From at-home fitness to 20-minute training, there is lots to look forward to from the world of wellness. We've teamed up with BodyWorksWest to get their predictions for the biggest fitness trends for 2019.
With 2018 drawing to a close, we've stock-piled the Quality Street, trimmed the tree and have got our favourite box sets lined up. Christmas is undoubtedly a time to decompress and overindulge, but that can often mean that our fitness goals get put on hold. So that you can maintain a bit of momentum for your fitness intentions and get the new year off to a flying start, we've teamed up with BodyWorksWest to get their predictions for the most exciting fitness trends for 2019.
Imagine getting the results of a one-hour workout in just 20 minutes. Electro muscular stimulation or EMS for short, is a highly effective, time-efficient training method that works to improve physical performance. In training, a machine delivers electrical pulses to stimulate and heighten muscular contractions, intensifying your workout in a way that your body can't on its own. This new technology is now available at BodyWorksWest where members can book in for 20-minute training sessions overseen by a qualified trainer. Once a week is sufficient for reliably achieving your goals. Easily packed into a lunch break, it's one of the simplest ways to get great results fast.
With Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV more popular than ever, it's no surprise that the rise in streaming services has reached the wellness industry. This autumn saw Peloton arrive in the UK, the New York-based fitness phenomenon that took spinning to dizzying new heights. These high-tech, at-home spinning bikes are equipped with a 22-inch HD screen that lets you tune in and experience all of the action and adrenalin of 14 daily live and 8000+ on demand-classes from your living room. Others getting on board with the trend include Fiit.TV's influencer led fitness platform, and Mirror, the interactive home mirror which tracks and corrects your workouts. Get fit without even leaving your home. Now you really have no excuse.
Last year saw a boom in indoor rowing, which is expected to continue into 2019 as the wellness industry continues to recognise the power and efficiency of rowing as the ultimate full-body workout. Research by British Rowing states that the activity utilises 85% of the body's muscles across nine major muscle groups. Running on the other hand only targets five major muscle groups. Recognising a gap in the market, personal trainer Chris Heron launched the first integrated rowing studio in the UK in November 2018, The Engine Room, and a number of others are set to pop up in the capital throughout 2019.
Gamification is becoming increasingly prominent in the fitness world, favoured by personal trainers for its ability to provide a more socially connected and motivating workout. It works by tapping into your dopamine neurotransmitter, which controls your brain's reward and pleasure centre. Becoming increasingly prominent are studios fitted with large screens to run a variety of classes, from sunrise spinning to group competitions. Classes can include features such as real-time ranking and race highlights, individual racer profiles and immersive backgrounds for activity. These advancements bring a fun and competitive aspect to working out, increasing enjoyment and providing more effective results.
2018 saw an outburst of HIIT classes designed to get you working at your maximum intensity for short, explosive intervals. For 2019, a mix of flexibility-based fitness classes will incorporate the principles of HIIT for an all-round workout that will test strength and endurance in one session. The HIIT element burns fat and boosts the metabolism quickly, while practices from pilates, yoga and barre increase flexibility, strengthen all major muscle groups and de-stress. You'll be getting the benefits from each technique in one routine.