Health and Wellness: What are the Top Fitness Trends for 2014?

BY: Donald Liebenson / millionairecorner

Baby Boomers regard themselves as a vital, “forever young” generation and they are not going lazily into their senior years

In making their New Year’s resolutions, Affluent investors surveyed in December by Spectrem’s Millionaire Corner, were focused on health and wellness more than money management issues.

While less than one-fourth (21 percent) said they resolved to save more money in 2014, the highest percentage (46 percent) said they want to lose weight. Thirty-five percent resolve to eat better, while one third said they would focus on working out more.

What are the top fitness trends for 2014 aimed at helping individuals to keep their resolve in managing their health and wellness issues? The American Council of Sports Medicine recently released its annual survey of 3,500 fitness professionals.

The top 10 are:

1. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): These exercise programs offer maximum effort in a minimum of time (less than 30 minutes) for those who fall back on the old “no time to exercise” excuse.  HIIT involves short bursts of activity followed by a short period of rest or recovery.

2. Body Weight Training: For cost conscious exercisers, body weight training is a back to basics approach that does not require expensive equipment such as weights or a treadmill. Bodyweight training exercises (such as jumping jacks, push ups and burpees) increase strength, build muscle, boost cardiovascular fitness, burn fat, and promote flexibility.

3. Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals. Again, this year’s ACSM survey polled 3,500 fitness professionals. Still, just as investors who work with a financial advisor are strongly encouraged to use one that is certified, so, too, are individuals encouraged to work (out)  with a certified fitness professional.

4. Strength Training.

5. Exercise and Weight Loss.

6. Personal Training. More and more students are majoring in kinesiology, which indicates that they are preparing themselves for careers in allied health fields such as personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for personal trainers have become increasingly important to the health and fitness facilities that employ them.

7. Fitness Programs for Older Adults. Baby Boomers regard themselves as a vital, “forever young” generation and they are not going lazily into their senior years. More than one-third of Affluent Baby Boomers surveyed by Spectrem’s Millionaire Corner currently work out four-to-six days a week. The highest percentage of these respondents (52 percent) have resolved to lose weight in 2014, while four-in-ten are determined to eat better and work out more often.

8. Functional Fitness. A relatively new buzzword, functional fitness focuses on building a body capable of doing real-life activities in real-life positions.

9. Group Personal Training. This is another more affordable option gaining in popularity.

10. Yoga.