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Hybrid HIIT and Date-ercise: the new gym trends of 2019
If it’s been a while since the last time you set foot in a gym, you may be in for a culture shock. A new report suggests that far from the sweaty fitness dungeons of yore, the gyms of today are hybrid spaces, where people go not just to exercise but relax, hang out, and even date.
We spoke to the experts to find out what new trends are set to define gyms this year.
Gyms as hangouts
The report, by DW Fitness First, notes that some gyms are seeing attendance increases of 40-50pc on Friday evenings. Survey data from Mintel found that while 21pc of respondents had visited a gym in the last month, only 12pc had visited a nightclub or bar.
The social aspect is going to be a vital trend for gym-goers in 2019, says Rosie Stockley, founder of MAMAWELL post-natal fitness classes: “I think a shared social community when working out will be a big trend in 2019 as no-one wants to feel like they're going it alone. Logging your miles, checking in with your instructor on Instagram, or working out as part of a social gathering, the community mentality will be key in spurring you on to the next level.”
Hence why Keith McNiven, founder of personal training company Right Path Fitness, is choosing this year to launch 'Date-ercise', a fitness class that mixes working out with – yes, you've guessed it – dating. “Anything that gives people an added motivator to train, and save them time to boot, will be a 2019 winner. I predict these types of classes will be cropping up more and more, giving us a double incentive to train.”
Hybrid HIIT
It seems that crossover fitness classes will be one theme of gyms in 2019. According to the report, hybrid HIIT (high intensity interval training) is coming.
HIIT stands for high intensity interval training and is basically all about doing short bursts of very intense aerobic exercise. The short, sharp classes, as popularised by Joe Wicks, traditionally see you do a range of bodyweight movements, in a gym or your front room. HIIT can help your body burn 9pc more fat than standard aerobic exercise, so it naturally appeals to the time pressed office worker.
However, it may be the case that people are getting a bit bored of doing the same movements, because there's a concurrent trend for fitness fanatics to seek more varied work-outs, which is where hybrid HIIT comes in. These classes will basically combine the principles of HIIT with traditional work-out techniques such as water aerobics, boxing, and dance.
Training for wellness, not just a beach bod
The interest in hyper-personalised, efficient training could go in another direction, says Daria Kantor, founder and CEO of TruBe.
Kantor’s app is a bit like Uber for personal training: users enter their session type, location, and timeslot, and trainers vye to accept the booking. “People are increasingly embracing a 'near me lifestyle', searching for goods and services in their vicinity and at their convenience, and fitness is no exception,” she explains.
On top of this on-demand economy, Kantor is convinced that the nature of personal training classes is about to change. “Clients want life coaches who can take them on a fitness and wellbeing journey and guide them to achieve their personal goals. As people buy into the “near me lifestyle”, gyms, personal trainers and fitness therapists will have to take a more flexible approach to fitness and extend their offering beyond the traditional four walls of the gym.”
David Wiener, training and nutrition specialist at Freeletics, says he’s seeing a definite move towards long term goals rather than just a beach body or six packs. “People now want meaningful, impactful and enduring lifestyle changes.
“By just focusing on our bodies, we restrict ourselves; our bodies might be fit, but our minds are on overdrive. Nutrition, recovery, motivation and self-care are all just as important as putting in 110pc on leg day.”
Streamed workout classes
Alternatively we could see workouts based around streaming technology, says Stephen Pasterino, founder of exercise brand p.Volve. “Streaming apps are advancing rapidly, enabling people to better incorporate the gym into their lifestyle. They are highly customizable to someone’s schedule, fitness levels, and area that they desire to work.
"With technology anyone can have access to a trainer and their personal guidance. Apps and streaming platforms will continue to evolve to better serve their clients.”
One example of this trend is Peloton, a Hollywood exercise trend that sees spinning classes being live-streamed from LA into customers' homes.
Streamed workout classes could allow people to access training sessions with ‘celebrity’ trainers too. Pasterino suggests that 2019 is likely to see social media gym buffs developing their own brands, with clients following them to whichever gyms they go to. Streaming technology could allow gyms to host popular trainers from a long distance.
Exercise trends of 2019
And as for the top exercises of 2019? Well, we’ve spoken to various gym buffs and experts and gathered a few predictions to figure out what the top exercises of 2019 will be.
Harry Aitken, master trainer at Auster, has peered into his crystal ball to predict that bodyweight training or calisthenics will be top way to work out, after being popularised by influencers on YouTube and Instagram. “I believe training with bodyweight and using basic, minimal equipment will be a big trend in 2019 as people realise the functionality and low cost nature of it. Anyone can start and you don’t need access to specialist, expensive equipment.”
Moving from zero-equipment to heavy-tech, Charlotte Cox, founder FLY LDN yoga studio thinks that immersive yoga (that’s basically yoga with nature videos) is going to be the next big thing. “Viewing footage of nature can lower perceptions of nervousness, anxiety, fear, stress and tiredness. In fact, nature footage has been used in US medical facilities to reduce patient stress and in the treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders.”
And Melissa Weldon, head trainer at Sweat IT London, believes we could see a revolution in treadmill techniques, with the introduction of parachute running. This is basically just a new mode you’ll start to see appearing on treadmills where uses power the treadmill with their feet rather than relying on the belt. Weldon says it allows “users to perform running sessions and resistance workouts on the same piece of equipment, providing a well-rounded cardio and power training workout.”
Whatever the case, it certainly looks like there’s plenty for both gym regulars and total newbies to get excited about in 2019.
What new gym trend appeals to you, and why? Has the gym in your life transformed from a sweaty box to a social hang-out space? Tell us in the comment section below.