Bodyweight training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are predicted to be popular fitness trends in 2015, say surveys of both Canadian and American fitness professionals.
HIIT workouts – intense periods of exercise followed by short periods of rest – topped the Canadian fitness trends survey of 2,000 fitness professionals by Canfitpro.
Canadians are becoming increasingly busy, citing "not enough time" as an excuse for not exercising and quick HIIT workouts address that, says the survey findings.
"This approach to training generates significant and noticeable results when it comes to heart health, reduced body fat and addressing the risk of many chronic diseases," says Rod Macdonald, vice-president of Canfitpro.
HIIT however has slipped from the top spot on the Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2015, compiled by the American College of Sports Medicine Health & Fitness Journal. The survey uses feedback from commercial, clinical, community and corporate divisions of the industry.
Bodyweight training – using your own body weight for resistance – has taken over the number one spot for 2015.
Push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups just scratch the surface of full bodyweight training, which is used in many classes including HIIT, Tabata, TRX, yoga, and Pilates, says Gina Geres, fitness instructor at Mobile Fitness in St. Albert.
Bodyweight training uses minimal equipment, which makes it a very inexpensive way to exercise effectively.
People have been using their own body weight for centuries as a form of resistance training, but new packaging especially by commercial clubs has made it popular, says the survey findings.
Bodyweight training is in sixth place on the Canfitpro list.
Fusion still hot
"While training in L.A. this past summer, (trends are) still very focused on fusion classes – two themes blended together," says Geres.
Mix and match workouts were an identified trend at the IDEA World Fitness Convention in Los Angeles in 2013. After that trip to the states, Geres brought back Barre – a hybrid ballet, yoga, Pilates, aerobics regimen.
Many of the exercises incorporated into fusion workouts, have lost popularity as standalone fitness programs.
Pilates, indoor cycling (spin), stability ball, and balance training programs have slipped off the top 20 fitness trends, says the American College of Sports Medicine Health survey.
They may not exhibit staying power because they are fads not trends, said some respondents. Training programs requiring expensive equipment or technical instruction may deter people because of their high cost, or they may have just run their course.
An upcoming trend is group classes utilizing equipment typically used for personal training, says Geres.
"On the top trend list in 2015 watch for kettle bell classes, battle rope and ViPR classes," she says.
ViPR, stands for Vitality, Performance and Reconditioning and is pronounced 'viper.' It involves a large weighted tube that can be lifted, swung, dragged and flipped.
MMA group fitness classes are another upcoming trend, says Geres.
"Kickboxing and other forms of martial arts are popular and on the rise with small boxing equipment such as gloves, pads, blocks and skipping ropes used in the class."
Classes specific to special populations such as multiple sclerosis, pre and post natal and seniors are still popular and in demand, says Geres.
Older adult training is in the number three spot on the Canadian fitness trends list, right after functional fitness.
An aging baby boomer population is generating demand for programs to help older adults maintain their quality of life, says the survey findings.
Injury prevention and rehabilitation is another area of growth in the industry, adds Geres. Most of the one-on-one sessions done by trainers at Mobile Pilates are referrals from physicians and rehab specialists.
