Top 10 Fitness Trends For 2020
As 2019 comes to an end, many of us will want to start preparing for the upcoming year.
For the last 14 years, the American College of Sports Medicine has surveyed thousands of professionals around the world to determine health and fitness trends for the following year.
Here is their collection of the top 10 trends for 2020:
1. Wearable Technology
It should come as no surprise that wearable technology is the #1 predicted trend for 2020. It is estimated to be a $95 billion industry and has reigned as #1 since 2016 (only dropping to #3 in 2018). Wearable technology includes fitness trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors, and GPS tracking devices. These devices can track heart rate, calories, steps taken, sitting time, and more.
2. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
High-intensity interval training has been in the top 5 since it entered the charts at #1 in 2014. HIIT involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short period of rest.
This form of training has been a rising trend in gyms all over the world. HIIT is also said to boost brain health, reduce stress, improve body composition, and help prevent some chronic diseases.
3. Group Training
Group training is defined as having more than five participants. Instructors teach, lead, and motivate through intentionally designed larger group movement classes. It comes in a variety of fitness levels, types of classes, and equipment. Some examples include cardio workouts, indoor cycling, and dance-based classes.
Group training programs have existed for a long time and seems to be a growing trend worldwide. These classes are effective because it is extra motivating when there are others working out alongside you.
4. Training With Free Weights
Training classes with free weights, barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and medicine balls are specifically designed to begin by teaching proper form for each exercise and progressively increase the resistance once the correct form is accomplished. New exercises are then added in over time, starting at the form or movement level.
5. Personal Training
And coming in hot is our favorite top trend, personal training! We can’t help but be a little biased, but personal training continues to shine because it works. People with personal trainers see results.
Personal training can be described as one-on-one fitness testing and goal setting with a trainer who prescribes workouts specific to the client’s individual needs and goals. It continues to grow in popularity as people realize that going to the gym alone isn’t enough to reach their fitness goals. It helps to have an experienced professional point you in the right direction.
6. Exercise Is Medicine
Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is a global health initiative that encourages primary care physicians and other health-care providers to include physical activity assessment and relevant treatment recommendations as standard procedure, as well as to refer patients to fitness professionals.
7. Body Weight Training
Body weight training uses only your body to perform a combination of variable resistance training and movements involving multiple planes of movement. This means you don’t need a lot of equipment or membership to a gym to exercise effectively.
No wonder body weight training has been a major top trends contender since it hit the charts at #3 in 2013. It’s inexpensive and can be done anywhere, keeping it a popular and very appealing fitness trend.
8. Fitness Programs For Older Adults
People are living longer, working longer, and learning the importance of remaining active longer. In fact, a study found that people with the highest levels of fitness at 75 years of age were twice as likely to live 10+ years than their less active counterparts.
Our metabolism changes as we get older, causing us to gain weight and lose muscle more easily. Consistent exercise is increasingly important as we age in order to maintain a good level of health and fitness.
However, it is important to find not just any trainer, but one who is knowledgeable on the particular nuances and fitness needs of older adults. This will help you avoid injury or strain from overly intensive workouts. At Just You Fitness, we work with clients in a wide range of age groups, and are fully capable of tailoring your fitness plan to your age, level, and needs.
9. Health/Wellness Coaching
This growing trend focuses less on physical fitness and more on your mental, emotional, and overall healthy wellbeing. A health/wellness coach provides support, goal setting, and encouragement for their clients’ values, needs, vision, and goals using behavior change intervention strategies.
Wellness coaches can help you improve your mindset, form good habits, deal with stress, find balance, and make overall healthy lifestyle changes. If you struggle to make behavioral changes to improve your emotional wellbeing and lifestyle, a health/wellness coach may be beneficial to you.
10. Employing Certified Fitness Professionals
Debuting at #6 the previous year, the importance of hiring fitness professionals certified through accredited programs is still holding strong into 2020. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies has accredited increasingly more health and fitness certification programs in recent years.
Working with a certified fitness professional provides much better results and benefits than working out on your own. For example, video and online training programs are basic and one-size-fits-all. A personal trainer can customize exercises specifically to fit your needs, goals, fitness level, and physical limitations.