The Hottest Fitness Trends

Step into 2017, and health and wellness trends are bigger than ever. People are reaching for their berry and flax seed smoothie over the quick-grab-what-you-can-find in your pantry, or the extremely convenient drive-through on the way home from work. Especially with the younger generation, people are paying more attention to what they are putting in their bodies and are trying to find the best ways to stay healthy. Everyone seems to be jumping on the health bandwagon and you can see it in the abundance of new fitness activities and health supplements that have hit the scene. Fitbits, HIIT training, CrossFit, and even sleeping(!) are all the rage right now.

Even medicine is going natural. The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association co-launched a global movement called Exercise is Medicine. This movement aims to connect healthcare providers with exercise professionals to ensure that physical activity is incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan. Their vision is to make sure that all patients are meeting the recommended amount of daily exercise and to help encourage those to meet these guidelines if they are not.

More and more people are also turning to health supplements over prescription medication to help them deal with a range of health concerns. Natural is the focus here. There is no point taking a health product if it is completely filled with chemicals and unsafe ingredients. From weight loss, to gout, to hemorrhoids, supplements have you covered. Reviews are plentiful online to help you choose (you can read one such HemClear review here). Just remember, natural is key!

Read on below to see some of the hottest ways people are keeping healthy.

#1 HIIT Training

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of working out aimed at burning calories fast. It incorporates alternating quick bursts of high intensity exercise with short periods of rest. For example, you could do 30 seconds of jumping jacks, followed by 10 seconds of rest and then 30 seconds of mountain climbers. This form of workout can be incorporated into different types of exercise such as Pilates and water exercise.

#2 Pole Dancing

Combining dance, acrobatics, and a pole, this art form is no longer only for the gentlemen’s clubs. It has gained a lot of popularity as a form of fitness and there are a lot of studios dedicated to this workout form. You may even find your local gym offering classes. This is an incredible full-body workout that incorporates skill, strength, flexibility, and creativity.

#3 Barre Workout 

This new trend uses a combination of positions that have been inspired by ballet, yoga, and Pilates. The barre is used for support while you focus on certain strength-training exercises focusing on specific sets of muscles at a time. This is fantastic for strengthening your core as it will be engaged the entire workout. Barre workouts are beneficial for improving posture, toning muscle, weight loss, increased flexibility and stress relief.

#4 Hot Pilates

We’ve all heard of Bikram yoga, now you can also sweat it out during your Pilates class. This low impact workout is an amazing way to strengthen your muscles and burn fat. It is different to your usual Pilates class as it is performed in a slightly heated room, usually with some energetic music.

#5 Napercise

Now this is a workout class that most people can get onboard with! Taking a much needed nap. The class takes place in a studio filled with beds, heated to an ideal temperature. The group class is 45-minutes long and is designed to reinvigorate exhausted parents and stressed out professionals.

Exercise (and sleep) is important for our health and warding off serious disease and the health industry seems to be evolving in a positive direction. There are now more options for staying fit to suit a range of needs. No longer are group workout classes solely focusing on abs, bum, and thighs. The number of ways to workout has grown. The number of health products and supplements on the market have grown. Going natural and keeping healthy is the positive direction society is heading in.