MUSCLE MEMORIES
We look at 10 years of gym trends — the good, bad and ugly of attempting to get healthy
Fitness is a true sign of the times. Remember when Tae Bo and neon spandex took gyms by storm in the ’90s? The last decade featured its own share of fitness trends that will surely stand out in our memories as time goes by, no matter how much they might make us cringe years later. Here are the top fitness trends from the last 10 years:
CROSSFIT
Bench presses, squats and deadlifts simply aren’t for everyone. Crossfit’s emphasis on “functional movements,” which use motions that come naturally to humans means there is a lot more jumping and body weight exercise instead of strictly using weights. The group sessions are a great incentive to get active a few times a week and the sense of camaraderie can’t be beat.
FIT TECH
With the launch of Fitbit in 2009 and the Apple Watch in 2015, wearable heart rate monitors that are sleek enough to fit discreetly under a shirt cuff started popping up on everyone’s wrist. These mini wrist-computers track your heart rate, calories burned, steps, stairs and can even follow the different stages of sleep.
HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)
Thirty seconds of sprinting as hard as you can are followed by 15 seconds of walking. Repeat this for as little as five minutes and you’re sure to feel the burn. This style of training, usually referred to as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), has a number of health benefits including decreases in stress, inflammation and insulin sensitivity, according to a 2015 study in Sports Medicine.
TOUGH MUDDER
When regular obstacle courses aren’t cutting it anymore, add mud. That’s the basic idea behind the Tough Mudder competition.
Hundreds of fitness-minded individuals — usually in teams — will trek through a kilometres-long course that will have participants rope climbing, crawling under wires, plunging into ice cold water and jumping over walls as they race to the finish. The feeling of accomplishment and pride after completing the course is only surpassed by the sense of relief that it’s over.
INFLUENCERS
All over Instagram there are photos of people in gyms taking selfies before, during and after their workout, usually captioned with an inspirational message. These are the fresh new faces of the fitness industry and they rack up millions of followers. Steve Cook and Emily Skye are among those who’ve used the platform to get sponsorship deals from fitness brands such as Gymshark and Reebok.
NOVELTY YOGA
Exercising on its own isn’t enough for some people. Hot yoga remains popular for its aid in stretching, and the addition of alcohol by way of beer yoga and wine yoga introduced another incentive to get people to class. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Now yoga classes featuring all manner of wildlife including goats, puppies and flamingos are becoming more common. The furry and feathered friends jump, play and interact with you while you try to hold your pose. It’s said to be relaxing and helps reduce stress.
ONLINE COACHING
There’s no need for a personal trainer anymore since we all live on the internet anyway. Online coaches now sell personalized workout plans and consult with their clients over Skype or Facetime. You can adjust the plans to fit your own strengths and there isn’t anyone yelling in your ear while you’re going on your fifth set of deep squats. But the only person who you can hold accountable for results is you.
KETO DIET
Low carb, high fat eating is said to help guard against diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s, according to Health Line. The general rule is to avoid any processed grains. Other than that you’re free to eat red meat, cheese, butter and healthy oils.
INTERMITTENT FASTING
This method of dieting isn’t really a diet at all. Instead, allow yourself a set number of hours where you can eat and then fast for the rest of the day. The most common version of the practice involves having eight hours to eat everything for the day and 16 hours where you don’t snack, or eat, at all. Studies have shown minor effects on pain and mood disorders in those who fast, according to the Human Nutrition and Dietetics journal, as well as Psychiatry Research.
ATHLEISURE
Didn’t change after a workout but you’ve got errands to run? That’s not lazy — you’re wearing athleisure gear now! Leggings and joggers, previously only seen in gyms and yoga studios, are now among the most common articles of clothing you can find on the sidewalk, no matter the time of year. You can look athletic without ever stepping foot in a gym.