Fitness Trends That Will Power You Through 2020
As more people continue to seek efficient workouts (more sweat in less time) HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) will continue to remain popular, according to Heather Englund of Fit Mama Real Food. Here’s a trend we can all get behind: doing less of what we hate, and more of what we love. Mandi Em of Healthy Living for Hot Messes says 2020 is “the year of the nature walk, the lazy hike, or the living room dance party.”
Science shows us that getting out into nature is immensely good for our bodies and minds, says Em, which makes nature “the original gym.”
“Also it’s free and comes with complimentary endorphins! Literally just go for a walk,” says Em. “That’s your step one. Kettlebells can wait. What 2020 needs is people looking at where they are at, and taking it to the next level instead of bounding to the top step, falling short, hating it, hating themselves, and giving up entirely.”
While gyms can serve as great motivation for our workout, sometimes getting to the gym is impossible, especially when the weather is bad or the kiddo is sick. “Even though many consumers still crave an in-person experience, we’re seeing people supplement their workouts with at-home options, which offer a convenience factor that physical gyms and studios lack,” says Erika Shannon, former coach for SoulCycle, Equinox and Daily Burn, and current Director of Fitness for MYXfitness. “There’s a demand for both in-person and at-home alternatives, and rather than one completely eclipsing the other, we’ll start to see more people combining the two for a more personalized approach to wellness.”
Mike Fantigrassi, M.S., NASM-CPT, and co-author of NASM’s new Certified Nutrition Coach program (NASM-CNC) calls it a fitness hybrid approach. “What this means is people will still go to the gym…they’ll still work with personal trainers to help them achieve proper form. They may supplement with on-demand workouts and different programming when they’re not with a trainer.” Fantigrassi says an on-demand/live fitness content is a more affordable option and “actually gives a trainer an opportunity to work with more clients, and even retain them. For example, a client may seek a trainer to ensure they’re doing the on-demand movements properly, or trainers can recommend the proper on-demand programming for a client who is traveling.”
Next year will be more about a functional and holistic long-term approach to weight loss rather than the rapid “diets” of years past. “In 2020, the trend will continue away from a focus on rapid weight-loss/diet-only approaches and toward true sustainability accompanied by healthy nutrition and regular exercise,” says Jim Frith, Founder of TopFitPros, Certified Personal Trainer & Advance Sports Nutrition Specialist. “Over 80 percent of people who have lost substantial amounts of weight have historically gained it back. Constant ups and downs in weight are unhealthy and frustrating. Many people are looking for a path to weight loss that allows them to keep it off and to be healthy. They are tired of every weight loss program out there claiming to be sustainable, but with few offering credible scientific research to back up their claims.”
Working out in small, focused groups, including small training groups and fitness classes, will still be trending in 2020. “People love working out with friends and getting pushed by others in a class setting,” says Marie Urban, Personal Trainer and Regional Group Training Coordinator at Life Time. “Working out with a group of friends is not only impactful for yourself but for others as well. Working out and fitness breaks down natural barriers and gets people to feel more comfortable and confident with one another.” Plus it helps develop relationships, friendships, and self-confidence. Says Urban: “People are craving connection now more than ever.”
“People are really interested in recovery and fitness stats,” saysy Urban who thinks “2020 will be all about ‘the more information the better’.” Adds Shannon: “As technology-based wellness innovations continue to evolve, the fitness landscape is definitely shifting toward more digital connection. Fitness/wellness apps, wearables, and at-home equipment with digital programming abound right now! We’ve already seen the beginning of what fitness tech is capable of, and we’re going to see more of this in 2020, with an increased focus on community. This, more than anything, has the potential to affect traditional gyms, as there is a new option to connect with like-minded people right from the comfort of your home.”
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