Fitness trends for 2014: HIIT, body-weight training, fitness programs for older adults
Photo by Chris Dunn — Daily Record/Sunday News
Mary Duttera, 65 of Dover Township, starts her workout as her husband, Craig, 67, warms up on the treadmill in the fitness center at Bob Hoffman YMCA on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. According to a recenty survey, fitness programs for older adults will be a trend in 2014.
Maybe you’re one of the many Americans who regularly make New Year’s resolutions, and this is the year you’re vowing to get in better shape. Or maybe you’re a regular exerciser who likes to stay on top of what’s new in the world of health and fitness.
Either way, you might be interested in the results of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014. This annual survey, which was completed by more than 3,800 fitness professionals, predicts what types of exercises, fitness classes, and training programs will be popular in the year to come. It’s the crystal ball of working out, if you will.
Here’s a quick sampling of what the survey had to say about breaking a sweat in 2014.
• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT):
According to the survey, the number one fitness trend for 2014 will be high-intensity interval training. HIIT involves alternating between quick bursts of intense activity and short periods of rest. For example, instead of jogging at a steady pace for 30 minutes, a HIIT workout would involve alternating sprinting with walking or slow jogging for those same 30 minutes.
• Body-Weight Training:
Exercise equipment can be expensive, but body-weight training – the number two predicted trend for 2014 – is as cheap as it gets. As the name suggests, the term is used to refer to strength-training exercises that forgo the use of equipment in favor of the resistance provided by the weight of your own body. Push-ups and pull-ups are two common examples of body-weight-training exercises.
• Fitness programs for older adults:
Coming in at No. 7, fitness programs geared toward those of retirement age are expected to grow in number in the coming year. As the baby boomers retire, they are looking to stay fit and active through exercise classes that are safe and age-appropriate, and health and fitness professionals are working to meet this need.
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