Fitness is hot. Though Americans are more overweight than ever, and obesity is on the rise (72 million of us are now considered obese), new ways to stay fit are more diverse than ever as well.
Here are the top five trends for 2009:
1.Mind-Body Fitness
Pilates and yoga are here to stay. People are becoming more aware of the mind body connection and how controlling stress influences health and fitness levels. You can often find these programs at your gym. You may have to pay a nominal additional fee to take Pilates, but it's cheaper than taking it privately. In addition to stress reduction and core training, mind-body programs are great for adding flexibility, relieving back pain, and building moderate muscle mass.
2.Core-Based Training
Strengthening the "core" is a central theme to many mind-body programs like yoga and Pilates, as well as some equipment like kettlebells and the balance ball. Balance balls and kettlebells are relatively cheap at around $30 for basic sets. The core consists of the abdominal, hip, and leg muscles. Having a strong core can help relieve and/or prevent back injuries as well. Another core-based workout is dance. All the rage right now are Zumba and Bollywood dance. Ballroom dance, Afro-Cuban, and hip-hop are popular as well. Dance classes are relatively cheap at $7 - $10 a class, and are a great overall workout.
3.Activity-Based Video Games
With gaming as popular as it is, it's no wonder that it has wandered into the realm of fitness as well. Especially great for motivating kids to take an interest in fitness, technology-based exergames like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii-Fit are all the rage. Wii-Fit is moderately priced from $80 - $200. It offers balance and BMI testing, as well as 40 different activities such as strength training, aerobics, and even yoga. Blurring the lines between entertainment and exercise seems like a natural progression in the overall pattern of combining workouts and trends in the fitness industry.
4.Back To Basics
Many people are getting back to the basics and just walking outdoors and lifting free weights at home. Although buying fitness equipment and going to gyms are still popular, people are realizing that fitness can be attained under any circumstances. For people who do go to the gym, bootcamps and group workouts aim to accomplish many tasks at once. They incorporate cardio, and high-low intensity strength training, all in the same hour. "Budget-friendly" workouts can be to tied to another trend: functional fitness. The goal behind functional fitness is to prepare your body for real life situations. An example of this "bang for your buck" functional fitness trend again would be kettlebells. Here we have core training, and a whole body workout that covers many of the major muscle groups and conditions your body as well. It can be done from the comfort and affordability of your home. Populations like baby boomers are interested in working out more than ever, but are in retirement as well. They are looking for ways to incorporate fitness that will benefit them the most, but without breaking the bank. Functional fitness and going back to basics are two just ways.
5.Wellness Coaches/Online Personal Trainers
Along the lines of mind/body fitness, hiring a wellness coach is gaining ground. Wellness coaches support people's efforts in fitness on all fronts including diet information and exercise motivation. Due to tough financial times, some people are opting to just browse online for information from personal trainers or wellness coaches as well. Although nothing beats having your own cheerleader and someone to talk you through those 6am treadmill runs. Another trend is to hire a group personal trainer to work with several individuals at once and share the cost. Hiring a coach or trainer varies, but the average rate is $50-$75 an hour. With an interest in mind-body workouts on the rise, hiring a wellness professional is a natural progression of connecting the dots between fitness and an overall healthy lifestyle.