According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014, the Number 1 fitness trend this
year will be high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs, which typically take
fewer than 30 minutes to complete.
This spot was previously held since 2008 by “Educated,
certified and experienced fitness professionals.” More than 3,800 fitness
professionals completed an American College of Sports Medicine survey to
determine the top fitness trends for 2014. The survey results were released in
the “Now Trending: Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014”
article published in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health &
Fitness Journal®.According to ACSM and NewsMagazineNetwork.com, the top 10 fitness trends predicted for this year are:
#1: High-intensity
interval training. HIIT is an enhanced form of interval training,
an exercise strategy alternating periods of short, intense exercise with
less-intense recovery periods. These short, intense workouts provide improved
athletic capacity and condition, improved metabolism, and improved fat burning.
#2: Body weight
training. No gym equipment? No
problem. This includes push-ups, pull-ups, squats and other forms of resistance
training.
#3: Educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals. The Number 1 trend for the
previous six years involves working with experts who have been certified
through programs such as those accredited by the National Commission for
Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
#4: Strength
training. Strength training builds muscle strength using resistance
exercise with free weights, machines or a person’s own body weight.
#5: Exercise
and weight loss.
#6: Personal
training. According to the ACSM, health and fitness facilities are placing
increasing importance on hiring staff members with the education, training and
credentials to serve as personal trainers. The trend is mirrored by the growing
number of students who are majoring in kinesiology, the scientific study of
body movement and its impact on health, society and quality of life.
#7: Senior
fitness. New emphasis is being
placed on the mind/body connection of exercise for the booming Baby Boomer
population. Innovative machines like
bioDensity and Power Plate are helping people realize the need for improving
bone density and flexibility as one ages.
#8: Functional
fitness. This is a trend toward
using strength training to improve balance and ease of daily living such as
carrying groceries and walking longer distances. Functional fitness and special
fitness programs for older adults are closely related.
#9: Group
personal training. Exercise is always more fun with a friend! Fitness experts attribute the popularity of
this trend to challenging economic times. Trainers work with groups of two or
more clients, who generally pay less than they would for individual personal
training.
#10: Yoga.
Who couldn’t use a little more flexibility and relaxation? Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kripalu, Anurara,
Sivananda and various other styles of yoga utilize a series of bodily postures to
promote the mind/body connection.
Other fitness trends for 2014 include perennial favorites - treating
and preventing the growing childhood obesity epidemic, health promotion at your
place of work, adding outdoor activities to your fitness routine, circuit training,
wellness coaching, sport-specific training, worker incentive programs and boot
camps.
Although, in my opinion, a crucial future fitness trend is
missing – using state-of-the-art technology to increase health, wellness and
enthusiasm for creating a personalized exercise program. If you love technology like I love it, you
realize that the future of fitness is incorporating health tracking into every
facet of your life.
Check my blog in a few weeks to learn my take on the
evolution of fitness technology.
To learn how Fitness for Health can help you accomplish your
2014 fitness goals using ACSM’s fitness trends, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call
301-231-7138.
No comments:
Post a Comment