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Ready, sweat: 10 top fitness trends for 2018

Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com

October 26, 2017, 9:18 AM

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Four girls practicing yoga, Yoga-Tree pose/Vrikshasana(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Photodjo)

WASHINGTON — Tailoring fitness programs to fit people’s busy lives, and  choosing age-appropriate exercises are major goals of health professionals seeking to keep clients active and motivated.

The 12th annual survey by The American College of Sports Medicine — “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2018” — was compiled after questioning more than 4,000 fitness professionals.

Several of the trends involve exercise programs that cost no money, said Dr. Pamela Peeke, a fellow with ACSM.

“Drop, and give me 10,” said Peeke. “Didn’t cost you anything, other than a little sweat.”

Happy family is riding bikes outdoors and smiling. Parents are teaching their children. Mom and daughter in the foreground
10. Functional fitness Fitness programs designed to complement people’s daily lives is important, says Dr. Pamela Peeke. “It’s really more than just looking hot in your clothes, it’s functional — can you run after that child if they’re heading toward a busy traffic light?”     (Getty Images/iStockphoto/GeorgeRudy)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/GeorgeRudy
Two senior women exercising in a health club
9. Fitness programs for older adults As baby boomers age into retirement, health professionals are designing age-appropriate programs tailored to keep clients active. (Getty Images/Purestock/Purestock)
Getty Images/Purestock/Purestock
8. Personal training More and more students are majoring in kinesiology, which indicates they’re preparing themselves for careers in allied health fields, such as personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for personal trainers have become increasingly important to the health and fitness facilities that employ them, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. (Getty Images/Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing)
Getty Images/Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing
Four girls practicing yoga, Yoga-Tree pose/Vrikshasana
7. Yoga Based on ancient tradition, yoga utilizes a series of specific bodily postures for health and relaxation. And talk about variety — options include Power Yoga, Yogalates, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyas, Kripalu and others.   (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Photodjo)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Photodjo
Young woman jogging at night in the city
6. Educated and experienced fitness professionals More and more health and fitness pros are becoming certified and accredited. “Now you have people that are very highly trained to do specific things,” said Peeke. “They work with children, work with groups, we have people all along that spectrum.”   (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Halfpoint)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Halfpoint
 5. Strength training It’s been a constant fitness trend for years:  Strength training remains important for all ages, activity levels, and genders, according to the ACSM. The other essential components are aerobic exercise and flexibility.
Shot of young woman doing push-ups at the gym. Muscular female doing pushups on exercise mat at gym. Female exercising on fitness mat at gym.
4. Body weight training What’s old is new again. “Drop and give me 10,” said Peeke. “You’re actually using your body weight to strengthen yourself, and work with balance and flexibility, and it didn’t cost you a dime. What’s not to love about that?” (Getty Images/iStockphoto/jacoblund)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/jacoblund
jogger watching at connected watch and smartphone
3. Wearable technology Smart devices can’t do the actual work, but they complement your sweat, with fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, and GPS tracking devices, according to the ACSM. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/LDProd)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/LDProd
Three attractive sport girls doing plank exercise lying on yoga mat in fitness class.
2. Group training Less expensive than personal training sessions, group exercise instructors teach, lead and motivate participants who are at different fitness levels. And the socialization is fun. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Bojan89)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Bojan89
Sporty woman tying shoelace on running shoes before practice. Female athlete preparing for jogging outdoors. Runner getting ready for training. Sport active lifestyle concept. Close-up
1. High-intensity interval training “Instead of spending light years on a ‘dreadmill,’ why not spend 15 minutes at higher intensity,” asked Peeke. “That could just be running in place. It’s a better way to spend your time, and you’re going to get so much more out of it.” HIIT has been in the top three of the ACSM survey since 2014. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/fizkes)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/fizkes
(1/10)
Happy family is riding bikes outdoors and smiling. Parents are teaching their children. Mom and daughter in the foreground
Two senior women exercising in a health club
Four girls practicing yoga, Yoga-Tree pose/Vrikshasana
Young woman jogging at night in the city
Shot of young woman doing push-ups at the gym. Muscular female doing pushups on exercise mat at gym. Female exercising on fitness mat at gym.
jogger watching at connected watch and smartphone
Three attractive sport girls doing plank exercise lying on yoga mat in fitness class.
Sporty woman tying shoelace on running shoes before practice. Female athlete preparing for jogging outdoors. Runner getting ready for training. Sport active lifestyle concept. Close-up

Read the American College of Sports Medicine survey.

Neal Augenstein

Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.

naugenstein@wtop.com

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