Some tried-and-true exercises, like running on a treadmill or pedaling on an indoor bike, never go out of style. At the same time, a lot of workout trends have come and gone over the years. Think: your mom’s Jane Fonda-style jazzercise class from the 1980s, or your dad’s obsession with Tae Bo exercise videos in the early 1990s. A new year and a new decade welcomes plenty of new ways to upgrade your tried-and-true exercise and fitness routine. 2020 is proving to be the most virtually-focused year yet with trends like on-the-go fitness, tech-savvy classes, guided meditations, and more. At the same time, some of the trends are well, not exactly trendy: Community-driven exercise classes and body weight training weren't a surprise to us when they made this year’s list.
And sure, we’re already well into 2020, but it’s never too late to think about all the ways you can exercise. So, browse through this list of 2020’s biggest trends, and take your pick: Mix in some of these exercise methods into your already-trusted fitness routine, or try out all the buzziest trends until you find one that trumps what you’re already doing. You can’t go wrong either way.
Here are the 8 workout trends you can expect to see everywhere in 2020:
On-the-go Fitness
We live in an on-the-go world, so it’s only natural that our workouts cater to this new lifestyle. As our schedules get busier, it’s important to not lose sight of what’s really important: making your health your #1 priority — always. Thanks to streaming services and apps, including the Peloton app, you can get top-notch workouts wherever you go any time, anywhere. Worked too late to make it to the gym before they close? It’s there for you. Too busy carpooling your kids around on the weekend to take a workout class? No problem. There’s always a workout ready and waiting for you.
Tech-focused Exercise and Fitness Classes
First came smartphones, then came smartwatches and wearable technology. And now, many fitness brands are combining the two to make workouts more accessible and affordable for everyone. The gym equipment that has been loved by many for years is also getting a 2020 upgrade: Peloton Treads and Bikes come with all the bells and whistles, including the ability to live stream a workout class from the comfort of your home and connect your machine to any applicable smartphone.
Guided Meditation in Workouts
Because exercise and fitness is a way to train your mental health, too. It’s simple: The more you meditate, the more in tune you’ll become with your body while you work out. All the while, you’ll be able to focus more on breathing during the difficult moments in your workout — fast sprints, hill climbs, and so on — instead of the pain or struggle. Even if your HIIT or cardio-centric workout is a release for your body, the added 10 or 15 minutes of meditation at the end of a class will let your mind feel the same sense of relief. And then you can go back to life with a refreshed state of mind and overall calm.
"On the Peloton App, there’s always a workout ready and waiting for you."
Virtual Trainers
Even with your on-the-go lifestyle, you still need a sense of normalcy and routine. Your trainer that pushes you regardless? That’s exactly what they bring to the table. Whether your trainer works with you personally or in a class setting, there are so many ways to keep the workouts going when you’re stuck at home or on the road. But that’s not all: If you don’t have the means to pay for a private trainer or the ability to go to a group exercise and fitness class, apps and streamable workouts give you the same experience. Some services are so advanced that they’ll even correct your form and give modification clues.
Functional Fitness Training
Strength training on its own is great for your body — but it also reaps more benefits than just strong muscles. When done properly by means of functional fitness training, then lifting weights can actually improve balance, endurance, and overall coordination too. The idea is that a set of planks, deadlifts, body weight movements, and so forth can help you perform everyday activities in a safer and more efficient way. With regular practice, popular movements that use multiple joints and muscles at once, including lunges, squats, and standing rows, improve balance, agility, and reduce the risk of falls. Multi-directional lunges, in particular, mimic movements often found in regular household chores like vacuuming and raking leaves, so you lessen the chance of injuring yourself when you’re merely caring for your home.
Community-Driven Classes
Some people need the convenience of wearable fitness technology and virtual trainers. Others thrive on the community found in group exercise classes, which is why community-driven classes are one of the top workout trends in 2020. Group exercise and fitness classes are just as social as they are beneficial to your health. Along with enhancing your overall mood and satisfying any social needs, community-driven classes also drastically improves the outcome of your workouts. One study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology showed that 95 percent of people who started a fitness program with friends completed it versus a 76 percent completion rate for those who tried to complete the program on their own. And some even claim that having people working out next to you will also encourage you to be more competitive and push yourself harder for a longer period of time.
Body Weight Exercises
With a rise in at-home workouts, many people are stuck trying to outfit their home gym (or basement/childhood bedroom/ living room-turned-workout space). Since it can be expensive to invest in weights and machines, body weight exercises are becoming increasingly popular. Aside from being inexpensive, these exercises, which include lunges, squats, inchworms, and mountain climbers, are an efficient way to increase your endurance, agility, and strength. They’re also extremely customizable: Mix and match a variety of exercises for a HIIT workout, or lean more on the cardio or strength training side of things depending on what your body needs most.
Exercise and Fitness as a Form of Wellness
And now, for arguably the best workout trend of 2020! For many, hopping on the treadmill, pedaling on the cycling bike, or taking a group fitness class is no longer linked to calories, weight loss, and waist trimming like in year’s past. As we all become more educated on the positive effect that exercise and fitness plays in your overall health — physical, mental, and emotional — the conversation will continue to shift in a healthier, happier way. That means working out is now a way to practice wellness — or really, self-care. By turning to this holistic approach, people will find the fun in working out (psst, it actually exists!) and inspire them to find a fitness community of their own. At the same time, they may change their other habits to improve their diet, sleep routine, and any other major health concerns.