ACE 2008 Fitness Trend Predictions

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Kathleen Shepherd
5 years ago
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1 ACE 2008 Fitness Trend Predictions 1. Out of the Box Workouts Gyms are not for all. The popularity of TV shows like, ABC s Dancing with Stars has dance studios popping up all around the country. Hip hop, ballroom, Latin and country line dancing combine high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow participants to get fit while dancing away their worries. Outdoor boot camps are gaining in popularity and local boxing clubs have crowded rings and classes filled with people of all ages. For some, these fun, recreational activities hide the fact that they really are exercising. 2. Body Weight and Equipment-Free Workouts Equipment can intimidate some and others want to add options and flexibility to their existing workout regimens. These full-body workouts focus on movement patterns, repetitions, and plyometric work to target multiple muscle groups. These types of workouts are perfect for traveling since they require no equipment and, therefore, can be performed any where. 3. Event or Sports-Specific Programming Millions of Americans participate each year in charity runs and walks. Many train up to a year in advance. For many it is a great social event and an opportunity to take the focus off themselves and onto their charity of choice. This trend doesn t stop there; clubs are offering training for surfboarding, golf, football, etc. specific workouts; all while helping participants build the strength, endurance, and stamina needed for real-life activities and sports. 4. Boomer Fitness Focus Individuals age 50+ are redefining our expectations about age, vitality, and life realizing the importance of physical activity as we age. For the aging population, regular exercise is critical in keeping the body limber, injury free, and more youthful. AARP, the noted advocacy group for individuals age 50+, launched a major fitness initiative in September of 2007 aimed at providing a wide range of affordable fitness services to its 39 million members. 5. Focused Express Workouts Group classes lasting 30 minutes or less that focus on one component of fitness or training a specific part of the body (e.g., core stabilization, upper-body strength, balance and agility, aerobic training/fat burning). Participants enjoy targeting a specific goal within a short time commitment. Many clubs piggy-back these classes in their schedules for members to attend two classes in a row. 6. Total Wellness Programming Prevention is the key for long-term health and optimal quality of life. More and more people will focus on injury and disease prevention and understand how food, exercise, weight and a healthier mindset must interact for the body to achieve balance and total wellness. It is a focus on what the body and mind need and how to encourage them to work in harmony. Maintaining a healthy mind and body from the inside with less of a focus on physical appearance is steadily becoming a new ideal.

2 7. Hybrid Programming Fusion of mind-body techniques like breath work and meditation into traditional modalities continues to be popular. Workouts like Spin-Yoga and Pilates Fusion combine strength, flexibility and endurance and offer the equivalent of an all-in-one exercise experience. 8. Personal Training - 93% of ACE fitness professionals surveyed say personal training will be more accessible in According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal training is one of the fastest growing professions. Consumers are demanding competent practitioners. Competent personal trainers offer these clients invaluable expert guidance and motivation. Positive accountability can be among the most important factors in helping individuals make a lasting commitment to an active lifestyle. Many clients view personal training as a wise investment in their long-term health. 9. Technology-Based Workouts - Consumers are choosing to use downloadable programs to ipods, PDAs etc., which offer fitness programming with illustrations and/or streaming video. In addition, technological advancements are making it possible to more precisely measure a wide variety physiological responses and document training program results. As an example, metabolic testing devices provide more accurate physiological data to improve weight management and performance programming. 10. Functional Strength Training Whether it s walking, hiking or lifting, functional strength is needed to successfully complete the task. Incorporating it into an existing exercise program enhances strength, endurance, balance, and coordination in everyday activities. Individuals will increasingly be searching for workout programs that will help them more safely and effectively perform their activities of daily living, work-related tasks, and recreational or sports-specific activities. Health clubs and trainers are offering functional training programs and classes for virtually all levels and types of participants.

