The last few decades have brought so many changes in the fitness industry. When VCRs became affordable, the first home exercise videos (thanks, Jane Fonda!) revolutionized the way people worked out. Aerobics even inspired fashion trends in the '80s. Fitness has become such a part of American culture that gym-based fitness programs like Zumba and Spinning are household names, even among people who have never set foot in a gym. The fitness industry is ever-evolving with new faces, concepts, and workouts. That's great news for exercisers who are interested in establishing a lifelong fitness habit—and those who are just getting started—because it allows you to explore countless options to find what really does work for you and keep you excited about exercising. Here are the workout trends I'm predicting you'll see more of in 2012. Dancing for Fitness People love music and they to dance! Not only is dancing fun (for most of us), but it's one of those enjoyable activities that doesn't feel like a "work" out—even though it can burn up to 700 calories an hour. Zumba classes are as popular as ever, and I don't expect our fascination with dance to die out any time soon. But look out Zumba: There are some new, hip kids in town ready to give you a run for your money. The industry is abuzz over the new dance fitness programs that are turning Zumba on its toes: Batuka, Drums Alive, Bokwa classes are popping up in gyms across the country and quickly gaining legions of followers thanks to their addictive soundtracks (produced by Grammy-award winning composers in some cases) and engaging choreography. Then you've got the always-popular dancing-hybrid workouts like Turbo Kick and her newer, cooler sister Turbo Fire, and others. With too many options to name here, all I can say is to have your dancing shoes ready next year. LEARN MORE: Barre Workouts In addition to getting our groove on, we love to watch people dance, too. Hit shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" and other talent-based competitions featuring amazing dance performances continue to entertain us. They also prove another thing: Dancers have killer bodies. So in addition to cardio dance workouts, I predict a heightened interest in workouts designed to help everyday people achieve a dancer-like physique including barre, ballet and Pilates fusion workouts. Once only patronized by the wealthy and famous, barre workout studios and classes are popping up everywhere these days, as are barre workout DVDs you can do at home: Tracey Mallet's "The Booty Barre" (love it), Physique 57, Pure Barre and Xtend Barre classes are expanding across the country—and they're all available on DVD, too. I'm a big fan of these workouts because they're fun and super challenging. They're a nice change of pace from traditional strength training that can also help you achieve results and build strength and flexibility. LEARN MORE:
We're going to see a surge in home-based exercise options because that is where most people plan to work out in 2012. A recent survey of members of the web's most popular weight-loss and fitness website (SparkPeople.com) found that 68% of respondents plan to do more home workouts than last year (less than 6% said they never exercise at home). Why? The answer is three-fold: First, in a recessed economy people are cutting back on extra expenses like personal training sessions and pricey gym memberships. Second, people are busier and more stressed than ever, and it's far easier to squeeze in workouts on your own time—and on your own turf—than it is to waste time commuting to and from a gym. And third, the variety of affordable and effective home workout options is better than it's ever been. People are realizing that they can get great results by investing just a little money in multitasking equipment or a few fun workout DVDs to keep things fresh. We're seeing DVDs and more multi-disc DVD "packages" (think P90X, Supreme 90 Day and even Zumba Exhilarate) offer all the variety you get from a gym for a fraction of the cost of a gym membership. Expect even more variety, choices and price ranges in home workout gear next year. LEARN MORE:
Not every layperson knows what "functional fitness" really means, but they can probably tell you why kettlebells and medicine balls offer such great workouts, or why balance training is important. Many of the most popular fitness programs of the past year involve multi-joint, full-body exercises that not only provide a better workout in less time, but also help build a strong, fit and capable body. Functional training will be even more important as people begin to look to fitness to prevent or help manage the back problems, mobility issues and injuries that are plaguing modern society. But they also appeal because they offer such great workouts. You might not always hear the term "functional training" associated with the workouts themselves, but you will see more kettlebells, full-body exercises and multi-joint moves at gyms and on home fitness DVDs. LEARN MORE:
There will always be a new exercise machine or gizmo that promises amazing results in just minutes a day. But I’m seeing a trend away from complex machines and fitness inventions and back to the basics that people know really work. It seems like more people are running and entering races than ever before thanks to motivational gear, best-selling books on the topic, and an increase in fun and interesting race options are making it more accessible than ever. Couple that with the fact that running provides a great workout for just the cost of a pair of shoes, can be done almost anywhere (year-round), and helps people achieve amazing goals (and weight loss results), and you've got a trend that is here to stay. Next year, look for more wacky races (think Warrior Dash, "mud" runs, urbanathlons, Krispy Kreme Challenge and yes, even naked and underwear races), too. Although shoe manufacturers and marketers are going to continue to play off the barefoot running trend, don't expect your neighbor to sport webbed-toe shoes any time soon. Most of the people dabbling in barefoot running and minimalist shoes are hardcore exercise enthusiasts and long-time runners—not casual joggers: Less than 10% of SparkPeople.com survey respondents think barefoot running or minimalist shoes will be part of their routine next year, even though about 90% plan to walk and/or run. LEARN MORE:
Americans are embracing technology as a way to get fit, keep their workouts fresh, track their progress, and get fitness ideas for little to no cost. You'll find no shortage of free and low-cost fitness apps for your Smartphone or iPad these days, and even though we may no longer think of it as "technology" the web continues to be a source of reliable information, workout videos and demonstrations, tracking tools and more. Consumers used to only be able to get this kind of information from a gym or by talking in-person with a certified fitness professional, but thanks to the web and other portable technologies, answers, tips, support and tools are at our fingertips and in the palms of our hands wherever we go. This accessibility is a wonderful thing, but we still need to use it to benefit from it. If working out with your phone or computer isn't for you, other technological products like the Fitbit, Nike Plus, and Garmin Forerunner (among others) are also fun and inexpensive gadgets that let you track your workouts and measure your fitness. And new store concepts, like "Health Technology" departments opening up at Best Buys across the country are responding to these product trends. They're among the only retail stores where you can see, test, compare and purchase these cool gadgets from one place. LEARN MORE: Short Workouts 5-, 10-, and 15-minute workouts will be increasingly popular in 2012. Exercise DVDs continue to include short routines that people can mix and match and follow based on how much time they have available. Gone are the days that working out meant an all-or-nothing hour at a gym. People are learning that short workouts are just as beneficial, and are often easier to fit into their days. 74% of SparkPeople.com survey respondents plan to do at least some 10-minute workouts next year, and more than half say they plan to do more short workouts than they did last year. LEARN MORE:
My final prediction for 2012 fitness trends may be the most fun. So maybe you don't like to dance, run, walk or use a fitness app or gizmo. That doesn't mean there is a shortage of workouts available to you. We are expanding what we think of as fitness, and novelty workout offer something for everyone. I expect to see more hula hooping, pole dancing (and strip teasing), roller skating, rebounding (also called "trampolining"), acrobatics (including suspended or "hanging" yoga/dance and circus arts) in the next year. And why not? Traditional fitness isn't for everyone, but there are countless ways to get your body moving in fun and beneficial ways. These may be niche workouts with smaller followings, but they are more accessible and available than ever before—and they are getting people active, which I think we can all agree is a good thing. What are your thoughts on these fitness trends? What do you expect (or hope) to see more of in 2012? |
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