As we head into the tail end of 2016, it might be a good time to take stock and consider some of the up-and-coming fitness trends likely to spring into the limelight in 2017. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be able to beat the crowds and get in early.
Outdoor training explosion
Obstacle challenges such as Tough Mudder have been going strong for a number of years now and continue to inspire interest in all-terrain “boot camp” style workouts. Even CrossFit has put some emphasis on getting fitness into the great outdoors, with events like the CrossFit Games introducing the world to hordes of athletic men and women lifting heavy weights in the open air.
Then there are the fitness movements which really emphasise taking things “back to nature,” such as Erwan LeCorre’s Movnat – entirely focused on natural movements in natural environments.
This fascination with the outdoors is likely to grow in 2017, with different movements converging. Expect to see the obstacle challenges become even more strenuous and quirky in order to keep our attention. Similarly more and more fitness systems will arise to make the most of our desire to get fit in the great outdoors and train in holistic ways.
More dancing
Zumba has been experiencing cycles of rising and falling popularity since it was created in the late 90’s. With the Olympics in Brazil this year bringing Latin dance and music culture back into the forefront of people’s minds, it’s likely to experience another upswing in popularity.
In fact, Zumba is in the process of branching into new areas of health and fitness, with the recently unveiled STRONG by Zumba workout. This keeps the same upbeat soundtrack as the original while shifting the overall focus more towards high-intensity HIIT-inspired moves.
With a renewed interest in Zumba on the horizon, including the upcoming phenomenon of STRONG2017, might well see the rise of other dance/exercise systems too as different fitness enthusiasts aim to compete.
Wearable tech 2.0
The wearable tech industry has been huge in 2016, and there’s every reason to believe this trend will only grow stronger in the coming year. Wearable fitness devices like the Fitbit or Xiaomi Mi Band have recently been upgraded and polished to heightened levels of functionality, while virtual reality technology has taken the next great leap with the Oculus Rift headset being released in March of this year.
Sooner or later the different threads of the tech industry are going to come together. 2017 might see the dawn of a new tech and fitness era which could involve hi-tech fitness adventures in virtual environments.
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