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December 23, 2019
5 FITNESS TRENDS TO WATCH AND TRY IN 2020
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It’s not a myth; many people embark on a fitness journey after the holiday season. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that! Although customer traffic is high all year round at Éconofitness, a significant number of people sign up in January to get access to a wide variety of high-quality training equipment, such as treadmills, ellipticals and free weights. The holiday season is a great time to take a break from daily life and healthy habits so that you can come back all-the-more resolute in January!
The fitness community is currently undergoing a slow and gentle revolution that will continue into 2020: working out is becoming more accessible and more enjoyable, as it is less focused on ultimate performance. Jennifer Pelletier, kinesiologist and fitness director at Éconofitness, shares with us five fitness trends to watch in the coming year.
⏱ SHORT, EFFECTIVE AND FOCUSED WORKOUTS
Short workouts, which have been in the top five fitness trends for four or five years already, are still enjoying great popularity. Unless people’s hectic pace of life slows down anytime soon—which would be very surprising—this trend is nowhere near losing its momentum. Effective, short workouts that are objective driven and in line with your tastes and interests are a must-try this year.
People want to do more of what stimulates and motivates them; they want workouts to be quick and focused. These include high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as well as express and micro workouts. Workouts are thus shorter (max. 20 minutes) and focused on a specific area of the body or on a single goal. Éconofitness’s
GoFitness ABS or
GoFitness FLEX options offer several 15-minute virtual or coach-led workouts to members.
🥊 VINTAGE IS BACK IN STYLE!
Just like with fashion, fitness trends that were popular several years ago are bound—to the delight of many—to make a comeback! We expect new and improved step workouts,
boxing-inspired workouts, glute-building equipment and treadmills to be back on the gym floors! You’ll witness the emergence of a new trend of various vintage-inspired workout programs! In 2019, this vintage trend was marked by the arrival of new, exclusive training equipment (Glute Drive, StepMill, Total Gym) in Éconofitness gyms.
👥 GROUP WORKOUTS
This year,
group workouts are at the top of fitness trends again. Why? Because exercising with partners, friends or a group of people who share the same goal is highly motivating and makes you want to come back for more.
Thirteen Éconofitness Extra gyms throughout Quebec offer coach-led group workouts that are incredibly popular year after year.
The latest scientific findings in fitness training show that it’s more than just exercising among a group of people. What makes all the difference is the feeling that we are part of a team or a virtual group that can provide support and encouragement. The group’s energy often makes it possible to accomplish what is difficult to achieve on our own and pushes us to keep going when it gets tough.
🧘♀ RECOVERY AND MINDFULNESS
It is becoming increasingly clear to most that being physically active is essential to maintain good physical and mental health. Meditating for a few minutes, for example in the meditation studio available in the
Platinum Zone of
some Éconofitness gyms, also really helps reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
Nowadays, the fitness industry is encouraging people to integrate workouts and recovery programs into their wellness routine. It is important to strike a balance between training and life; in fact, it is crucial to give your body time to recover between your workouts to keep this balance.
In addition to focusing on recovery, mindful exercise is at the heart of workout goals and programs. In 2020, mindfulness means much more than meditating or doing yoga. It’s about living your workout experience beyond pushing your heart rate and breaking a sweat. It is therefore essential to understand and become aware of the way we move and the reasons why we move, regardless of the sport or fitness program. This mindset will also affect how we continue to perform this activity in the short, medium, and long terms, as we are taking the time to identify the intentions, objectives and benefits behind our workouts.
📱 PORTABLE TECHNOLOGY
Technology is now—and for good—an integral part of our lives. The fitness world is no exception. Integrating new technologies (e.g. a smart watch linked to a mobile application) to workouts is increasingly popular, as they make training more accessible and easily measurable. This marriage of technology and fitness is getting more people into fitness and bringing the benefits of exercising to a wider segment of the population. And it’s definitely more fun and motivating!
Technology also allows people to work out where and when they want. Many Éconofitness workout programs are available directly on
YouTube, allowing for greater accessibility to a wide variety of quality training content.
That’s why you’ll find technology at the heart of all other fitness trends this year.
Regardless of current trends, what’s important is to find a physical activity or sport that you enjoy doing. This is key in staying motivated throughout the year. Varying your workouts and trying out different trends can also help you stay committed. Above all, don’t set overly ambitious or unrealistic goals and don’t be too harsh on yourself.
🥂 Happy New Year … and enjoy your workout! 💪