If you’re wearing a smartwatch while engaging in a short HIIT workout at home or a cycling in-studio session, you may already be ahead of the curve for what’s to come in the fitness world in 2022. More tech, shorter workouts, and hybrid gym experiences are just a few of the fitness trends you’ll want to try, if you haven’t already.
Between 2020 and 2021, gym-goers opted for virtual workout classes via fitness apps in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, as more and more people head back to the gym to enjoy the social aspect of working out, fitness coach Ariel Belgrave told Today she believes “the future of fitness will be a blend of in-person and virtual workouts.”
Whether you love trying out the latest trend or are looking to find your ideal workout, slip into your sneakers and tighten your laces, and let’s take a look at all the new and ongoing trends taking over the fitness world that’ll inspire you to move in 2022.
Virtual workouts
A workout is an experience that can be enjoyed from literally anywhere, thanks to technology. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many gyms to close temporarily, causing gym-goers to work out from home, it appears the virtual workout trend isn’t going anywhere in 2022, even as gyms reopen. “Prior to the pandemic, working out via an app or Zoom was a foreign concept,” personal trainer Brady Dougherty told Today. That’s not the case anymore, as more and more people embrace the virtual option via fitness apps and virtual programs.
But, as the demand for gyms and virtual options grows, fitness coach Ariel Belgrave told Today she’s seen an increase in gyms offering hybrid options (in-person and virtual classes). “Many brick-and-mortar gyms are already finding that members have a preference for a hybrid experience of being able to attend classes in person and virtually,” she added.
Virtual and hybrid workouts work because they’re convenient, said fitness and retail analyst Randy Konik in an interview with CNBC. “People are going to realize they can work out at a gym three days a week, and then three or four days a week just do something at the house or in the basement,” he said, adding, “It’s all about convenience.”
Try to fit in mini workouts whenever possible
In 2022, mini workouts will be ultra-trendy in the fitness world. Gone are the days where you need to dedicate a specific amount of time to work out. A mini workout is perfect for people who want to stay fit but don’t have the time for a 45-minute or hour-long workout. “This is because most people think of exercise as something that requires a lot of effort, time, and a change of clothing,” Arizona State University exercise physiology professor Glenn Gaesser, PhD, told Healthline, adding that mini workouts appeal to people who don’t have the time or motivation for “one big workout,” just one of several fitness trends we’re leaving behind in 2021.
Mini workouts, which combine cardio, strength, and mobility exercises, can be spread out throughout the day for five or 10 minutes each. To make it easier to add to your day, physical activity and lifestyle professor at the University of Sydney, Emmanuel Stamatakis, PhD, told Everyday Health that running errands could be a mini workout “even if it’s 30 seconds of sprinting up a flight of stairs, carrying their shopping bags instead of using a cart, or just walking at a faster pace,” he said.
The smart home gym
A home gym may not be a new concept, but it has developed a new meaning as more and more people work out from home.
While an increasing number of people are returning to the gym since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country and the world in 2020, demand for home gyms is strong, according to fitness and retail analyst Randy Konik. “What’s likely going to happen is demand for gyms will accelerate pretty dramatically,” he told CNBC in an interview. “But demand for [at-home] fitness equipment is likely to stay somewhat strong.”
From a popular stationary bike with a virtual coach (Peloton) to a wall-mounted interactive experience (offered by companies like Mirror and Total), per CNET, home gyms aren’t just popular but powered by tech in ways that will continue to evolve in the new year.
Brady Dougherty, a personal trainer, told Today she believes purchasing and using home gym equipment is a way people are practicing self-care. “I think purchasing fitness equipment is another way to invest in our health just like we would go to an annual physical or get a massage,” she said.
Wearable tech
Beyond home gym equipment, fitness pros and newbies alike are using wearable fitness products more and more to help track their workouts, improve their health, and stay focused on their goals – it’s a fitness trend that’s not letting up in 2022.
Personal trainer Brady Dougherty told Today that tech products, from fitness trackers to smartwatches, are the future of fitness. “By utilizing data from wearables such as Whoop and Apple Watch, fitness brands will be able to offer a truly unique and personalized experience for their clients,” she added.
Wearable tech products not only track your fitness (including your daily steps), but they also help you reach your fitness goals and can accompany you in nearly every activity, from running to swimming (if it’s waterproof), per The New York Times. According to the mag, one of the best fitness trackers is the Garmin Vivoactive 4S, meant to improve the wearer’s exercise routine.
Walking, always a popular choice
No equipment or gym membership is necessary for walking, which is a growing trend also thanks to its social element. “Not only is walking something you can do together with a friend, but due to its low intensity, you can hold a conversation throughout,” Dani Singer, Fit2Go Personal Training CEO, told Reebok. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused “mass isolation” since 2020, Singer added, has led to walking’s trending status.
Although walking is considered a low-intensity exercise, just 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference in your health, according to cardiologist Michael Weinrauch, MD. “The take home point here is that even 15 minutes a day of walking, without stopping, provides benefit with regards to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” he told Well + Good in an interview. Walking alone isn’t enough if you’re aiming for a well-rounded workout routine, so be sure to include cardio and strength training in addition to regular walks, Weinrauch added.