5 Fitness Trends for 2015

By Betty Murray

Fitness trends come and go; some stick and some fade into distant memory. Each year the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) releases a fitness trend forecast for the following year based on survey responses from thousands of fitness professionals.

What’s trending this year? According to ACSM, here are five of the top fitness trends for 2015:

• Body Weight Training — Drop the heavy equipment and go back to the basics with body weight training. These exercises (not limited to push-ups and pull-ups) use your body weight to build strength, rather than relying on weights and other equipment. Some examples of body weight exercises include: squats, lunges, and burpees.

• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) — Short bursts of exercise followed by short periods of recovery. For example, 60 seconds of jumping jacks followed by 20 seconds of rest. HIIT workouts are usually completed in 30 minutes or less.

• Yoga – Beneficial for flexibility, strength, posture, stress relief, and heart health, the ancient practice of yoga isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Yoga is an ideal workout for people of any fitness level.

• Functional Fitness — An exercise trend focused on strength training and balance to mimic and improve every day activities, such as lifting.

• Strength Training — Strength training has been and will continue to be a central focus for health and fitness. A well-rounded fitness program incorporates a balance of both cardio and strength training. Strength training is for people of any fitness level, and despite the common misconception, strength training does not require building bulk muscle.

You may have noticed that these fitness trends do not require purchasing expensive equipment, and most do not require access to a gym.  The best fitness program for you is one you have access to anytime, anywhere. If you are limited by access to a fitness club or equipment, you may be less likely to get your regular workouts in as scheduled. When you are more focused on workouts you can do no matter where you may be, you have no excuse not to get your workout in.

Betty Murray, CN, HHC, RYT is a Certified Nutritionist & Holistic Health Counselor, founder of the Dallas-based integrative medical center, Wellness and founder of the Metabolic Blueprint wellness program. Betty’s nutrition counseling practice specializes in metabolic and digestive disorders and weight loss resistance. A master of the biochemistry of the body, Betty teaches her clients how to utilize nutritional interventions to improve their health. Betty is a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.