The Exercise & Fitness Trends Everyone Will Be Talking About In 2022
It’s no surprise that as the coronavirus pandemic nestled its way into our lives, our fitness and workout routines adapted to the times. In-person workout classes began to stream online, at-home gyms grew in popularity and technology continued to evolve.
And with the New Year approaching and COVID-19 cases on the rise again, expect a new wave of trends that really leans into quick and easy, and do-it-yourself fitness trends. Not only are people going to be focusing on getting their workouts in as quickly as possible, but also targeting specific health concerns with fitness.
So, with these shifts and the changing times, we spoke with some of the industry’s top experts about the top trends of 2022 that will impact your sweat sessions in the New Year.
Wearable technology
Smart watches are not anything new, but in 2022 expect wearables to expand in their offerings. Products like the Apple Watch, FitBit and Garmin already offer heart rate monitors, step trackers and alerts when they suspect you might need to take a deep breath, but new additions are making their way to the marketplace. Everything from skin temperature, sleep tracking, respiratory rates and nutrition tips.
The recently launched Amazon Halo View watch comes linked with the meditation app, headspace to guide you through daily self-gratitude practices and provides on-demand blood oxygen levels. And keep an eye out for some wearable technologies that will sync with your smart bed to ensure you’re getting enough restful zzz’s.
Micro workouts
You might think that with more people working from home, lengthening or having the time to extend a workout would be on the rise, but according to experts, more people want to get in a workout, but do so as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Shannon Lietly, a personal trainer based out of Houston, Texas says people are asking for shorter workout routines that they can squeeze in on their lunch break, or before their morning coffee. “People are already burned out from working from home, or if they’re working in an office or on the frontlines, they want to get in their sweat as quick as possible,” said Lietly. Micro workouts, like a 15-minute high-intensity run or a 10-minute circuit training routine done four to five times a week is a healthy and attainable workout regimen, she said. “Just be sure to seek out a professional opinion before trying any at-home workouts.”
Heart healthy workouts
Fitness routines designed around a balanced diet, stress management and heart healthy workouts that include strength training and aerobic exercise are growing in popularity as more people are looking to take back their health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but over 80% of all heart attacks are preventable.
“The heart is the engine for the body and when you take care of it you can live a healthy and happy life,” said Bob Harper, celebrity fitness trainer, host of The Biggest Loser and heart attack survivor. “When your heart is strong, your whole body can have endless abilities.”
For heart attack survivors like Harper, who have dedicated their life and career to helping people lose weight and stay healthy, having a community and letting other survivors know there’s life after a heart attack, is what the New Year is all about.
“We have built a community of heart attack survivors and their caregivers, to share their stories and to help a person that will survive a heart attack today,” he said. “ We want people to know that you can hopefully not only survive a heart attack, you can thrive. Survivors Have Heart means the world to me and it reminds me every day how precious life is and how grateful I am to have this second chance. I am the luckiest person in the world!”
Hybrid gym offerings
The lockdown forced many fitness studios to amp up their online presence, and in doing so opened their client base to anyone with a Wifi connection. What was once considered an exclusive, boutique fitness experience can now be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. And experts say these online classes are here to stay.
“One of the benefits to working out at home is you can literally dance like no one is watching, eliminating the intimidation factor involved in trying something new,” said Jacey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo, Co-founders of Jane DO, a fitness brand that’s centered around dance cardio and cross training workouts. The co-founders and former Radio City Rockettes, said they had to pivot their classes online when the pandemic began, but have begun to integrate a few in-person classes back into their schedule and see this new hybrid model as a great long-term option.
“Given the uncertainty of the world right now, we are loving the hybrid in-studio and digital options,” they said. “Our physical health is our best defense against the contraction of the virus and with a variety of ways to stay committed, there is no excuse not to move your body. “
Dance Cardio
In line with micro workouts, dance cardio classes that offer a short and spicy sweat have exploded onto the scene. In the past decade, classes like jazzercise, hip-hop and ballet-inspired fitness have all gone mainstream, but experts agree that dance cardio offers a fun, equipment-free workout that can be done virtually anywhere.
And Lambros and DeAngelo say no dance experience is required. “Generally speaking, dance cardio is a form of aerobic exercise, and is either low impact, one-foot stays on the floor, high impact, or a combination of the two,” they said. In line with other trends like heart healthy workouts, dance cardio is providing a fun, quick and aerobic exercise routine that almost anyone can do, and learn some new moves along the way.
Before you go, check out the workout recovery essentials we’re forever obsessed with:
