The fitness trends of 2016 are as varied as the people who will be practising them, but if you were to distil them down into two words, they would be “strong” and “personalised”.
Growing year on year is a movement that turns away from using exercise superficially, for example to lose weight quickly or gain a six-pack, and, instead, towards building real body strength. A popular way of doing this will be while making use of wearable technology that understands your lifestyle and measures how you, as an individual, train.
Many of us start the new year with the best of intentions but quickly realise that there are far more exciting things we could be doing with our time then endlessly pounding a treadmill. But the fitness trends of 2016 will see you exercising the way you want to, ensuring that you are looking after your body and your soul, and that you are having fun while doing it.
The following list is by no means exhaustive; instead it provides an insight into the fitness products and programmes you are likely to be hearing about this year. It combines the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2016, with what we know is happening in Ireland today, from trainers, gym goers, gurus and fitness professionals.
1. Wearable technology
You don’t have to break a sweat to take part in the biggest fitness trend of 2016, in fact, you don’t have to even enter a gym because the biggest trend will be found on your wrist as wearable technology. According to the ACSM, the wearable technology market – which includes fitness trackers, smart watches, heart-rate monitors and GPS tracking devices – will approach €5 billion by 2016.
“Tech devices are now central to our daily lives and have changed the way we plan and manage our workouts,” says the study’s lead author, Walter Thompson. “Wearable devices also provide immediate feedback that can make the wearer more aware of their level of activity and can motivate the user to achieve their fitness goals.”
However, not everyone is keen on motivation technology. "Get a training log, a pen and leave your phone in your bag when you train," says personal trainer Matt Kelly. "Modern life is full of enough distractions, focus on your training and be in the moment while you're in the gym; it's good for your mind as much as your body."
2. Body weight training and strength training
With strength being a major theme for 2016, number two on our list looks at two ways of building it. Compound exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups, squats and lunges all feature in body weight training and strength training, and are extremely effective methods of building muscle.
Using your own body weight as a tool to workout continues to be one of the most straightforward and cheap ways to maintain fitness, and the addition of resistance and weights will challenge those who want to go a little further. The continued popularity of these forms of training means for 2016 at least, strong is (still) the new sexy.
3. High-intensity interval training
If you want a short, sharp shock of exercise Hiit is where it’s at. This amped-up form of cardio alternates short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. With participants knowing a break is coming, they are more likely to push themselves. A word of warning however, Hiit training has a high level of injuries and participants should ensure they fully understand all movements before taking part.
Yoga teacher Kitty Maguire recommends trying a small class or one-to-one training if you're a complete beginner. "Ask lots of questions so you really understand exactly what you are telling your body to do. Like any physical movement or exercise, safe and correct technique is really important to avoid injuries," she stresses.
4. Crossfit
Combining body weight training, strength training and Hiit training, crossfit is a class for 2016. “The classes combine lots of different exercises,” says crossfitter Creina Kane. “It works because it’s always varied; no two classes are the same so you can never get bored.”
Kane says crossfit is “really good for fat burning and generally leaves you lying on the floor exhausted”. However, if that description leaves you a little nervous, Kane adds that “coaches organise the training programmes to progress people on in different skills. We focus on the mechanics involved in a movement and only when you fully know how to do something will you be allowed add weight so it’s always safe.”
5. Making it personal
Personal training is certainly not a new addition to gym schedules but it will continue to grow in popularity in 2016 with people looking more to certified professionals to help them workout well. Whether in groups or as individuals, people are drawn to personal training because of the results it produces.
Trainer Matt Kelly says: “Being healthy and happy with your body is a long-term pursuit that requires patience – people are turning to fitness professionals with multidisciplinary knowledge to improve their health through nutritional intervention and the individually appropriate training.”
6. Aerial acrobatics and Zuu
One of the most important aspects of getting fit is that you enjoy it and, because of this, 2016 is going to see a rise in more unusual forms of fitness. Enter aerial acrobatics. Samuel Arnold, a recent convert, loves the fun aspect.
“I adore the fact that aerial acrobatics feels a little risky. You’re not too aware of the fact that you’re working out, it’s about the movements you want to try, so there is a nice balance of core work, strength-building and stretching, even some yoga-like movement, all without over thinking.”
And if you are scared of heights? Arnold thinks this might be a way to challenge yourself to overcome that fear.
Back on the ground, you can train like an animal with Zuu. By imitating the movements of wild animals, Zuu develops flexibility, endurance and provides a great cardio workout. With moves like gorilla, frog and iguana, this dynamic Australian regime will help you get in touch with your wild side through the use of primal movement.
7. Fit after 50, 60, 70, 80 . . .
In 2016 we will see a marked increase in exercise programmes for older people. Gentle but no less strenuous exercise will be a key part of this. Classes will be adapted to suit different levels. Kitty Maguire recommends classes such as chair yoga or ballet barre that can be practised in the swimming pool. Faye Masterson, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) medical student and physical therapist, says: "Fitness for over-65s is vitally important not only for improving physical fitness, but also for the prevention of age-associated depression, the prevention of dementia by production of the neurochemical BDNF, as well as for maintaining social ties if exercise is done outside/within a community setting."
8. Foam rolling and stretching
The importance of looking after muscle groups, pre- and post-exercise, will grow in recognition in 2016. “When we apply pressure to specific points in the body we are able to release the tension so the muscles recover and come back to their elastic state,” Maguire says.
She agrees that this self-massage, also called myofascial release work, will emerge as a trend in 2016. “Foam rollers are already a popular way to ease out knots and tension held in the fascia [the connective tissue that surrounds the muscle].”
9. Make it functional
Functional fitness enhances the ability to perform daily activities. From carrying the kids to being able to run up the stairs, the concentration is on making life physically easier. Kelly describes functional fitness as “training towards a goal which best benefits and improves one’s life. For most trainees, this will entail becoming healthier, leaner and more structurally sound and balanced.”
10. Yoga
Yoga fell from number seven to number 10 in the ACSM this year, but generally we will see growth in exercising mindfully across Ireland. Looking after the soul as well as the body is increasingly recognised as important in our busy lives. "If one is interested in general wellbeing – the mind, the body and the spirit – then yoga is for them," says yoga instructor Ata Baechler.
“Some people are put off the practice by the thought of difficult poses, but this can be down to the class or the teacher you choose. Baechler advises finding the right teacher. “We are all very different and have different personalities. My suggestion would be to try out different yoga classes and once you find someone that you like, stick to the practice.”
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