It’s no surprise that our fitness and exercise routines have adapted to match the times the coronavirus pandemic has made its way into our lives. Personal exercise classes were streamed online, home gyms became more popular, and technology continued to advance.
And as the New Year approaches and COVID-19 cases rise again, expect a new wave of trends that really relies on quick and easy do-it-yourself fitness trends. Not only will people focus on getting their workouts started as soon as possible, but they will also target specific health issues with fitness.
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With these changes and times changing, we spoke to some of the top experts in the industry about the top trends of 2022 that will affect your welding sessions in the new year.
Wearable technology
Smartwatches are nothing new, but wearables are expected to expand their offerings in 2022. Products like the Apple Watch, FitBit, and Garmin already offer heart rate monitors, pedometers, and notifications when they suspect you need to take a deep breath, but new additions are emerging. Everything from skin temperature, sleep tracking, breathing rate, and nutrition tips.
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The recently launched Amazon Halo View watch connects to the meditation app and headspace to guide you through daily self-gratitude practices, and provides on-demand blood oxygen readings. And keep an eye out for wearable technology that syncs with your smart bed to ensure you get enough restful zzz.
Micro workouts
You might think that with more people working from home, the extension, or time to extend a workout, would increase, but according to experts, more people want to do a workout, but as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Shannon Lietly, a personal trainer from Houston, Texas, says people are asking for shorter exercise routines to have on their lunch break or before their morning coffee. “People are already burned out because they work from home or if they work in an office or on the front lines they want to break up a sweat as soon as possible,” said Lietly. Micro-workouts, like a 15-minute high-intensity run or 10-minute circuit training done four to five times a week, are a healthy and achievable exercise program, she said. “Make sure you get a professional opinion before trying any home workout.”
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Heart-healthy training
Fitness programs that focus on a balanced diet, stress management, and heart-healthy workouts that include weight training and aerobic exercise are growing in popularity as more and more people seek to regain their health. According to the Centers for Disease ControlHeart disease is the leading killer in the United States, but over 80% of all heart attacks are avoidable.
“The heart is the engine of the body and if you take care of it you can live a healthy and happy life,” said Bob Harper, prominent fitness instructor, host of The Biggest Loser and heart attack survivor. “When your heart is strong, your whole body can have endless capabilities.”
For heart attack survivors like Harper, who have dedicated their lives and careers to helping people lose weight and stay healthy, it’s the new year to have community and let other survivors know that there is life after a heart attack.
“We have built a community of heart attack survivors and their caregivers to share their stories and help a person who survives a heart attack today,” he said. “We want people to know that hopefully not only can you survive a heart attack, but you can thrive too. Survivors have hearts means the world to me and it reminds me every day how precious life is and how grateful I am for this second chance. I am the happiest person in the world! “
Hybrid gym offerings
The lockdown forced many gyms to increase their online presence, opening up their customer bases to anyone with a WiFi connection. What was once considered an exclusive boutique fitness experience can now be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. And experts say these online courses will stay here.
“One of the benefits of exercising at home is that you can literally dance like no one is watching and remove the intimidation that comes with trying something new,” said Jacey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo, co-founders of Jane DO, a fitness brand focused on dance cardio and cross training workouts. The co-founders and former Radio City Rockettes said they had to put their courses online at the start of the pandemic, but have started adding some in-person courses back into their schedule and see this new hybrid model as a great long-term model of opportunity.
“Given the uncertainty in the world right now, we love the hybrid in-studio and digital options,” they said. “Our physical health is our best defense against catching the virus, and with a variety of ways to stay engaged, there is no excuse not to move your body. “
Dance cardio
In line with micro workouts, dance cardio classes that offer a short and savory sweat have exploded on stage. Over the past decade, classes like jazzercise, hip-hop, and ballet-inspired fitness have all become mainstream, but experts agree that dance cardio provides a fun, device-free workout that can be done virtually anywhere.
And Lambros and DeAngelo say no dance experience is required. “In general, dance cardio is a form of aerobic exercise and is either low-impact, one foot stays on the ground, high-impact, or a combination of both,” they said. In line with other trends like heart-healthy workouts, dance cardio offers a fun, fast, and aerobic exercise routine that just about anyone can perform and learn some new moves in the process.
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