Every year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) release the Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, a prioritised list of projected fitness trends for the following 12 months. The list is compiled by pulling data from fitness industry experts all over the world and as their focus is on trends not fads, the results each year give us a spread of the most enduring practises and where they rank worldwide. The 2019 forecast has been published, and there are some interesting differences from the 2018 survey. Most notably, it seems like 2019 is the year to finally forge some good habits.
The top ten trends for 2019 are:
- Wearable technology
- Group training
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Fitness programs for older adults
- Bodyweight training
- Employing certified fitness professionals
- Yoga
- Personal training
- Functional fitness training
- Exercise is medicine
How Does It Stack Up Vs The 2018 Survey?
The top results in the 2018 survey featured high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training in the top five, which reflected the swing towards intense exercise and the Crossfit model of body punishment that was on the rise a few years ago. But the 2019 forecast doesn’t feature strength training at all, and HIIT has slipped from first place to third, making room for ‘wearable technology’ to take out the top spot.
Rise Of Wearable Technology
Along with the the continued popularity of bodyweight training and yoga, wearable tech points to incorporating physical activity into our daily life. Distinct from mobile exercise apps (number 13) as a more personal extension of the body, wearable tech includes fit watches, heart rate monitors, and GPS trackers, which works with the wearer to monitor their daily activity and help make good habits. So instead of a regimen of scheduled classes, fitness is being re-conceptualised as an ordinary part of daily life.
Trends To Watch: Wellness Coaching
But the most dramatic shift comes from ‘wellness coaching’, which has jumped seven spots to sit at number 11. According to the ACSM, wellness coaching is a more holistic approach to health, integrating behavioural science into helping people achieve their health goals. Since its first appearance in the 2010 survey wellness coaching has been steadily climbing up the ranks but 2019 is by far it’s greatest leap. Providing support and encouragement to fitness clients, wellness coaching works towards the ultimate goal helping people change their behaviour. This seems to be the underlying theme of the 2019 forecast so we can expect to see wellness coaching in the top ten in the next year. In the meantime, be prepared to actually see your resolutions through.
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