3 Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2008 ACSM 1. Educated and experienced Fitness Professionals: As the personal training and group fitness industry continue to expand, so to does the demand for educated professionals. This will hopefully bring some credibility to a largely unregulated industry. I also expect to see a continuing wave of meaningless certification programs (BOSU, Kettlebell, etc) 2. Children and Obesity: With the crisis of overweight youth on our hands, the industry is responding with programs to help youngsters that struggle with weight. With the threat of a shorter lifespan than their parents, look for commercial gyms, camps, clinics, schools and other groups to provide services for overweight children. I believe we ll also see initiatives aimed at parents. Look for video game manufacturers to hop on the bandwagon. 3. Personal Training: One of the fastest growing health professions will continue to have a mainstream presence. Personal training studios will continue to be popular, with small group training becoming more prevalent. Look for trainers to have more discernable specialized expertise. 4. Strength Training: The benefits of strength training are numerous and more and more people will continue to occupy weight rooms and home gyms alike to reap its benefits. Look for people to lift weights for general health and not just body building. Strength training equipment will continue to progress but will still not hold a candle to plain old free weights. 5. Core Training: Conditioning that focuses on the stabilizing musculature of the abdominal and lower back area has been a steady focus from athletes to post-rehab needs. The core continues to be a poorly understood and oversimplified concept and I personally believe that the term will continue to be poorly understood, albeit popular and marketable but also useful. 6. Programs for Older Adults: As the early boomers are entering retirement, look for seniors fitness programs to continue to grow in popularity. Adding life years as well as years to life with proper activity will be the order. This age group continues to be a tough sell, though so I wouldn t expect an interest level proportionate to its population. 7. Pilates: This trend will have staying power as it can help posture and flexibility in addition to core stabilization. Look for it to remain popular in health clubs, studios and community centers as both group and individual offerings. Also look for added, gimmicky equipment to accompany traditional Pilates. 8. Functional Fitness: Exercise that mimics and thus helps improve daily function will be an emphasis of many programming initiatives. Exercise to help walk up stairs, moving from a sitting to a standing position and reaching for objects is a practical way to think about training. 9. Stability Ball: The big, rubber balls that have pervaded gyms over the past decade is still a staple when it comes to fitness trends. Its simplicity and versatility will keep it here for a while longer. I personally see stability ball use falling out of favour with newer gadgets entering the market and research on its benefits are mixed.

4 10. Yoga: Where I live, yoga probably occupies the #1 spot. With the popularity of mind-body exercise, it is no wonder that yoga makes the top 10 on this list. With many forms and permutations of the art such as yoga-lates, hot yoga, and power yoga (how you can mix these 2 contradictory terms is beyond me) yoga has become more than just a passing phase. Yoga does have merits but it is goal-specific and should be accompanied by other forms of exercise. Other trends that I think will also be popular: Youth conditioning, boot camp style group classes, activity-based video games, dance-based classes and exercise-based TV programs (and even stations).

5 Top Fitness Trends for 2008 AC Media Company 1. Country Line Dancing Aerobics Sessions According to the American College of Fitness, more people are interested in fine-tuning their dance skills, many of which are inspired by ABC's Dancing with the Stars and other celebrity-endorsed dance routines. Country line dancing offers a high energy workout with plenty of creative routines to choose from; just head on over to your gym or fitness center to find out how to perfect your grapevine and do-si-do your way to fitness. 2. Kickboxing, Boot Camp Style If you're still not a Tae-Bo pro, this is the year to take it up a notch. Inspired by The Biggest Loser and Celebrity Bootcamp, many gyms are offering bootcamp-style sessions to whip you back into shape in no time. Kickboxing may be especially valuable for those who want results, fast; it's a fastpaced, fat blasting cardio routine that's sure to wake you up on the 5 a.m. workout run. 3. ipod Workouts If you still need motivation to become an early riser for the gym, an ipod workout routine offers a viable solution. Technology-based workouts are becoming popular for fitness enthusiasts of all ages; just download your routine or motivational clips for the day and hit the road. 4. Express Workouts Head off to your workout during a lunch break or squeeze in a routine right before work; express workouts are designed to optimize your available time and make it much easier to stick with an exercise program. As more people simply 'don't have the time to workout,' gyms and fitness centers are taking note by offering classes that promise results in as little time possible.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS. Decrease body fat percentage Improve cardiovascular fitness Body toning and shaping Increase muscular endurance Boost metabolism

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS. Decrease body fat percentage Improve cardiovascular fitness Body toning and shaping Increase muscular endurance Boost metabolism CLASS DESCRIPTIONS KETTLEBELL & STEP TABATA In this workout you will combine high intensity step exercises with a kettlebell strength exercise in tabata format. Tabata format is 20sec of work with 10 sec