With the first month of 2024 nearing its end, it is time for you to reset your fitness compass and bid farewell to the trends of the previous year. While 2023 saw some prominent trends emerge, some of the fads have worn out their welcome. This year presents you a clean slate, regardless of your fitness journey in the previous year. It gives you an opportunity to tweak and redefine your approach to create a healthier and fitter you. Some of the fitness trends for 2024 are highlighted as follows.
Steady-state cardio returns
This year is expected to see the return of steady-state cardio as well as walking, as these activities are heart-friendly. The last few years have seen traditional, restorative cardio make a steady and slow return, after it had been banished in favor of intense form of cardio workouts like high-intensity interval training (HIIT). However, conventional cardio can offer a ton of benefits, as it reduces the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes. It also trains your cardiorespiratory system to boost your aerobic activity.
Expansion of yoga and Pilates
While these were considered women’s fitness trends, yoga and Pilates are also skyrocketing in popularity amongst men and are expected to continue doing so in 2024. This is because they blend the world of flexibility and strength training and provide men with a better longevity and mind-balance practice. Pilates and yoga can have excellent benefits for overall fitness, which include overall strength, improved balance, flexibility and core strength.
Outdoor pursuits
In general, there has been a rise in popularity of outdoor fitness because the COVID-19 pandemic forced people out of gyms. In 2023, rucking became incredibly popular, which includes walking or hiking with a weighted pack. Such exercises are a combination of endurance and strength and can be done both indoors and outdoors, which makes them an efficient and affordable fitness option.
Brain training
Stress is no joke because it takes a toll on your mental health and cognitive decline can also impact your overall life satisfaction and wellbeing. As more research shows that lifestyle choices can benefit brain health, fitness is likely going to take the spotlight for protecting it. Brain training is one fitness trend that will become popular in 2024 because it can impact bodily performance, which includes cardiovascular, mental and metabolic health.
Gamification and VR
Fitness will stay relevant and appeal to more people in 2024 through virtual reality and gamification. Gamified workouts are becoming extremely popular because they transform exercise into entertainment and harness the positive aspects of gaming, such as resiliency, problem-solving and confidence. VR is also helpful in keeping people motivated and can also help in building a community. Fitness has to be entertaining in today’s world when instant dopamine hits are at your fingertips; otherwise, people will have a hard time in sticking to it. Numerous VR apps exist today, which demand a high level of physical engagement and since they are fun, you do not even feel that you are doing a workout.
