Fitness trends for 2018
The wearable tech market continues to grow and innovate, but tech itself is a downward fitness trend.
It was predicted to be 2017’s top trend, but in 2018 it is being shunted down the list.
In its place, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) predicts the top fitness trend is one guaranteed to get your heart racing: HIIT.
High-intensity interval training offers minimum time spent exercising for maximum health benefit. ‘‘I’m a fan of HIIT for a few reasons,’’ says Amelia Phillips, cofounder of Michelle Bridges’ 12-Week Body Transformation and Voome.
‘‘First, it’s so adaptable; any fitness level can do it and it works for most workout types.
‘‘Second, it’s one of the most time-efficient ways to train, which is perfect in this time-poor world. It means that a 20-minute session can get you great results. Third, it works. Many studies have shown that interval training such as HIIT gets you faster results than steadystate training.’’
Personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach Tim Pittorino predicts HIIT is no flashin-the-pan trend. He adds that the next top trend, group training, is a no-brainer as it is a mutually beneficial arrangement.
But there is a softer, more pragmatic side to the this year’s high-impact list. Fitness for older adults and functional fitness are welcome new entries in the top 10.
‘‘The benefits of exercise for over-50s are enormous, and can greatly improve quality of life as well as reducing the burden on a healthcare system,’’ says Phillips.
And we seem to care more about the quality of our everyday living, and how exercise may affect it.
Yoga once again climbed up the list, which Jacinta Mcdonell, one of the founders of Anytime Fitness, thinks reflects a shift in what people are seeking from their workouts.
‘‘I think people are looking for more mind and body, and a practice that does both,’’ says Mcdonell.
Founder of Flow Athletic Ben Lucas agrees, but thinks the style of yoga and the mentality is still changing. He is seeing more of a focus on recovery sessions including float tanks, cryotherapy, infrared saunas and stretch studio.
‘‘And instead of power yoga, it’s yin yoga, and instead of HIIT training it’s LISS training – lowintensity steady state. People are a bit fried and burnt out,’’ Lucas says. ‘‘It’s not a revolt to HIIT, but people are starting to do balance more – balance in their training, balance in their nutrition.’’
And perhaps it helps to explain the downswing in tech-based fitness and the upswing in other types. In this tech-heavy world working out gives us a chance to escape and reconnect.