The American College of Sports Medicine predicted that bodyweight training would top the fitness trends of 2015, and an analysis of data from activity tracking devices and digital fitness apps by HIS Inc. confirms it. Americans are looking for back-to-basics fitness programs that focus on building strength and the importance of recovery.
“There is nothing really new about bodyweight training, but really smart people in clubs have been packaging bodyweight programs, and the public is buying them,” said Thompson, author of the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual fitness forecast.
Though bodyweight training tops the list, the other top fitness trends for 2015 may surprise you. Here’s a look at 10 of the top fitness trends of the year.
Bodyweight training simplifies exercise by taking the need for equipment or access to a gym out of the equation. All you need is your body to complete a series of pushups, planks, lunges, squats and pull-ups. Bodyweight workouts are an economical choice that can be done just about anywhere.
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) alternates between short, intense bursts of activity followed by quick rest periods or low-intensity moves. An entire HIIT workout can be done in less than 30 minutes, which makes this kind of training ideal for those who are strapped for time but still want an intense workout.
CrossFit is a fitness philosophy and competitive sport that incorporates elements of bodyweight training, HIIT, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics and other exercises.
Group personal training gives small groups of two or three people access to the one-on-one attention of personal training at a lower price.
Strength training workouts don’t just strengthen the body. Research suggests that strength training can improve mood and memory, as well. And if it’s fat you want to burn, running it out on the treadmill isn’t going to give you the results you want—you’ve got to incorporate strength training, too. To burn fat, you’ve got to build muscle.
Streaming fitness video services—both free and subscription-based models—like Fitness Blender, Crunch Live and Booya Fitness are popular for frequent travelers as well as those who just don’t have time or desire to exercise at a gym surrounded by strangers.
Activity trackers, which include wearable technology such as the Fitbit and digital tracking apps like MyFitnessPal, are used to track steps, heart rate, calorie intake, calories burned, sleep and just about anything else you might want to track.
Studio fitness, including CrossFit, Barre and cycling classes, give people a sense of community, as opposed to the every-man-for-himself feel you get at a big-box gym.
Functional fitness focuses on improving one’s ability to complete everyday activities, such as carrying a heavy load of laundry or arms full of groceries. Functional fitness exercises are based on real-life movements.
Yoga is more than flexibility and stretching. Various types of yoga (Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha and others) offer a number of health benefits, including increased immunity, improved posture, prevention of cartilage and joint breakdown, improved bone health, increased blood flow and many more.
Whatever workout method you choose, remember that it’s about you taking control of your health—and that means finding the exercise program that works for you. Enjoying your workout is one of the greatest forms of motivation, so allow yourself to have some fun while you get healthy and fit this year.
