Group workouts, app-based training to be big this year

It’s that time of the year when all of us religiously make resolutions (most of which we break in a week or two). And it is fitness that features predominantly on top of our list. So, if you’re looking for what to try out in the gym in 2018, here is a round up some of the trends that look set to be big.

Working out in groups and with friends is set to become more popular.

Research shows that group exercise helps people stick to their long-term goals, whether in a competitive environment or not, and that social interaction, motivation and fun are things that keep people hooked. A recent study also suggested that those who worked out in a group benefited from lower stress levels, and bigger improvements in mental, physical and emotional quality of life than those who worked out alone, even though those who exercised alone worked out for twice as long.

With a host of new online videos, apps and wearables, being introduced every other day, people no longer need to pay for pricey gym memberships to stay in shape. Apps like Aaptiv, Fitstar Personal Trainer and Workout Trainer, among many others, give one a range of options from seven-minute workouts to work out-at-your-desk and more.

With Virtual reality making it to the mainstream last year, it is set to transform the way we experience our workouts. Gyms may come up with floor-to-ceiling cinematic projections, surround sound, choreographed lighting and even scent to make you feel like you’re on a beach in Thailand as you do your yoga. You might be taken on a High intensity interval training (HIIT ) workout that includes a treasure hunt in the woods, or a yoga class set to live orchestra music in a candlelit church.

Hot yoga has been around for quite some time. Over the years, it has become the go-to work out for the likes of David Beckham, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney who rave about the many health benefits of this sweaty workout. For the uninitiated, hot yoga refers to yoga exercises performed under hot and humid conditions. Hot yoga warms the muscles, improving flexibility as well as aiding detoxification, boosting weight loss, clearing the respiratory system, and creating a more intense environment for more ‘cardiovascular’ types of yoga. Not just yoga, don’t be surprised if classes like Hot Cycling and HIIT begin to appear on timetables.