As technology
and scientific study begin to have a larger role in the fitness world, we’re
sure to see fitness trends develop at a faster pace than ever before.
Scientists, doctors, and trainers are able to harness the power of research to
develop fitness routines that continue to challenge the body in new ways so
that you can get the most out of your workout session. Here are five of the top
fitness programs that are trending in 2018.
Functional
Training
Functional
training puts an emphasis on completing an exercise with perfect form, rather
than cranking out the most reps or using the highest possible weight.
Functional training is a style of exercise with a practical end: it aims to
increase strength and overall health, but by completing movements with
precision and care, it also aims to improve your performance of daily
activities.
Think about
all the ways you use your body over the course of the day: carrying your child
to bed, lifting heavy bags of groceries into the trunk of your car, mowing your
lawn. Functional training might occur in the gym, but it will help you stay
strong and injury-free during your daily life.
High
Intensity Interval Training
High
intensity interval training, or HIIT, to those in the know, has been popular
for a few years now. What’s new for 2018? Group workouts that put an emphasis
on HIIT, as well as shorter workouts—30 minutes or less—that really get your
heart pounding and the sweat pouring. The premise of every HIIT workout is the
same, though in practice they can be varied: a short sprint or all-out effort,
followed by a shorter recovery period.
Be on the
lookout for group classes in that put this principle to work in everything from
classic cardio like running and cycling to newer, weight lifting and bodyweight
classes like tabata and MetCon. Our tip: opt for women and men’s fitness apparel that helps you keep
cool and wicks sweat while you put your body through the ringer.
Martial
Arts-Inspired Classes and Gyms
Whether it
can be attributed to a resurgence of America’s long-standing love of karate or
the more recent popularity of MMA, martial-arts inspired classes are popping up
at gyms all over the country and providing a new way to get your sweat on.
Whether you choose a martial arts class at a specialized gym or start
incorporating a kickboxing course into your routine, you’ll likely love the
adrenaline-pumping, full-body challenge that comes with mastering these workouts.
Yoga, In All
of Its Many Forms
Yoga is
growing in popularity as access to classes increases, with a multitude of
classes available on the internet, at community centers, and in gyms all over
the world. While the most popular style of yoga for Western practitioners is
vinyasa, increased knowledge about other styles and branches of yoga means that
there’s always a new way to practice, particularly in 2018.
It seems like
you hear about a new form of yoga every day: from aerial yoga to yoga with your
dog, this is one fitness trend that is not struggling to adapt and grow. Most
forms of yoga are wonderful for stress relief, flexibility, strength building,
and balance and has been adopted by everyone from professional golfers to NBA stars,
so we doubt that this one is going anywhere anytime soon.
Group
Exercise Gets Hip
When you hear
the term group exercise, you might be tempted to think of your mother’s
aerobics step class circa 1991, but step into any group training room and you’d
be surprised by how dynamic, challenging, and fun a group class can be in 2018.
Led by experienced trainers, group fitness has started to incorporate all sorts
of disciplines from other sports.
There are
group sessions that involve rowing machines, classes that take their cues from
the best CrossFit WODs
involving sandbags and ropes, and classes that focus on combinations of serious
cardio and muscle-building bodyweight exercises for the ultimate burn.
Technology makes these classes even more fun, with video screens, world-class
sound systems, and the latest equipment so you’re sure to feel motivated while
you get your sweat on.
Author Bio:
Jordan Bannon
is a freelance writer specializing in health and fitness. As an advocate for
clean, healthy and balanced lifestyles, he writes about developments in health
and wellness, along with natural skincare and beauty products.
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