What’s In (and Out) For Exercise Trends in ‘14

Another holiday season has come and gone. Say goodbye to the parties and to the calorie-filled food and drink for another year.

Now that the calendar has changed, people strive to make lasting changes in their lives and getting in shape is traditionally at the top of the list of resolutions. That means people often start hitting the gym, hoping to look good when bathing suit season hits.

While a new exercise plan is always a positive step to staying healthy, it’s also necessary to change things up to keep from getting bored and derailing you from reaching your goals.

Keeping exercise routines fresh will go a long way toward helping keep your weight-loss goals. Here are some exercise trends on the rise in 2014, and others that are on the way down.

STOCK UP: High-intensity interval training (HIIT)

Think about how a football lineman trains. Part of that includes pushing a weighted blocking sled. High-level interval training is much the same concept, designed to help burn off the calories by alternating bursts of exercise as quickly as possible alternated with short rest breaks. Also, a huge time commitment isn’t needed - usually no more than 30 minutes at a stretch.

STOCK DOWN: Zumba

Zumba is a mix of Latin beats with interval exercise resistance and training. Starting in 2010, Zumba skyrocketed in popularity, and by late 2012 was being performed by 12 million people in 125 countries worldwide. However, like most anything that is popular, people eventually get bored with it or just look for a change.

STOCK UP: Fitness and older adults

According to AARP, baby boomers have been reaching retirement age at the rate of about 8,000 per day since 2011- and that figure is expected to hold steady for the next 15 years. That stream of potential clients could prove to be a gold mine for health and fitness professionals looking to create a new niche.

STOCK DOWN: Boot camps

Mirroring military-style training and including cardio, strength, endurance and flexibility drills, boot camps were hugely popular as recently as 2011. Again, like with Zumba, people may be looking to change things up. Boot camps could very well no longer be considered popular by the time the 2015 calendar is in place.

STOCK UP: Yoga

It’s making a comeback and for good reason. The Mayo Clinic says some of the possible health benefits of yoga include stress reduction, improved fitness and management of chronic conditions like anxiety and insomnia among others. Plus, a good instructor will let you work at your own pace, better ensuring success.

STOCK DOWN: Wellness Coaching

A personal approach with an individual like a trainer providing positive energy to a client. Other health professionals are adopting this approach, negating the need for a specialist.