Spring into action with the latest fitness trends
Spring is officially upon us, which means working out will likely feel a lot easier – and you might be more motivated to get a sweat on and reap the benefits of moving your body.
If you just want something new to shake things up, these fitness trends are all set to be huge this spring...
HOP ON THE AIR BIKE
Maybe you’ve mastered the spin bike, or grown bored of your road bike so why not try an air bike? Pro athletes love them and it looks like more of us will be enjoying their benefits, particularly as you’ll increasingly see them in the gym.
Luke Baden, master trainer and functional fitness programming lead at Fiit (fiit.tv), loves the air bike for its efficiency. “On the air bike, you’ll be working almost every muscle in the body, creating a fullbody workout like no other. At any one time, one arm is pulling (back and bicep), one arm is pushing (chest and tricep) and each leg is driving the pedal (quads and glutes).”
It’s low-impact, meaning “you are less likely to suffer from repetitive strain injuries, such as shin splints from running”, Luke adds.
COMBAT TRAINING FOR WOMEN
Women enjoying boxing and other combat sports isn’t new but KOBOX (koboxboxingclub.com) trainer Aidan Swietochowski suggests it’ll explode in popularity this spring. KOBOX has seen a rise in women combat training: of 85,000 members, 75% are female – fans include model Jourdan Dunn and singer Cheryl.
For Aidan, the reason women will be flocking to boxing classes are numerous. “Boxing is a full-body exercise that is fantastic for your cardiovascular health,” he explains. Not only this, but more and more women are realising boxing “isn’t just about punching things”. Aidan continues: “It requires coordination, agility and strength to be the most effective boxer you can be.
“From hand-eye coordination to footwork, boxing makes you work out your brain while also working out your body.”
Plus, it’s the best way to relieve stress in a controlled environment.
PICKLEBALL TAKES OFF
David Lloyd Clubs (davidlloyd.co.uk) named pickleball as one of its top fitness trends for 2022.
After months of working out in a gym or your front room though, the brightening weather means more of us will be keen to get our endorphins out in the fresh air – which likely means pickleball will finally have its time in the sun.
A hybrid of tennis, badminton and pingpong, it can be played in singles or doubles, as players hit a perforated ball over a net. As there is less running about than tennis, David Lloyd suggests it’s accessible for more people – and you’ll still find it’s a great cardio workout, while testing hand-eye coordination.
PLUGGING IN TO WORKOUT
with you
Spring is the perfect time for an outdoor work out – the weather is bright and crisp, it’s warm enough to be comfortable, but not so hot that you overheat.
“For beginners, it can be hard to know where to start, and to maintain form exercising outside,” says Faisal Abdalla, former celebrity personal trainer and WithU (withutraining. com) fitness coach (£9.99 a month, or £79.99 for the year).
Step forward audio workouts – so you can take your trainer on the move with you, via headphones. “Audio fitness allows the coach to be in the user’s ear and guide them through their workout, while they immerse themselves in the great outdoors,” says Faisal.
As more of us head towards hybrid fitness routines – switching workouts from gym to home and outdoors – plugging in with an audio workout might be just the thing to get the best of both worlds this spring.
Prudence Wade