Fitness trends 2018

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Time to put the spark back in your workout routine!

These realistic and FUN fitness trends will have you looking forward to your next session in the gym.

January is all about a new year, new you, with fitness and exercise being some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions of all time. Not surprisingly, it’s also the one area in which motivation is most easily depleted – leaving you with negative feelings of guilt and self-loathing that eat away at you until the next year rolls around (yep, we know the feeling). Your motivation then spikes for a short while until the pattern inevitably repeats itself.

It’s safe to say that trying to adopt a whole new lifestyle and become a fitness fanatic over night, just isn’t the right approach. Easing new fitness habits into your lifestyle at a moderate pace will not only give you the best results and be more rewarding in the long run, but will ensure your motivation remains strong an steady throughout the year.

Fortunately, the work-out trends on the rise for 2018 are suitable for a long-term fitness journey. They’re doable and rewarding and fall into a range of intensity categories – meaning you can start off slow and begin to push yourself as the year progresses.

1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

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This is not as grueling as it sounds. HIIT is simply a work-out style that alternates between short intervals of high intensity and low intensity activity. So if you’re jogging at a moderate pace for 10 minutes, sprint intermittently for 30 seconds.

Trainer Luke Milton (who features on Khloe Kardashian’s Revenge Body) predicts HIIT will be one of the biggest fitness trends this year and it’s rise in popularity will see it be incorporated into different styles of exercise such as yoga, boxing and dance.

2. Group Training 

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It is said that working out with a group of friends or even just a partner provides the added benefit of extra encouragement, allowing you to be more productive during your workout session than those who work out alone. According to the American College of Sport’s Medicine (ACSM), group workouts are going to be one of the most popular exercise trends this year.

We are seeing a move to a more holistic approach to fitness – one that takes into account the mental and emotional benefits of exercise as well as the physical ones, and the social element of group workouts are definitely a step in the right direction.

Trainer Luke Milton says: “Find yourself a really fun group fitness family, an instructor that inspires and motivates you, someone that holds you accountable and enjoys getting healthy with you!”

3. Boxing

Boxing has been made popular by the likes of the Kardashian crew as well numerous Victoria’s Secret models. Previously thought of as a specialised sport, it is now seen more and more frequently in everyday workout routines.

There are variety of options to choose from, including kickboxing, boutique boxing and mixed martial arts and it’s a great way to release pent up frustrations and clear your mind while getting a full body workout in the process.

4. Heated fitness classes

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Hot yoga first made waves on the workout scene not too long ago and then heated cycle classes began to gain popularity. Now it seems heat training in other forms will be gaining popularity this year too. The appeal lies in the fact that heavy sweating aids detoxification by flushing toxins from the body and skin. It also creates the feeling of a more fulfilling workout overall.

5. Low-cost fitness 

Fitness trends 2018

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With the rise in online workout apps such as Nike Training Camp and adidas All Day app, specialised and professional workouts are becoming affordable and doable anywhere and anytime – meaning it’s accessible to consumers from all walks of life and not just  reserved for professional athletes or those with fancy equipment. Low-cost and low maintenance workouts are fueling the global fitness and health movement that has gained momentum in recent years.

AUTHOR: Farah Khalfe