Back in December, we took a look at some of the trends we were confident would take off in 2015. Now that we’re almost half way through—yes, really—we want to check in on your resolutions and make sure you’re also keeping your clients’ routines fresh and effective for the spring and summer seasons. And if you were off to a great start this year, but you have fallen into a fitness rut, don’t worry. It happens to everyone. We have just the thing to bring a little excitement back to each workout.
Five new fitness trends that are having a moment
Smartwatches and wearable technology
We rely on technology for just about everything these days, so why not use it to track our health and fitness progress? Look into the advantages of purchasing an activity tracker, such as a Fitbit or the Nike+ FuelBand. These trackers can sync up with your smartphone to track your sleep, count the calories you consume, track the steps you take and even inform you of how many more you need to take before the days end.
Activity trackers can also serve as motivational tools for your clients. With the ability to track progress down to a science, they can see just how far—or close—they are to achieving their short- and long-term goals.
Condensed sessions
Finding the time to add a workout to your already busy schedule is often much easier said than done. But what if you didn’t have to squeeze in a super long workout each day to reap the health benefits? According to an article in The New York Times, you don’t necessarily have to. “Multiple, brief, snack-sized portions of exercise may control blood sugar better than a single, continuous workout, according to new research that adds to a growing body of evidence about the wisdom of spreading exercise throughout the day.”
You and your clients don’t have to dedicate an hour to the treadmill to drop a size or two. In fact, condensed sessions—we’re talking 30 minutes—may have more of an impact than jogging for an hour. “When comparing jogging with HIIT, the largest difference lies in the amount of fat burned,” writes Jackson Arnold of LIVESTRONG. “After jogging, the amount of calories that the body burns above resting levels is negligible.” So instead of worrying about hitting the treadmill or elliptical, try incorporating HIIT or another condensed, yet intense, circuit workout into your program.
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Boutique fitness classes
Boutique fitness studios are vastly becoming the new happy hour. According to Dorene Internicola of Reuters: “Boutique studios that offer a more personal approach to fitness and a softer ambience than big box gyms are a growing part of the $22.4 billion U.S. industry.” Internicola is referring to the likes of ModelFIT, a New York boutique studio that sculpts Victoria’s Secret models, Taylor Swift and those with other famous, sought-after bodies.
“The fitness routines and exercises at [ModelFIT] target small muscles that go unnoticed and unused,” writes Internicola. “Workouts typically employ tools such as bodyweight, medicine balls, Pilates discs, and circuit training.” While ModelFIT, SoulCycle and other popular studios charge anywhere from $30 to $40+ per class, there’s no denying that a session is an investment.
With a mix of popular toning techniques, however, it’s certainly worth trying out. And if the price seems too steep, look for ways you can incorporate popular exercise movements into your own routine.
Group personal training
Personal-training is a tried and true concept. Group training, however is gaining momentum in the trend space. This trend can be especially beneficial to new trainers. If you’re new to the health and fitness industry market, then you’re also likely on the look our for a solid client base. Thus, if you market yourself as a group trainer, you’ll attract clients who may be hesitant to pay for a personal trainer but still want to achieve their goals. As a group trainer you can give multiple clients the same attention that they would get in a solo session for a more affordable rate.
Back to the basics
Squats, lunges, sit ups and other forms of body-weight exercises are definitely not new to the scene, but they continue to be just as effective as the day we performed them for the first time. The most appealing aspect of this type of training is that it can be performed anywhere, anytime and for little to no cost. So when your clients are short on time, or they need a workout to perform on your off days, encourage them to perform a sequence of movements in the comfort of their own homes.
Have any other trends you’re excited to see in 2015? Share with us in a comment below!
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