Lately, we’re seeing fitness routines meant to motivate, heal the mind, body and soul while requiring little to no equipment. Whether you prefer at-home exercise with simple equipment or the aid of machines in a gym, these fitness trends are right down your alley. If you’re looking for a new exercise routine or want to start one, check out these five hot fitness trends.
High-Intensity Interval Training
Like cross-fit or boxing, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alternates between short, intense bursts and periods of low-intensity moves. These workouts can be completed in less than 30 minutes. HIIT routines burn calories fast and have been gaining popularity across the nation, especially in group training form.
Group Personal Training
If you need motivation to exercise, group personal training is an amazing option. Having a personal trainer leading the class is a wise option since they can provide better insight on various fitness routines and more motivation for the group. Look into Zumba classes, yoga, boxing, cross-fitness and even outdoor training. You can gather a group of friends or use this as an opportunity to socialize and meet new people.
Functional Fitness
For those with business schedules, from the unpaid intern working long hours to the super-involved soccer mom and the busy business executive, functional training is a smart option. It’s an economical and time-saving option for people on the run or on a budget. Exercise moves can be done anywhere and anytime.
Lunges while brushing your teeth, calf raises while washing dishes or pushups at the office are just a few of the creative ways to integrate fitness into your daily life. Functional fitness makes everyday activities easier. Better overall strength, leanness and health lessens long days and tiring activities.
Strength/Weight Training
If you’ve seen people flocking to the weights in your gym, it’s because strength training is a big focus for the average gym-goer. This type of controlled training can be added to most workouts to maintain or improve body strength (never miss leg day, right?). Also, it’s not just the guys jumping on this trend. Women are looking to tone just as much as men to reap the full benefits of improved muscle definition and health.
Yoga and Tai Chi
For older people who require fitness routines that provide little to no stress on the joints, yoga and tai chi are awesome alternatives. These exercises are known to provide an improved well-being. Both offer various styles.
For yoga, you can choose from suspended yoga, power yoga, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and the most common Hatha yoga. There are plenty more to pick from depending on what you want to get out of the practice. In tai chi, there are four styles: Yang, Wu, Hao and Chen. Both are low to moderate exercises that provide physical and mental benefits like:
- Improved balance and flexibility
- Better circulation
- Increased muscle strength
- Boosted mental focus
- Reduced stress
