Fitness Trends to Look for in 2016

There are innumerable ways to work out, but just as with fashion; fitness also follows trends. Workouts that were all the rage in recent years, such as Zumba and Pilates, have lost some steam while others are coming into the limelight. If you’re tired of the same old workout and need a change, the new year brings the perfect opportunity to experiment. So what are the hot new fitness trends you can expect to see in the upcoming year?

High intensity interval training + body weight workouts:

You can expect high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, to be one of the hottest workouts of the year. HIIT stays popular because of its huge metabolic effects, the high number of calories it burns, and the spectacular results many exercisers who try it experience. Think bursts of high intensity calorie burning exercise, with mini breaks in between- allowing maximum benefits in shorter time periods. A word of caution- there are higher rates of injury + overtraining effects for this type of exercise if you aren’t already fit. Take things at your own pace.

The other top workout is the body weight workout. Just as effective as HIIT, body weight workouts feature squats, planks, push-ups and more to get exercisers into shape without requiring them to spend money on equipment.

Exercise technology:

Wearable technology is another chart topper. Fitness trackers allow you to track things like your steps, mileage, speed, heart rate, route, and much more – all hands-free. People are also increasingly taking part in online workouts because they offer the motivation and instruction of a personal trainer without the hassle of heading to the gym every day.

Post workout:

Recovery classes are also gaining in popularity. These classes use tools such as the foam roller to help the muscles bounce back, correct muscular tightness that affects posture, and relieve tension.

All ages:

Finally, fitness classes for people 50 and over are predicted to be a huge 2016 trend. This one really should come as no surprise since there are 77 million baby boomers, and preventative health care (such as diet and fitness) is far preferable to reactive health care.

None of this is to say that other workouts, such as Zumba, Pilates, and indoor cycling, are any less effective or fun – but they are expected to be edged out by the above choices when it comes to popularity. There are so many fun and challenging ways to exercise these days – why not see if there’s something on the list you haven’t tried yet and might enjoy in 2016?