Now that the festive season is over for another year, our thoughts turn from champagne and Christmas parties to what fitness trends to look out for in 2019. From LIIT to HIIT, these are the trends that will be taking the country by storm this year.
Fitness gets LIIT
If you didn’t hear of HIIT in 2018, well, where were you? Whether or not High Intensity Interval Training was for you, HIIT’s rival, LIIT, is coming to town in 2019. Standing for ‘Low Intensity Interval Training’ it offers a workout at a completely different pace to HIIT. LIIT classes are more about slow movements and good form, so expect to switch jumping jacks for slowed down squats.
While they are great for anyone new to fitness or anyone coming back to it after a break, don’t be fooled into thinking these slowed down sessions are easy. They’re also good for anyone who’s training at a high pace regularly, to help strengthen the body and recover. At David Lloyd Clubs, signature SYNRGY classes will be adapted to include LIIT training.
HIIT remains…a HIT
Though LIIT might take centre stage in 2019, there’s no getting rid of the ever-popular HIIT training. HIIT classes are so dynamic, varied and, well, intense, that people keep coming back for more. Workouts might include anything from squat jumps to skipping, boxing to burpees. At David Lloyd Clubs, our bespoke Blaze classes run for 45 or 55 minutes and combine cardio, strength training and combat, for a HIIT mix that’s bound to keep your heart beating.
The reason why HIIT is effective is that you work to 100% of your ability for short periods of time (2-3 minutes) and then rest, sometimes actively, before ramping up to 100% again. As your heart is constantly adjusting to the changing conditions, your body learns to adapt and the changes in pace help to kick your metabolism into gear, meaning you burn calories long after the class has finished.
Row is the new cycle
Just as spinning rose to fame in 2010, 2019 is going to put the same spotlight on rowing. Boutique rowing studios have begun to pop up around the country and the humble rowing machine will begin to be incorporated more in classes.
‘Rowing has the benefit of targeting a large amount of the body’s muscle groups,’ explains Michelle Dand, Head of Fitness Product and Programming at David Lloyd Clubs. ‘It works the legs, core and arms, so it’s a real all-rounder.’ Just like cycling, rowing can be done to music and the intensity on the rower adapted to make it more difficult, so there’s a lot of scope for a varied and challenging class.
Wear it well
Wearable tech will continue to dominate in 2019, as training enthusiasts look to know more about their fitness levels and how their body works. Wearable tech can also provide a huge boost to motivation by giving people a thorough analysis of how hard they have worked.
Fitness goers everywhere are looking for ways to make this tracking more and more accurate, so we expect to see more along the lines of technology such as Myzone belts. The MyZone belts are worn around the chest during exercise and track the heartbeat and calories burnt. They allow you to track your workouts and compare your performance as you train.
It’s personal
It’s not just tracking our exercises that’s a huge trend for fitness fanatics, personalising your workout is also going to be big in 2019. ‘This is less about recording your work out and more about tailoring your health and fitness routine so that it is hard working and individual,’ explains Michelle. ‘There are some clever features on the horizon. Among the most impressive is the ability to tap into gym equipment to bring up the relevant info and tracking for that specific machine,’ she adds.
Focus on the over 55s
This year, Public Health England (PHE) released new advice about adults keeping active. The health body advised that adults in retirement age should keep up strength training, as it can help prevent falls, fractures and back pain. In 2019, there will be even more focus on the mature market, encouraging the older generation to try out new classes.
As we get older, we need to move right; mobility, balance and flexibility become more important, so classes such as yoga and body balance are perfect for improving these areas. Building or maintaining muscle strength is also important, so workouts that incorporate heavy resistance are a must.
Discover the classes and experiences David Lloyd Clubs offer here.
