For many of us, 2017 was a doozy, but we here at Brit + Co are ready to hit refresh in 2018! Follow our Hit Refresh series through January for new ideas, hacks, and skills that will help you achieve (and maintain!) those New Year’s resolutions.
One of our favorite ways of motivating ourselves to stay healthy is by trying the latest crazes in the fitness world. In 2017, this meant joining diving into the wellness trend and paying attention to our mental health more as meditation and mindful yoga took off. But now that we finally got a handle on this year’s fad fitness, what kind of trendy workouts can we look forward to in 2018? To answer this question, we asked some of the top fitness and health experts to share their predictions for which health trends will hit it big in the new year.
1. Returning to Play: While push-ups and squats are definitely effective, certified eating psychology coach Jenny Eden Berk believes that returning to a childlike state of play will be all the rage in 2018. “There is a growing movement of… classes that focus on games that get people moving [while] totally having fun,” Berk says. “When I moved from hard-core running and spin classes to a more fun, playful, and mindful approach to movement, it changed my whole life. I look forward to exercise now and burn crazy amounts of calories. Mark my words: Play and mindful movement is the new SoulCycle.”
2. Live-Streaming Classes: While live-streaming classes aren’t new, certified personal trainer and kinesiologist Dr. Carrie Burrows believes that 2018 will be the year that live-streaming group classes will finally gain momentum. “People are protective of their time, and being efficient by working out at home will see another surge in the online space,” Burrow says.
3. Exercising With Pets: Whether it’s going for a run with Fido or doing a session at a cat yoga studio, certified personal trainer Trinity S. Perkins predicts that exercising with animals will be a 2018 fitness staple. “Being able to combine your two loves — exercise and your fur baby — is a great market, and it’s good for both the people and the animals,” Perkins says.
4. Boxing: 2017 has been a huge year for boxing, and Katie Dunlop of Love Sweat Fitness predicts that our love affair with the kick-butt sport is far from over. “There is something about being able to punch a bag that just makes you feel so fierce,” Dunlop says. “I think there will be a huge trend toward boxing in 2018… and not your big box gym cardio kickboxing. Whether at home, in a private gym, or in group fitness classes, there are going to be tons more women learning to bob and weave and throw a one-two punch next [year].”
5. Family Fitness Classes: Making time to exercise with little ones in tow can seem downright impossible… which is why body-building team athlete Nikki Walter believes that family fitness classes will grow in popularity this coming year. “My daughter and I teach a #FitFam Boot Camp we designed for members at our gym,” Walter says. While some may think bringing your kiddos along for a workout might hinder your ability to get a good burn, Walters knows a few tricks that will help you work up a sweat: “We have parents run the track with kids on their back, weighted hula hoop contests, races, and other exercises that can be modified for any level. The best part is hearing the parents say they didn’t think it would be so difficult and are surprised how well the combination for the families worked!”
6. DNA Testing for Peak Fitness Performance: From heritage tracking to allergy tests, DNA testing has become more popular than ever over the past year. “In 2018, I believe more and more people will begin to take their health and wellness insights to the next level with their genetic data,” says CEO and Founder of EverlyWell Julia Cheek. “The promise of genetic testing is that it can tell you more about the way you’re built, so that you can tailor your lifestyle to fit your biology — and ultimately change up your fitness routine to get great results.”
7. Wearable Technology in the Classroom: While most fitness buffs will gladly debate the merits of the FitBit versus the Apple Watch for activity tracking, President of UFC GYM Adam Sedlack believes that wearable technology, specifically in fitness classes, will expand exponentially in 2018. “Boutique fitness franchises and gyms now utilize technology in their group classes,” Sedlack notes. For example, FitMetrix has a heart rate, indoor cycling, rowing, and cycling tracker and shows athletes’ real-time performance metrics that can be easily compared with other participants. “Since consumers can see their results next to the entire class, they can push themselves harder during the workout.”
8. Better Apps and Artificial Intelligence: “Right now in mobile health and fitness, we’re seeing that the space continues to get ever more crowded,” notes Mike Caldwell of Pacer Health. “The key differentiators that attract users are high-quality content, engaging community, and personalization (AI).” Also, you’re probably going to see more fitness lovers spring for pricer apps in the new year. “We’re also seeing a huge increase in the number of users willing to pay for mobile health content, so we expect app developers to become more and more sophisticated about offering different types of paid content.”
9. Intermittent Fasting: Fitness content creator and expert at Maple Holistics Caleb Backe believes that 2018 will be the year of intermittent fasting. “As more and more of a societal focus is placed on metabolism, it only makes sense that consumers and health-conscious individuals will try to find ways to turn theirs in their own favor. Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between fasting and non-fasting to encourage weight loss and maintenance, is already being promoted by a number of fitness celebrities and experts — it was only a matter of time before I.F. went mainstream.” Of course, make sure to consult with your doctor and nutritionist before attempting any dramatic dietary change.
Which health and fitness trends do you think will be trendy in 2018? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.
(Photos via Getty)
