Year after year, the most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, get in shape, and eat healthy. The first week of January is typically the busiest time of the year for gyms, but those treadmills and weight rooms tend to empty out by about mid-February.
One big reason that people don’t stick to their workouts is boredom. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. So, this year, why not try something different?
Here are some of the most promising fitness trends for 2018 that might be worth a try.
1. HIIT
This style of exercise stands for high intensity interval training, and it’s been a big hit lately. That’s because you can easily fit a HIIT workout into your busy schedule and burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time. HIIT workouts are often just 30 minutes long and include short bursts of intense exercise followed by recovery periods. HIIT workouts may not be safe or suitable for all people, so bring this trend up with your doctor before joining an intense class and suffering the consequences later.
2. Body Weight Strength Training
Gone are the days when you had to sign up for an expensive gym and lift huge hunks of metal to tone your muscles. Body weight training exercises are trending because they’re convenient, safe, affordable, and can be done anywhere. Examples of body weight exercises include push-ups, squats, lunges, hip raises, and planks. Strength training, in general, isn’t just for beefy guys looking to bulk up with big muscles. Lifting weights is also a great way to strengthen your bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles to prevent future injuries and health conditions.
3. Weird Variations of Yoga
Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but yoga teachers are starting to get more creative with variations on this old standby. Cities and towns across the U.S. are now offering classes for goat yoga, dog yoga, baby yoga, and aerial yoga. You’ll also find an increasing number of wineries and breweries offering yoga classes and more communities that offer outdoor yoga-in-the-park sessions. It’s still important to focus on your breath and clear your mind in these obscure classes, but they have an interesting twist to help you stay interested and engaged with those familiar poses.
4. Live Stream Classes
Group fitness classes are certainly nothing new, but there are new ways to go about exercising with others now. Live stream classes have been gaining momentum as more people look online for accessible and affordable fitness solutions. They’re also great for people living in small towns and rural areas that don’t have access to all the hot new fitness class offerings. With this fitness trend, you can attend classes taught by famous instructors without leaving your living room. The only caveat is that you need to have a good amount of self-motivation to keep up with these at-home workouts and hold yourself accountable.
5. Wearable Technology
While this isn’t a type of workout like the other trends listed here, wearable tech is becoming more popular than ever before. Fitbit devices, Garmin watches, and similar products are making it easy to keep track of how much exercise you get, what your heart rate is, and how many calories you burn each day. Advanced devices are even able to help you monitor how well you’re sleeping and encourage you to meditate if your stress level gets too high.
What’s your strategy for getting fit and healthy in 2018? Perhaps one of these fitness trends will pique your interest and help you reach your goals this year.