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9 Top Fitness Trends

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The tides are turning in the fitness world. A few years ago, dance-based workouts were all the rage – everyone wanted to find the next Zumba, says Donna Cyrus, the senior vice president of programming for Crunch Gyms nationwide. But now, fitness classes are moving away from dancing and back to the basics with high-intensity workouts that provide a big benefit in a short amount of time. “I would say now, the majority of programming is about hardcore-type workouts,” Cyrus says. “There’s a tendency more toward workouts that drive people to push themselves every time they exercise.”

Here, Cyrus outlines the top trends she’s seeing in the fitness space – and how you can get involved.

Interval Training. Full-body workouts with cardio intervals for added fat burning are hot right now, Cyrus says. “These workouts are about the best amount of results in the least amount of time,” she says. One example at Crunch is the new Jillian Michaels BodyShred workout, which is based on continuous three, two, and one-minute weight intervals with cardio bursts. For an at-home version, there’s Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred – one of the most popular fitness DVDs of all time – that delivers a guaranteed burn in just half an hour.

 

crossfitBootcamp and CrossFit. Although Cyrus says CrossFit’s popularity is plateauing, she thinks the CrossFit-inspired trend toward workouts that allow exercisers to assess and compare their progress overtime isn’t going anywhere. “There’s a trend toward high-level goal planning,” she says. “These workouts are about doing more push-ups, more lunges, more squats every time you come to the gym.” But Cyrus cautions that these goal-oriented workouts are not right for every body type and can raise a person’s risk of injury if not performed correctly.

 

TRX and Suspension Training. Cyrus is seeing a return to simplicity in equipment-based workoutstrx – no more conditioning classes that require piles of free weights, bars, and bands. Instead, it’s all about getting the best workout possible with one piece of multitasking equipment. One of the best examples: TRX Suspension training, a system of simple straps that leverage gravity and bodyweight to perform hundreds of different exercises for a total-body burn. Some gyms, like Crunch and Exceed Physical Culture in New York City, offer TRX classes, and the systems are also available for home gyms.

Anti-Gravity Classes and Aerial Yoga. Anti-gravity and aerial yoga classes use fabric hammocks to literally elevate traditional yoga poses for extra core strengthening and stretching. “Suspension training and aerial training in general is definitely a big trend,” Cyrus says. “With these classes, you’re strengthening your core and back with long, lengthening movements, all with one piece of equipment.”

Weighted Drumming. African drumming and dance classes with weighted drumsticks are popping up across the country.  One of the most popular drumming workouts is Pound, a Los Angeles-based workout created by fitness trainers Cristina Peerenboom and Kirsten Potenza. You can also buy the sticks to squat, dance, and drum your way to weight loss at home.

 

pole dancing Pole Dancing. You might have thought pole dancing’s popularity went the way of Carmen Electra’s, but Cyrus says Crunch’s pole dancing classes are still selling out. “It’s not just women dancing around the pole anymore,” she says. “Think Cirque du Soleil moves that are much more about the upper body, lower body, and core strength required to suspend the entire body around a pole. Men and women take pole dancing classes now.”

Rebounding or Trampoline Classes. Want a low-impact cardio workout that’s more interesting than the elliptical? Give trampoline workouts a try. These classes use classic moves like squats and hamstring curls, but add simultaneous fast jumping for a total-body burn.

Fusion Programs. In time-starved cities like New York, workouts that fit in cardio, strength, and flexibility at once are becoming incredibly popular. From indoor cycling classes that include upper-body weight portions (found at SoulCycle, Flywheel, and Revolve) to classes that include 30 minutes of spin and 30 minutes or TRX (or 30 minutes of Pilates and 30 minutes of barre – the list goes on and on) multitasking workouts are popping up everywhere.

Workouts That Inspire Community. One thing exercises are undoubtedly looking for is a sense of community, Cyrus says. That’s one reason why boutique fitness studios, such as SoulCycle and Barry’s Bootcamp, are so popular. “You know you’re going to see the same group of people there every time you go,” she says. “People are looking for a sense of belonging to something, and that’s their reason to keep going back for more calorie burning.”

 

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