Fitness trends come and go, mainly influenced by Hollywood. The '80s brought jazzercise, the '90s brought aerobics. The 2000s brought us WiiFit, low-carb diets, and Sketchers Shape-ups. Taking a look back at past fitness trends might make you cringe, and I know what you’re saying — you’re writing an article about fitness trends, what makes these different? The difference is that these fitness trends are worth the hype.
HIIT workouts
Gone are the days of spending 45 minutes on the elliptical. High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is a workout that alternates between intense bursts of activity and periods of rest or less intense activity. It’s efficient (most HIIT workouts run between 15-30 minutes), burns more fat, increases your metabolism, and equipment isn’t a necessity. One of the most popular HIIT workouts that has swept Instagram is Kayla Itsines’ Bikini Body Guide (BBG). Speaking personally, this workout will kick your butt.
Barre
If you’ve ever wanted to achieve a lean and toned look while still building strength, I’ve got the answer for you — barre. Barre workouts are like Pilates on steroids, and even though it looks easy, it’s not. Barre workouts isolate specific muscles, and target several muscle groups at once. You’ll be sore in places you didn’t even know existed. Even though barre has its origins in dance, you don’t need any dance experience to participate in a class. Pure Barre is one of the most well-known barre fitness studios, but you can most likely find barre classes at your local pilates or yoga studio.
Wearable technology
Wearable technology, like Fitbits and Apple Watches, can help change the way you exercise. One of the most important parts of physical activity is your heart rate, especially when it comes to cardio. Not only can monitoring your heart rate let you know when you need to take a break, but it can give you a more accurate count of calories burned. If you’re on the market for a new fitness tracker, make sure you take into account water resistance (sweat), heart rate monitoring and other benefits like smart alarms and sleep monitors.
Rolling
If you’re not familiar with foam rolling, you might be intimidated. Before they made their way into the common Planet Fitness, I only saw foam rollers in the hands of athletes. However, rolling has trickled down and now you don’t have to be an Olympian to reap the benefits. Foam rolling can reduce muscle soreness and tightness, increase flexibility and prevent injuries. If you’ve never used a foam roller before, either have someone teach you or watch how-to videos on Netflix. If you don’t roll correctly, you can risk irritation or injury.