The year is barely three months in, but already the craze in exercise trends is developing a pace. Admittedly, I’ve taken part in none of them, although I have considered one or two. That counts right? What about you? Are you willing to try?
Here we present our Top 5 Exercise Trends for 2016 – they are not in strict order, they are simply the trends that we favour selected from The Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2016.
Exercise Trends: Nº1 – The Tech Obsession
So it seems one of the biggest exercise trends of 2016 is wearable technology that helps us track our workout progress. From fitness trackers to smart watches, heart-rate monitors and GPS trackers, getting immediate feedback seems to be the latest trend. There’s nothing wrong with it of course, especially if that’s a big motivator to get out there and burn some calories, however, many fitness trainers despise the concept.
Personal trainer Matt Kelly shares: “Modern life is full of enough distractions, focus on your training and be in the moment while you’re in the gym; it’s good for your mind as much as your body. If you want to monitor your progress, get a training log, a pen and leave your phone in your bag when you train.”
It will be fascinating to watch wearable technology during the next year to see if it is truly a trend or just a passing fad.
Exercise Trends: Nº2 – All You Need Is You
One of the simplest exercise trends to come to the forefront of the fitness world is the obvious concept of not needing anything else but yourself (and motivation). Simplify to enjoy! The time has come where people are just fed up with all the bulky equipment and expensive gear needed to participate in certain training. That’s where own-body strength training or “body-weight” training comes in. For men and women equally, now more than ever before, strength has become the main focus of a workout session, as opposed to aesthetic goals.
This workout method uses what’s called compound exercises, which is any exercise that involves the use of more than one major muscle group at a time. Typically, there is one larger muscle group that ends up doing the majority of the work, and then one or more smaller muscle groups that are recruited secondarily. Think of push-ups, pull-ups, squats and lunges, the classical go-to moves in a body weight training session.
Why are people loving this form of workout above others? Well, it’s cheap and convenient, can be done in groups or on your own, and is an excellent way of keeping fit, lean, strong and healthy. 2016 is all about independence, body positivity and overall strength. Strong is fast becoming the new sexy.
Exercise Trends: Nº3 – Foam Rolling
Being a massage therapist, I have to applaud any activity that encourages myofascial release (the connective tissue which surrounds the muscle.) Not only does it feel fantastic, but it’s also necessary to release muscle tension in order for muscles to recover and regain their elastic state. Foam rolling is no longer thought of as a technique reserved for high-performance sportsmen, professional athletes, therapists offices and coaches. You can now get affordable foam rollers and step-by-step instructions free of charge, making the self-myofascial release movement a practical one to follow.
I’ll take any chance I can get to receive a good massage, and contemporary self-work methods provide you with a gentle workout and in-depth massage simultaneously. By applying pressure to specific points on your body, you can activate trigger points, smooth out knotted areas of muscle and reduce painful tension. All of which aids in the recovery of overworked muscles. The cool thing is you can do this all by yourself with some foam and a matt. It’s also cheaper than going for a professional massage, and you can have your own session anytime you feel like it.
Exercise Trends: Nº4 – High-intensity interval training
This was the Nº1 trend in 2015 and still continues to dominate the fitness world. High-intensity interval training normally involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short period of rest or recovery and typically takes less between 4-30 minutes to perform. A common formula involves a 2:1 ratio of work to recovery periods, for example, 30–40 seconds of hard sprinting alternated with 15–20 seconds of jogging or walking. As the entire session only lasts between 4 and 30 minutes it’s an excellent way to maximize a workout that is limited on time.
This is a trend to take care with though. There have been many warnings of the high injury rates from personal trainers and fitness professionals. However, warnings aside, the method must work really well as it continues to be hugely popular in gyms all over the world. If you’re worried about injury or over-stressing the body just replace high-intensity with moderate-intensity.
Exercise Trends: Nº5 – Yoga
Definitely not a new fad, but certainly a major trending theme of the 2016 wellness buzz. Yoga is by far one of the most beneficial exercises any person can partake in. It treats the body, the mind and the soul, making it a truly holistic practice. It’s one of the more simpler activities, requiring simply enough space, a comfortable floor and some set-aside time. Though this activity is renowned for it’s peacefulness, don’t be fooled. It can soon work you into a sweat and leave you with that sought-after post-workout feeling.
Sources: Irish Times, A Workout Routine, Breaking Muscle, Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal
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