The Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2015 to Keep You Healthy
Fitness routines should be part of every healthy lifestyle. But with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Now, the American College of Sports Medicine has released its list of the top 20 fitness trends to look for in 2015.
These fitness trends are popping up at gyms and health clubs around the globe. If your workout routine is a bit on the stale side, give one of these a whirl to keep your health goals through 2015 and beyond.
Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2015
1. Body weight training. Letting your body serve as the weights in this training method became popular in 2013, and is getting another boon in 2015 as the top fitness trend. “Typical body weight training programs use minimal equipment, which makes it a very inexpensive way to exercise effectively. Most people think of body weight training as being limited to push-ups and pull-ups, but it can be much more than that,” says the ACSM.
2. High-intensity interval training (HIIT). Using short bursts of high-intensity exercise mixed with periods of rest can make for a quick workouts with impressive results. It was in the top spot on this list last year and is continuing to earn praise and fans worldwide.
3. Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals. When in doubt, don’t leave your fitness routine to yourself, get a professional to help you meet your goals. Whether it’s a trainer or taking a class, fitness professionals can help you keep your goals. “As the economy continues to grow and as the market for fitness professionals becomes even more crowded and more competitive, interest in some degree of regulation either from within the industry or from external sources (i.e., government) seems to be expanding,” says the ACSM, and that may mean better teachers and trainers to help keep your goals.
4. Strength training. This can include body weight (#1 on this list), resistance tubing, free weights and weight machines to achieve fitness goals.
5. Personal training. Those certified trainers (#3) can help you personalize your fitness goals. Results speak for themselves and it’s no surprise that personal trainers are trending.
6. Exercise and weight loss. Food plays a huge role in our fitness goals. Some programs are beginning to emphasize the connection. “The combination of exercise and diet is essential for weight loss maintenance and can improve compliance to caloric restriction diets and in particular weight loss programs,” says ACSM
7. Yoga. Yoga has been a top fitness trend for well over a decade. Whichever yoga style you choose, focus on the breath and mindfulness can help meet your fitness goals.
8. Fitness programs for older adults. Baby boomers aren’t babies anymore. Many are retired or are retiring soon and fitness programs that cater to the needs of this aging population are on trend.
9. Functional fitness. “Replicating actual physical activities someone might do as a function of his or her daily routine, functional fitness is defined as using strength training to improve balance, coordination, force, power, and endurance to enhance someone’s ability to perform activities of daily living,” says ACSM.
10. Group personal training. Smaller than a packed gym class, two to three students at once decreases the costs of personal trainers while avoiding the stress of overcrowded fitness classes.
11. Worksite health promotion. Get paid to exercise? Some employers are offering on site fitness programs. Even if you have to clock out for the session, having a fitness option at work will hopefully make you more inclined to do it.
12. Outdoor activities. Remember nature? It’s that place away from your computer and television and unlike gyms, doesn’t reek of sweaty socks. Whether it’s hiking, biking or snowboarding, taking fitness outdoors is always on trend.
13. Wellness coaching. “Wellness coaching integrates behavioral change science into health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation programs,” says ACSM. “Wellness coaching often uses a one-on-one approach similar to a personal trainer, with the coach providing support, guidance, and encouragement. The wellness coach focuses on the client’s values, needs, vision, and goals.”
14. Circuit training. Like HIIT (#2), circuit training often includes a group of 6 to 10 sequential exercises, but without the push-until-you-drop intensity of HIIT.
15. Core training. Think of fitness as spiraling out from your center and core training will make a lot more sense. Strengthening abdomen and back can lead to strength in the rest of the body. Common equipment includes exercise balls, BOSU balls, wobble boards, and foam rollers.
16. Sport-specific training. For the serious athletes, this training works on sports-related activities like kicking soccer balls or throwing basketballs.
17. Children and exercise for the treatment/prevention of obesity. “Childhood and adolescent obesity continues to be a major health issue in most developed and developing nations and is important because of its association with other medical issues such as diabetes and hypertension,” explains the ACSM. “As public school systems continue to face the challenge of cutting programs such as physical education and recess to spend more time preparing for standardized testing, programs for youth is a potential new market for commercial and community-based organizations.” And, it’s extremely important.
18. Outcome measurements. You may have your own Fitbit or another fitness measurement device. And don’t be surprised if your fitness instructors spew out similar details about your workout classes as quantifying fitness goals is becoming more popular.
19. Worker incentive programs. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the saying goes. And employers are getting in on this to help reduce healthcare costs.
20. Boot camp. And if all else fails, take yourself to boot camp and get a military style training that, at the very least, will scare some fitness into you.
Image: E'lisa Campbell
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