New exercises and fitness crazes are popping up all the time. If you’d like to change things up to prevent boredom and get in the best shape of your life, you might want to try some of the latest activities that are predicted to be hot in 2015.
Body weight training
This new/old exercise involves getting back to the basics. Of course, it’s been around for years, but according to a survey by the American College of Sports Medicine of over 3,000 fitness professionals across the globe, body weight training is expected to be the “next big thing.” It simply means using your own bodyweight as resistance to movement – look for things like planks, squats, lunges and pushups to be incorporated into group and personal training.
Body weight training first entered the top 20 list in fitness trends two years ago, but it’s the number one pick for 2015. It doesn’t require any equipment and can be done at home, making it accessible to anyone.
Treadmill classes
Treadmill classes are a new workout that’s “essentially boot camp on a treadmill.” The classes combine high-intensity intervals and incline training with floor work like squats, lunges and kettle bells. They burn a ton of calories while ensuring that there’s no slacking off. A New York City fitness studio, Mile High Run Club, is one of the first to feature the treadmill classes, following on the heels of the spin craze and classes like SoulCycle. Expect to see more popping up across the nation in 2015.
High-intensity interval training
HIIT may have hit its peak in 2013, but if you haven’t tried it yet, this exercise is definitely one to add to your must-experience list. It alternates intense bursts of exercise with short, sometimes active, recovery periods, and is extremely effective. It allows exercisers to get outstanding results in shorter bursts of time, blasting fat in as little as 15 to 20 minutes.
Hot barre
Hot barre, similar to hot yoga, involves classic ballet moves in a room heated to 92 degrees, mixing serious cardio like ballet-inspired jumps and hand weights to the typical barre workout. Fans of this exercise say it gives you a much deeper stretch in addition to helping with releasing toxins.
Aerial yoga
Aerial yoga is a new type of yoga that uses a fabric hammock, or yoga swing, instead of performing exercises on the floor. Traditional poses are done in a piece of silk cloth which is suspended from the ceiling as an aid. It’s been described as a “fun fusion of yoga and aerial arts,” and offers a number of benefits including helping to strengthen the core, stretch tight muscles and help relieve achy joints.
Restorative exercise
Many people focus on doing the most intense exercise possible, but too much can lead to injury, which is why recovery/restorative exercise is becoming a popular trend. David Reavy,PT, owner of React Physical Therapy and creator of the Reavy Method, tells Health.com, “a balanced body is key, which means all of your muscles are working correctly, not just some of them.
Weak muscles will fatigue quickly, and you over train muscles that are already strong. The compensation and overuse of muscles and not the work brings the need for recovery.”
Carol Espel, Senior Director of Group Fitness and Pilates at Equinox explains, “we will continue to see the rapid expansion of group formats that include self-care protocols for self myofascial release (SMR), such as foam rolling and therapy balls, core strengthening and dynamic stretching, full recovery days and clear focus on sleep as an integral part of one’s fitness regimen.” Espel adds, “of course restorative yoga formats will continue to become a much more prevalent part of programming.”
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/news-releases/2014/10/24/survey-predicts-top-20-fitness-trends-for-2015
http://news.health.com/2014/12/01/5-fitness-trends-to-try-in-2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/nyregion/new-treadmill-studios-aim-to-be-soulcycles-successor.html?_r=0
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2014/04/29/fit-trend-hot-barre
http://www.defygravityyoga.com/faqs
