Just as industry experts predict food trends at the start of each year, forecasting what might pop up on your plate throughout the year, the American College of Sports Medicine has some idea of how you will get up and moving in 2016, recently announcing its annual fitness trend forecast.
And just like food, fitness fads come and go (remember the Shake Weight?), but many of these trends may help give you some new ideas to up your fitness game and stick to those New Year’s resolutions. Here’s what’s hot for 2016:
1. Wearable Fitness Technology. It should come as no surprise that tech devices are the undisputed champs as they are now central to our daily lives and have changed the way we workout. And you probably didn’t even need a survey to tell you that smart watches and fitness trackers will only continue to evolve in 2016. After all, Fitbits, Garmins and the Nike+ FuelBand are everywhere. Wearable devices provide immediate feedback, making us more aware of our fitness activity and motivating us to achieve our fitness goals.
2. Body Weight Training. Do you love push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and Burpees? Good ‘ol body weight training is making a huge comeback with a minimalist, no-gym-needed approach to fitness. And it’s not limited to the “old school” exercises. For a fresh spin try out this circuit workout.
3. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Does the word “Insanity” mean anything to you? Then you’ve already been on trend with HIIT, which describes any workout that alternates between short bursts of high intensity activity followed by short periods of rest. These workouts pack a powerful punch in a short amount of time, allowing you to finish in 30-minutes or less! Want to give it a shot? This HIIT workout tones in just 30 seconds.
4. Strength Training. Still love to use the free weights and machines at the gym? Then you’re well on your way to building muscle, burning more body fat and torching more calories, among other benefits.
5. Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals. With the growing economy, we’re also seeing the market for fitness professionals become more competitive, emphasizing the importance of choosing individuals that are certified through accredited programs. And a gym isn’t the only place to find fitness experts. Retailers are now becoming replacement gyms, all at no cost. Apparel company Athleta opened a studio in its NYC store offering up to five classes a day, all totally free; and the Nike+ Run Club, where top coaches take you through runs and bootcamp-style workouts, is now in 18 cities across the country.
6. Personal Training. Finding those educated and experienced fitness professionals brings us straight to personal training. Whether you want to reach a new fitness goal, learn the ropes of your gym, or value one-on-one time rather than group settings, personal training remains a smart way to get the most out of your gym time.
7. Functional Fitness. Prefer workouts that improve balance, coordination, force, endurance, and generally help you move better throughout your day? This style of workout is picking up steam based on the idea that the exercises we do should imitate the activities of daily life, such as pulling or pushing open doors or walking up stairs, which is why this trend makes so much sense. These 7 Functional Fitness Exercises can help get you started!
