John D. Johnson, Contributing writer

Next-generation exercise trends have challenged tradition with such speedy success.

While weightlifting and its trusty sidekick, cardiovascular exercise, still reign atop the exercise empire, many new and dynamic approaches to fitness have arrived as challengers to the throne.

These new training tactics have quickly gained credibility as many in collegiate and professional sports place them at the heart of their own routines.

Almost every routine of the new millennium has opened up a new window on exercise science. From Billy Blanks' various Tae Bo workouts to the heavily advertised P90X routine to the much-publicized regimens of 2009 NBA first-round draft pick Blake Griffin and 2007 NFL first-rounder Brady Quinn, bold new principles in exercise science are, suddenly, all around us.

Griffin, for example, trains in seemingly unorthodox fashion, trudging barefoot up sandy inclines while shouldering sandbags, hugging pipes or fighting restraints as he struggles his way up the mushy mess. For his labors, Griffin has gained such superb conditioning that he describes his basketball and weightlifting obligations as comparatively easy. Quinn, profiled in Muscle and Fitness, employs advanced plyometric exercises and whole-body movements that eschew all that was once thought sacred about conditioning.

Whether the new routines are termed "primal training" or "natural fitness" or "natural movement training" or something else, they all hold three keys traits in common.

First, the new trends promote the value of real-world settings and movements. Whenever possible, the conditioning quest is moved outdoors in keeping with an ethic that views the ecological as logical, that sees nature itself as the most natural setting. This new fitness philosophy holds that nature's bounties -- trees, hills, beaches -- are far more beneficial to the athlete than the antiseptic environs of the gym.

When an outdoor setting is not available, the workout still features movements that mimic real-life motions such as bending, crouching, lifting or twisting. Reproducing such movements as exercises demands biomechanical correctness.

To that end, careful attention is paid to the placement of the feet, the straightness of the back and the balance maintained throughout the action, whether it is hurling a sack into the air, a powerful leap onto a raised surface, or the controlled swinging of objects such as kettle bells, sledge hammers, heavy ropes or even chains. Such activities force the body to develop the core strength necessary to withstand the awkward forces of, for example, holding a weight while standing on an unstable surface.

Gone is the strict isolation of weightlifting. Gone, too, are the bone-jarring impacts of old-school aerobics, as the controlled landings of today are substituted for the thunderous ones of ages past.

Second, the new-wave fitness trends are holistic. That is, they target the health of the whole person. While advanced weight-and-cardio routines may produce undeniable training effects, the emphasis in such workouts is primarily on the body. By contrast, the new routines include the mind through long stretches of mental concentration upon the physical task. This may involve the prolonged holding of a difficult posture or a special emphasis upon breathing. Because such routines unite the activity of the body with that of the mind, it is believed that a greater overall benefit is imparted to the athlete.

Third, modern conditioning insists upon recapturing the capacity of body and mind for activity that favors enjoyment over the often unsmiling disciplines of traditional training. As a rule, the habits of the weightlifter are seen not only as overly static for the body but also as overly suppressant of the human appetite for fun. The goal, then, is to fuse the desire for play with the need for hard work. This way, the mind does not resent the activity but welcomes it. In a refreshing twist, the athlete looks forward to the next session with anticipation rather than dread.

While exercise programs are best undertaken on the advice of an exercise-savvy doctor, it seems worthwhile to explore these exciting new trends. So, as we conduct our search for "primal training" or "natural movement exercise" or "natural fitness," perhaps we will discover a fun way to accomplish what seems like work. And well would it be for us all to draw closer to the great outdoors even as we draw closer to the achievement of our fitness goals.