Group cardio sessions are among the top trends among UK fitness enthusiasts. Some 4.86m Brits are taking part in group classes every week, an increase of one million participants since 2016, and according to Total Fitness, this is a trend which will continue, as the leading health club has seen a 17 per cent increase in fitness class bookings for the year to date, compared to the same period in 2017.
The chain’s Ian Twitchen shared his expert insights on the exercise trends that are set to take over gyms, fitness studios and even living rooms this summer.
- Dance yourself fit: Dance-based exercise has been steadily growing in popularity and the benefits are second to none, as the varied movements work every muscle group in the body, whilst giving you that all important cardio hit.
- Pedal power: Spin classes are the most attended and the popularity of cycling shows no sign of slowing down. It’s a great choice for all abilities as these classes let you set your own pace but will push you to work as hard as you possibly can. It’s an excellent calorie burner that also builds lean muscle, particularly in the core and leg areas.
- Swim to win: Another hugely popular category of fitness classes are those that take place in the pool. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it gets the whole body moving – and water aerobics are particularly popular amongst older demographics, as in-pool activities are gentler on the joints.
- HiiT the ground running: No matter how long or short you exercise for, every minute of movement counts. This is why High Intensity Interval Training, more commonly known as HiiT, can be the perfect place to start if you’re struggling to drag yourself to the gym. HiiT workouts are predominantly cardio-based and involve pushing yourself to your absolute limit in very short bursts, then resting before repeating the action. These intervals of intense exercise are incredibly effective at burning calories and help the body to continue burning calories, even after your workout is finished.
