Updated: December 10, 2010

By Caitlin Murphy

Who says working out can't also be fun? We found four of today's top fitness trends that will get you in shape and you'll have a great time doing them.

Get Creative on the Streets

If you love extreme sports and action scenes like the ones in Casino Royale then think about trying parkour. In parkour you create your own obstacle course while running, jumping, crawling and climbing in urban settings, special parkour gyms and outdoor parks. Like martial arts, parkour is considered a discipline. It's the practice of getting from one place to another efficiently using only your body and objects around you. Since parkour involves so much jumping you'll work your legs and the focus on agility and balance forces your abdominals to engage and become stronger.

All the leaping over gaps, climbing up walls and crawling across the ground works up a sweat creating a full body cardio and toning workout. With a few simple moves and running shoes you can turn anything from a local park to your backyard into a great gym. However, since parkour is so extreme you'll want to start with a class or professional lesson. Visit americanparkour.com for lists of parkour clubs around the country.

Hoop it Up

Our second trend is a favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama and superstar singer Beyonce. Once a playground pastime, the hula-hoop is making a comeback and putting a new spin on working out. The workout involves regular old hooping (that means simply trying to keep the hoop from hitting the ground) which gets your heart rate up and burns calories. Since hula hooping focuses on contracting your abdominals and moving your hips hooping can shrink your waistline.

Plus swinging the hoop around your arms (with plenty of room around you so you don't hit anything of course) engages the shoulders and works the upper body. One reason hula hooping is so effective...it's fun and that means you're more likely to stick with it. Try looking for hula-hoop classes at your local gym or YMCA. There are also plenty of free workout videos on YouTube or you can just grab a hoop and workout on your own.

Get Bendy

For years, celebs like Madonna and Jennifer Aniston have been singing the praises of yoga but it's not just for ladies?many professional football and basketball players are regular yogis too. Practicing yoga requires a combination of balance and flexibility and holding all those poses stretches and strengthens the muscles. Two types of yoga but most often associated with workouts are Vinyasa yoga and Bikram yoga. Vinyasa yoga moves quickly between a series of poses challenging the upper and lower body while working up a sweat.

Then there's Bikram yoga, which makes you sweat the minute you walk into the room. Bikram yoga is practiced in rooms kept at 100 degrees to increase flexibility and raise your heart rate. During the intense 90 minute workout you move through 26 poses holding each for one to two minutes forcing the muscles to become strong and toned. Another reason yoga is so effective is because it creates more body awareness and all the breath work makes it a total stress buster.

Dance it Off

Finally, do you live for "Dancing with the Stars?" If you love to dance then Zumba is the workout for you. This Latin based cardio dance workout combines salsa steps with merengue moves for a whole lot of fun. With energetic music, Zumba feels like a party and most moves are simple and repeat so even if you're not a great dancer you can still enjoy the workout. The dance combinations in this 45-minute workout move you around the floor and raise your heart rate so you're burning calories.

Zumba uses interval training where you work hard for short periods of time then rest and interval training has been proven to burn more calories in less time while improving heart function. Plus, many of the movements focus on toning your abdominals and legs. Zumba is fun to do with friends and having a workout buddy can help you stick with a fitness routine leading to shape up success. Gyms and YMCAs have Zumba classes including classes designed for teens or you can always try the DVDs and do the workout right in the comfort of your own living room.