Current Fitness Fads!

Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart.

Gene Tunney

If, like me, you sometimes get a little bored with doing the same stuff in the gym or running the same 5/10k route, here's a few ideas to change your exercise plan up a little. Here's What's trending here in the UK at the moment.

Somatic exercise

It seems like people have a lot to get off their chest in 2024, with a 2,120% rise in searches across the UK for emotion-led somatic exercise.

Wellness is at the forefront of this fitness trend, a holistic approach to fitness that addresses your whole self, in a way that makes run of the mill exercise feel outdated.

Through performing physical, emotion-led movements - somatic workouts focus on internal awareness and expressing this in a way that releases emotional tension, whilst building strength.

Exercise snacking

Some fitness trends come and go, but this slow-building fitness trend is here to stay, with short burst exercise ‘snacking’ receiving the second highest rise in searches across the UK (414%).

The exercise snacking method consists of short bursts of one to ten minutes of exercise spread over the course of a day, instead of one long session, for slow-building fitness that’s achievable for all.

These low-impact ‘mini’ workouts can pack quite a metabolic punch for those struggling to get started on their fitness journey, with three ten-minute workouts a day just as effective as one 30-minute session. This trend is a pioneer for inclusive and accessible fitness.

HYROX

Recognised as the fastest growing fitness sport in the world, HROX has taken the UK by storm as the third most popular fitness trend for 2024, with a 306% rise in searches over the past year.

The indoor fitness race combines strength and cardio movements alongside running, where those involved run 1km followed by one functional workout station, repeated eight times.

This high-intensity race is a true full-body workout, with its own global leaderboards and ‘World Championship’ for a fun competitive kick.

Rucking

“Rucking” is soaring in popularity, with a 177% rise in searches over the past year!

Taking things to the next level, rucking involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack for a low impact workout aimed at improving strength and cardiovascular fitness.

This slow-burning workout is by no means new, resurging from military training as a trusted method to improve fitness.

Hard 75

As many people look to test their discipline, Hard 75 has gained momentum as a fitness challenge not for the faint-hearted, with a 177% rise in searches over the past year.

This gruelling challenge consists of five “critical” daily tasks that you must complete every single day for 75 days straight; if you fail, you start all over again.

The tasks consist of following a strict diet, completing two 45-minute workouts a day (one of which must be outdoors), taking a progress picture, drinking one gallon of water and reading ten pages of a non-fiction book - every day.

Sustainable fitness

Starting a fitness routine is the first hurdle, maintaining it is the second - as demonstrated by a 67% search increase for sustainable fitness over the past year.

Setting realistic routines and goals for yourself is essential for the foundations for a sustainable fitness routine, where you can thrive in your fitness journey whilst still having down time.

Unsustainable goals lead to inconsistency and giving up, evident by the 43% of people expected to quit new year’s resolutions after just one month.

Starting your fitness journey as you mean to go on, with sustainable goals and practices that are complementary and maintainable with your lifestyle, will keep you motivated

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