Fitness and Wellness Trend Watch: Spring 2022

1. Have Fun With It

Although, when thinking of getting and staying fit, many of us have the notion in our minds of the solitary gladiator embarking upon early morning runs or gym warriors straining to hit new weight at the gym, in 2022, many of us are shifting our focus to the idea that staying in shape can actually be fun. Joining others in the following ways will help you find new ways to move, form communities, and create a shared feeling of achievement when engaging in physical activity together:

• Group walks/hikes
• Organized sports: whether it’s a pick-up game at the park or joining a recreation league, engaging in team sports is a terrific way to try new activities, meet new people, and find new ways to move
• Group fitness classes with friends in unconventional settings like at the beach or at the lakeshore

2. Cultivating Your Body AND Mind

Take a deep breath. Hold. Exhale. Repeat. That’s it. You just meditated. Focusing on your mental health and peace of mind has been growing in popularity for some time now and shows no sign of slowing down. Maintaining your psychological well-being is becoming just as important as cultivating your physical fitness as both lead to a holistic approach to personal wellness.

You’ve probably heard that meditation is spreading far and wide, for a good reason. The benefits speak for themselves:

• Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
• Building skills to manage your stress
• Increasing self-awareness
• Focusing on the present
• Reducing negative emotions
• Increasing imagination and creativity
• Increasing patience and tolerance

Take a few moments today to sit quietly, clear your mind, and engage in the present moment simply by concentrating on your breath.

3. Virtual Vigour

During the heart of the lockdown, the popularity of online and app-based virtual trainers exploded in the face of gym closures and no longer having access to our personal trainers. Everyone was working from home and working out at home in their living rooms, trying to maintain the consistency and progress they’d achieved before the pandemic. As fitness centres reopen and restrictions ease across the board, some of us are not yet ready to return to the gym. We may prefer to keep our distance for a while longer, meaning virtual fitness will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. If you’re still hesitant about getting back out there, why not try a virtual workout/trainer to start a new way to fit into your fitness routine.

4. New Technology

Artificial intelligence and augmented reality applications in fitness technology advancements continue to shift how people move their bodies. AI programs track exercise movements in real-time, while AR uses visual overlays on video recordings, providing user feedback on posture and technique. On the other hand, the wearables market will continue to grow as technology capabilities allow us to efficiently collect and monitor our health and performance data to make necessary adjustments.