From at-home workouts to fitness tech, here’s what to expect this coming year.
It’s nearly time for another “new year, new you.” Whether you’re a dedicated gym rat and fitness enthusiast or you’re one of the many who make New Year’s resolutions to become healthier and fitter, there’s always a surge of interest in health and fitness right after the holidays.
From the newest “it” workouts to the latest tech, the fitness world is constantly changing and evolving. Knowing what’s trendy and popular for the coming year helps you stay motivated, potentially introducing new workouts, equipment and routines to your fitness journey.
If you’re curious about what the coming year holds for health and fitness, these exercise trends are bound to be among the defining fitness movements of 2023.
Hot exercise trends to look for in 2023
Whether you like working out at home or are ready to go back to the gym, the 2023 fitness forecast has something for you. Here are the hottest fitness and exercise trends to expect this year.
1. Upgrading your home gym
Were you one of the many who improvised an apartment gym or workout area when the pandemic ushered in the work-from-home wave of 2020? Now that it’s clear that work-from-home is here to stay for a while, this year is the perfect opportunity to give that home gym an upgrade and get it exactly the way you want it.
It’s worthwhile to invest in your health. That’s why it’s worthwhile to invest in top-quality gym equipment to help you meet your goals and feel your best. Along with purchasing higher-quality equipment and gear, the expected exercise trend is more focused on smart gym tech as well.
Featuring new-and-improved tech, many of these new smart home gyms come with digital technology and virtual platforms that replace a real-world coach. It’s also now easier than ever to find home gym equipment to fit your desired workout, be it cardio or strength training.
Furthermore, smart gym designers know that their buyers may not have the most space. But even if you’re in a small apartment, you can still find walking pads, bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and mirrors that fit the space. Some top examples include Tonal, a “smart” gym that hangs on the wall and offers a wide range of workouts, and compact exercise bikes like Peloton and NordicTrack.
Plus, with rental rates rising across the country, having a home gym helps cash-strapped renters save some money on a gym membership. Some companies, like Peloton, even offer rental programs or try-it-free agreements. That allows you to try out the equipment and see if it fits your space and needs before you commit to purchasing it. Finding an apartment complex that comes with a great gym is another way to work out close to home while saving money.
2. Virtual reality workouts
Piggybacking on the smart home gym trend is the continued growth of at-home, accessible virtual workouts. Companies like Peloton and Tonal come with virtual platforms featuring live classes and pre-recorded workouts that you can easily follow at home. With more people continuing to work out at home, that type of content and access is predicted to become even more in demand.
And it’s not just virtual exercises that are brand-specific. During the pandemic, there has been an explosion of at-home work-out content online. You can find and follow fitness influencers and watch YouTube or TikTok videos to learn new exercises or follow a workout. Fitness companies like NEOU offer apps and subscriptions to live videos and content for different types of exercises you can do at home.
One of the major pluses of at-home virtual reality workouts is accessibility. If you work from home or have a busy schedule, it’s easier to fit even a short workout into your daily routine. But it’s also more affordable than a full gym membership.
3. Returning to in-person classes and group workouts
On the reverse side, COVID’s general downward trend and the availability of vaccines and boosters have made many people feel comfortable enough to return to the gym. Lots of people prefer to work out in groups or classes for motivation, to socialize and to have a wider variety of equipment and exercises to try. The forced isolation of 2020 and 2021 has generated a lot of pent-up social energy as well that people are eager to spend. Many people have reported that they prefer working out at a gym for the mental health benefits of being part of a community as well.
Taken together with the predicted growth of at-home workouts, it shows that people have tons of options that fit their time, needs and budget. After being cooped up in your apartment all day, you can either turn on the TV and get in a workout or head to the gym for a change of scenery.
4. More use of wearable health and fitness trackers
Wearable fitness trackers like FitBit and Apple Watch have been around for a while. But as their technology and capabilities grow and improve, experts are predicting that their use will become even more widespread.
This is because of how many more things these fitness trackers are capable of doing. They can now track calories, sleep patterns, stress levels, heart rate and more. This allows people to take a more active role in their health and better track results. For those who struggle to find a way to work out every day, it can also act as a motivator.
5. Increased focus on mental health and healthier habits
Following the mental health crisis of the early pandemic, people are continuing to find ways to take better care of and prioritize their mental and physical health. From cutting back on alcohol to going to therapy, people have reported that working on their mental health is a big goal for 2023. And there are plenty of ways to work on that at home, like setting up a meditation space.
Fitness fits your lifestyle more than ever
As you can see from 2023’s forecasted health and exercise trends, fitness is more flexible than ever. If you work from home and like to work out at home, the trend is only getting stronger since 2020, with better digital and virtual resources and more advanced tech and equipment. But if you prefer the motivation and community that comes with in-person training, that’s fully coming back onto the table again.
No matter how or where you want to get in shape, 2023’s hottest exercise trends can be easily adapted to fit your lifestyle and apartment situation.
Source: rent.com