Fitness trends tend to change frequently. In the 1980's for example, jazzercise and aerobics were all the rage, while the 2000’s were primarily focused on heart rate to deem the effectiveness of the workout. So far in 2017, there have been several identified fitness trends, and you definitely won’t want to miss out.
#1: Wearable fitness technology
With the introduction of fitness trackers like the Apple Watch and the FitBit in recent years, wearable fitness technology has continued to be the top fitness trend of 2017. With constant technology updates and new models being released with even more capabilities, fitness trackers are continuously growing in popularity. Many wearable monitors track heart rate, workouts, sleep patterns, steps/distance covered and your cardio vascular score. Models like the FitBit Charge 2 also have added features like a stopwatch, breathing exercises, and GPS capability. Wearing a fitness tracker is a great way to monitor your health and gain a clearer picture of your daily fitness habits.
#2: Body-Weight Based Exercises
People no longer feel the need to go to the gym for every workout, especially those on a budget. Many are deciding to workout at home or even on the road. With less access to fancy fitness equipment came the rise of body-weight based exercise routines. Classic moves include push-ups and planks. Other popular moves include burpees, squats, lunges and pull-ups. There are many routines available for free online that solely use your body-weight.
#3: HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
HIIT routines are a great way to spike the heart rate and maintain it throughout short rest periods. Routines typically follow a spike-rest-spike-rest pattern. For example, in a typical running HIIT workout, you would sprint for a minute, walk for a minute, sprint for a minute, walk for a minute and continue that pattern for between 20-30 minutes. You can also incorporate the last trend (Body-Weight Based Exercises) into these HIIT workouts. Try doing lunges for 45 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds, then burpees for 45 seconds, etc. These workouts are a great way to burn a high amount of calories in a shorter amount of time.
#4: Group Classes
Many fitness enthusiasts prefer to work out in a group setting. With companies like PureBarre, Cyc, CrossFit and various yoga studios, like minded individuals are able to congregate and burn together. These classes generally are led by one or two instructors which help to keep participants motivated and may even encourage them to push themselves past what they would normally do.
#5: Circuit Training
Similar to HIIT routines, circuit training involves doing a set of exercises for a predetermined period of time followed by a shorter rest period. However, a circuit training session is usually comprised of 5-10 moves completed non-stop for 7-10 minutes, followed by a 1-2 minute rest. Many fitness instructors recommend doing the circuits 3-4 times for a total of 30-40 minutes of exercise.
