared for yoga is the best bet, simply because the design is created specifically for yoga.

Clothing designed for yoga fitness should offer stretch, breathability, comfort and durability. There are a number of brands of yoga clothing; however, the key is in finding one that works for your specific needs.

Basic yoga pants and a yoga top are needed to comfortably begin yoga class. Many practitioners of yoga prefer the pants that hit right below the knee such as the Unity Yoga Capri by Statik Mountain Co. Available in black and made from 88 percent nylon and 12 percent spandex, the yoga pants have a lined crotch gusset, a low rise waist, flat side seams and are designed to dry quickly. The Unity Yoga Capri retails for approximately $61.

Basic yoga tops are usually tanks, tees, spaghetti tops or even cross-trainer tops with support, which are ideal for yoga. It goes back to the fabric being breathable and the top being comfortable. If well endowed at the top or having upper support is preferable, a great choice of yoga tops is the Moving Comfort Apparel Cross-trainer Support Tank. Available in lime, hibiscus or cocoa, the tank is made from 87 percent Coolmax polyester and 13 percent spandex. The Cross-trainer Support Tank retails for $46 and is ideal gear for yoga.

You've been working hard to keep up with your gym routine all year long, but the holiday season can put even the most disciplined fitness guru to the test. The holidays call for round the clock errands, juggling a never-ending shopping schedule and organizing a grand family meal. The hustle and bustle of the season can leave you spent and less likely to stick with that early a.m. treadmill circuit. Still, there are a few ways to keep up with your healthy intentions. Here are some tips to stay motivated and get buff through this high-stress season:

1. Get serious about yoga. Yoga is a great workout no matter what your fitness level is, and yoga has the added benefit of relieving stress. Inhale and exhale your way to peace and tranquility in a comfy pair of yoga pants, which will keep you cool and calm when anxiety levels run high. Schedule yourself at least 1-2 sessions per week and greet the sunrise whenever possible.

2. Hit the slopes! If you're blessed with piles of snow over the holiday season, get out and have some fun in the great outdoors with some skiing or snowboarding. You'll be working that upper and lower body to the max as you take in that crisp winter air. No snow to be found? Make your way to the nearest indoor ski center for a pseudo-ski that will burn off plenty of calories.

3. Adopt a walking mantra. Walking at a moderate pace can increase your heart rate and give you a brief mini-workout without the fuss. You just need to sustain a moderate speed for 15-20 minutes to make the most of this fitness routine. Squeeze in a walking session between errands or make a point of walking more often than driving as you go about your busy day. Just strap on those walking shoes and hit the road!

Whether you decide to burn off mega-calories on the ski slopes or stretch away stress and tension with yoga, keep up with your fitness resolutions this season and ward off those pesky holiday pounds. Your fitness routine might also allow for a second helping of pumpkin pie without the guilt!

If you're stressed out, you've probably heard about the stress-reducing properties of yoga. Many people who regularly do yoga routines swear by them as a way to aid in relaxation and improve balance and muscle tone. You may think yoga is for hippies or people with too much time on their hands. Today, people of all ages and walks of life are practicing yoga. And with the many types of yoga and ways of using it, there's bound to be a yoga routine that will help you unwind.

Hatha Yoga is the type most commonly offered to the public. You won't need much to get started in yoga. A cozy combination of yoga pants and an athletic top or t-shirt will allow for comfort and freedom of movement during your workout. As with any type of exercise, keep a bottle of water handy to stay hydrated before, during and after your yoga workout.

Once you've decided to give yoga a try, you have two options: sign up for a local class or use a yoga DVD in the privacy of your home. What are the pros and cons of each?

A local class, taken with other people, allows you to socialize and encourages you to stay involved. A real life instructor can also answer any questions you may have. On the downside, yoga classes cost money, usually anywhere from $75 to $150 per several-week series. You also have to attend at the same day and time every week.

Instructional yoga videos have many advantages. There are videos available for all skill levels, and many videos are designed specifically for relaxation. The cost is also low, usually under $20.00. And with a video, you can do the yoga routine at any time. On the downside, you don't have the encouragement to stick with it that yoga class members can provide. It's easy to "forget" your workout after a busy day.

