Who says staying fit has to be miserable? If there’s one thing that modern women don’t have time for, it’s another chore. Between growing a career, raising a family, and keeping up with social circles, we don’t have time to commit to something that isn’t engaging and isn’t beneficial. Fortunately, fitness has evolved to meet our demands!
Gone are the days when the idea of great fitness for women involved getting decked out in spandex and sweatbands while you pranced like a pony (looking at you Richard Simmons). All that really achieved was making us feel ridiculous.
Today, we demand fitness resources that don’t eat up hours of our time, aren’t boring, and actually yield us results. And our voices are being heard. Read ahead to discover four growing fitness trends that are transforming the lives of thousands of women and can help you realize your goals too!
1. Trampoline Workouts
Remember how much fun trampolines were when you were a kid? There was nothing like doing a somersault while you launched yourself 10 feet in the air. I don’t know why it took so long, but some genius finally realized that you could combine that childhood joy with a great workout that yields results!
I think we’ve pretty well established that trampolines are fun at this point. However, most women don’t have time just to going bouncing around for funsies, so what is it about trampoline fitness that’s so appealing?
Why Women are Bouncing into Fitness with Trampoline Workouts
For one thing, they’re intense. Like…really intense. If you’ve ever done a typical aerobics class, you know how tough it can be with a normal lineup of squats, donkey kicks, punches, high knees, etc. Imagine doing that while jumping and keeping your balance. If that sounds a little intimidating, I don’t blame you, but don’t let it discourage you. The payoff is well worth it.
A small but growing number of studies are proving that trampoline workouts carry a host of great benefits:
- A greater number of calories burned than walking or running
- Less strain on the joints than other forms of cardio
- Improved balance
- Increased VO2 max and cardiovascular ability
Plus, researchers (and the women they study) are finding that trampoline workouts feel less like a workout and more like a day at the park! That small mental perk is helping women stick with the program, despite how intense it can be.
2. Blogging as a Fitness Resource
I know, I know. What does blogging have to do with fitness? I’d be skeptical too, but hear me out. How important is it to you to feel like you have support in your fitness journey? Most women would say it’s very important and there’s research to back that up.
How hard is it justify those trips to the gym, sweat it out through each and every grueling session, and stick with it if you don’t know someone has your back? Turns out – it’s really hard. Research has shown that 80% of new gym members will quit within their first year. Women are also 14% more likely to quit than men. A big reason for that is because women don’t feel like they’re being encouraged in their fitness journey.
Blogging is bridging the gap between what women need to succeed and what they’re getting.
A Community, In More Ways Than One
Since women don’t seem to be getting what they need from their families and social circles, many are turning to the blogosphere for support. It seems to be helping in a big way. For a start, anyone can gain access to the blogging world. Whether they’re just starting their fitness journey, or are seasoned fitness gurus, there’s a blog out there that speaks to all kinds of women.
And they’re so relatable. These aren’t A-list celebrities – these are women just like you. Working moms, plus-size ladies, petite Crossfitters – the blogosphere is filled with women from all walks of life. Seeing other women work, struggle, and succeed is just the right kind of motivation that women need to keep working out!
Blogs are also great for getting fitness tips, advice on dieting, and even insights to improve your mental state when the going gets tough. If that weren’t enough, blogging can be an easy way to make extra money. All you need to get started is a domain and a basic design. Anyone can do it and the benefits speak for themselves, so it’s not hard to see why fitness blogging has taken off in a big way!
3. Wearable Gadgets
This trend isn’t new, but it continues to grow. Since at least 2016, people have loaded themselves down with watches, heart monitors, and mobile phone accessories designed to improve the fitness experience. But is really helping? According to a study by Arizona State University, the answer is a resounding yes!
Why Fitness Tech Continues to Boom
One of the biggest issues with fitness in the past was that people were looking in the wrong places to gauge their health. For many women, the only number they thought mattered was what showed up on the scale. Fortunately, today, that’s changing quickly, and wearable fitness gadgets are helping in a big way.
With education, people have learned that weight isn’t the only thing that matters. Heart rate, the number of calories consumed, number of steps taken per day, and other data points are all key to achieving a balanced state of health. These tech trends are helping women keep track of the numbers that really matter and actually making it fun too!
4. High-Intensity Interval Training
What’s one of the biggest challenges to working out? A lack of time. What can help you overcome that? Workouts that are just as effective but way faster. That’s exactly what HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is all about.
While HIIT as a concept has been around since at least the 1970s, it’s only been in the last few years that HIIT has taken off in a big way. HIIT is all reaching your maximum threshold in a very short amount of time. Typically, HIIT sessions don’t last more than 20 to 30 minutes. It’s a good thing too because let me tell you, these workouts are tough.
Shorter, Harder, Better
HIIT workouts go like this – you conduct an active warmup for 5 to 10 minutes, then launch into an intense session of interval training. The workouts can target specific muscle groups or work the entire body. The goal is to get to heart rate up to a very high, but safe, level in a very short amount of time. Many HIIT workouts are centered around working towards muscle burn out.
The main benefit of HIIT is that it allows you to get the same results in 20 minutes that would normally take an hour. It’s definitely intense, but for women looking to save time and get fit, HIIT is proving to be the perfect solution!