Fitness Trends in 2016

fitness, sport, training and lifestyle concept - woman doing exercises on mat in gymGetting in shape and getting healthy are some of the biggest New Year’s resolutions every year.  While these may mean different things to different people, we view these wonderful resolutions as making smart health and lifestyle choices including a balanced diet and regular exercise.  We believe you can be healthy at any size and the number on the scale or tag on your clothes doesn’t and shouldn’t dictate health.  So, we’re excited to be examining the top fitness trends in 2016 to help you get on the right path to your resolutions.

Each year the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) compiles a list of their fitness trend predictions for the coming year.  These are based on a survey from nearly 3,000 fitness instructors around the country.  We’re highlighting some of our favorite fitness trends today.

Wearable Fitness Trackers:  With the popularity of the fitbit and apple’s new fitness watch in 2015, wearable fitness trackers will continue to be a trend in 2016.  These devices record steps, movement, heart rate, calories burned and distance to help track physical exertion and progress.  Most link to an app or website with more in-depth data and many offer fitness programs to help you reach milestones and goals.

Body Weight Training:  Think strength training without the weights and you’ve arrived at body weight training.  Using your own body weight as resistance, you can achieve a full body workout with absolutely zero equipment needed.  This type of workout is ideal in our hectic lives when getting to and from the gym isn’t possible or we’re often traveling.  Using multiple variations of exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, planks and many more, you can challenge your body to work in multiple directions with tremendous results.

High Intensity Interval Training:  This is a heart-pumping workout that combines bursts of intense cardio moves with short periods of rest.  HIIT has been popular among athletes for many years and is now gaining traction for its extreme muscle-building and weight-loss potential.  Due to both aerobic and anaerobic intervals, you can continue burning fat and calories for up to 48 hours after a HIIT workout.  It also keeps your fitness routine more interesting by allowing for a variety of exercises in each session.

Functional Fitness:  The theory behind functional fitness is that exercise should mimic movements we do in our everyday lives.  After all, being more flexible, having stamina and maintaining endurance during regular activities is the most practical use of exercise.  It’s not every day we’ll run a marathon, but we probably have to move things, open doors, bend down and keep our balance every single day.  Functional fitness works to improve the muscles and skills that we’ll use in our daily lives to make us stronger and healthier.

Yoga:  Yoga is not a new trend but it has been on the most popular list for many years for a reason.  Yoga is fantastic for the body, mind and spirit.  It increases flexibility and mobility, is fairly easy to practice anywhere and continues to challenge you at any fitness level.  Yoga is fantastic for creating beautiful, long, lean muscles as well as strengthening the mind as you work through movements, patterns, balance and intensity.  Yoga can also be calming and offer time for meditation and rejuvenation.

Personal Training:  Working with a personal trainer is a great way to get started towards your fitness goals in 2016.  Certified trainers can help you learn which types of exercise will help you achieve your desired results and are appropriate for your age, interests and fitness level.  Group personal training is also growing in popularity and can help cut some of the cost of seeing a trainer.  Consider doing this with friends, your spouse or your entire family.

Other Fitness Trends:  Some of the other highlights in fitness trends for 2016 include wellness coaching and worksite health promotion, both designed as preventative healthcare programs to avoid and treat potential issues before they become major problems.  Outdoor fitness, sports-specific training and core training also made the list of the top 20 fitness trends in 2016.  Plus, senior physical fitness is a growing trend to help keep the older population active and healthy well into their golden years.

Cheers to your best health in 2016!

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