Yoga is just one more tool to help reduce your stress levels and increase your health. With the many types of yoga available, you can hopefully find one that will work wonders for you!

So you're renewing your commitment to losing weight, feeling great
and shifting your energy into high gear. While it's easy enough to head
to the gym for a sweat-inducing run or elliptical training circuit, yoga
is another way to reach your fitness goals. Yoga is no longer reserved
for the tree-hugging masses; you might already have found a few yoga
studios and yoga classes cropping in your neighborhood in recent
months. If you're ready to ramp up your workout routine with a fresh
new activity, yoga may be the ideal match for your exercise lineup.
First things first; you need the right gear.

Head to the yoga studio in style with some classic yoga pants. You canwear
shorts to yoga class, but you may not be ready to share quite so much
skin when you're doing that downward dog pose for the few minutes that
seem like hours. The Adidas adilibria Yoga Pant
is a good choice for beginners, a loose and comfy stretch pant with
cuffs and adjustable cord at the waist. It's a nice and stretchy fit to
accommodate your super-powered stretching routine.

If you prefer a Capri-style pant instead, the Prana Asana Yoga Capri
is a classic style that will give you plenty of freedom of movement.
These capris are designed with a moisture-wicking material, so even
when you're sweating up a storm in that Bikram Yoga class, you won't
feel a thing. The 4-way fabric moves with you, giving you the chance to
stretch, flex and breathe with ease. Pair this up with the Adidas Techfit Yoga Tank Top and you'll be well on your way for a super-charged yoga routine.

When
you're heading off to the studio with your own yoga mat and change of
clothing, a large tote won't be enough to haul the goods. Unless you're
planning on slinging the yoga mat under your arm, you'll need a
versatile yoga bag with extra width. The Sherpani Yoga Bag
is the perfect solution for your yoga days, a larger-than-life bag with
extra pockets, a miniature removable bag for accessories, and even a
few mesh pockets for your water bottle. A simple way to inhale and
exhale without the fuss!

Low-impact exercise ideas and benefits.

Despite what you may think or may have been taught in physical education class, low-impact exercises can definitely help you get in shape and become much healthier.

Low-impact are not just for people with physical limitations. They can be great for anyone: if you are just starting an exercise routine or you just want a couple of workout days that are less stressful on your body, low-impact exercises may be for you. Low-impact exercises are a lot easier on your joints and less stressful on your body overall. Unlike running, low-impact exercises won't jar your body and put strain on your joints and muscle groups. There are quite a few low-impact exercises that you can do. Add a variety of different low-impact exercises to mix up your fitness routine.

Water aerobics is an excellent choice for a low-impact exercise. Doing aerobics submerged in water lets you work your entire body - without the strain of pounding the ground. The water acts as a resistance but not so much that it strains your body. You can definitely get a full-body workout doing water aerobics. Plus, it's fun to play around in the water like you are a kid again. Most gyms that have swimming pools offer some kind of water aerobics class.

Swimming is another great low-impact exercise that is easy on your joints and will work your entire body. You will work your arms, your legs and your core while swimming. Swimming also raises your heart rate and puts you into calorie-burning mode. Most gyms with swimming pools offer times when you can free swim laps in the pool. If you do not know how to properly swim, classes are also available at recreation centers and local gyms.

Yoga is a very popular low-impact exercise. Yoga focuses on your breathing, posture and flexibility. Many people consider yoga to be a spiritual mind and body experience. In yoga there are no swift movements or jumping up and down. It mostly involves different poses and holding those poses to strengthen and lengthen your muscles. Power yoga will get your heart rate up the most, as this form of yoga moves quickly from one pose to another.

Stationary bikes are a great option for low-impact exercise. You can purchase one for your own personal use or any gym or recreation center in your town will have stationary bikes. Stationary bikes do not put pressure on your knees like running does. They are very simple to use - all you have to do is pedal! Most stationary bikes have some sort of pre-set programs that you can do or you could just time your bicycling to see how long you can go for. Many bikes even have monitors that will track how far you have gone, how many calories you have burned and your average speed per mile. Some gyms even offer low-impact cycling classes that you can take. If you get bored easily this may be for you, as the instructor of the class will keep you energized and keep you going longer.