The Top Fitness Trends of 2019

Even though the cornerstones of health and fitness are fairly concrete (consume fewer calories than you burn—and make sure those calories are derived from nutritious, whole foods), we like to shake up our methods. We’ve seen trends change over the decades from fat-burning DVDs to sport-specific training. Don’t deny it: You’ve probably searched for workouts that’ll turn you into Tom Brady.

Wolters Kluwer Health just released its 13th annual Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2019, comprising intel from more than 2,000 health and fitness professionals.

“The survey was designed to confirm or to introduce new trends (not fads) that have a perceived positive impact on the industry according to the international respondent,” Walter R. Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, of Georgia State University, Atlanta, and Immediate Past-President of ACSM says in a press release.

The top 20 include workplace health and fitness promotions (No. 15), as well as a boom in employment of certified fitness professionals (No. 6). However, trends that have fallen from the list include circuit weight training, sport-specific training, and core training.

Check out the top five fitness trends of 2019 below.

5. Bodyweight Training
Bodyweight training can be overlooked by gym maniacs who prioritize how much metal they can press over the quality of their movements. But using your own bodyweight as resistance is a killer way to safely build muscle. Training smarter, not necessarily harder is taking precedence in personal and group training, so it’s no surprise this hits the list at No. 5.

4. Fitness Programs for Older Adults
Fitness programs for older adults have made some serious headway, surging to the top 10 in recent years. It’s not always easy to build muscle over the age of 40, but regimens that emphasize flexibility, mobility, and strength can help minimize the risk of injury and keep older adults healthier in the long run.

3. High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Our inclination to torch calories as efficiently as possible hasn’t faltered: HIIT is still incredibly popular among fitnesss enthusiasts, ranking third on the list. High-intensity interval training includes any short bouts of rigorous exercise, followed by minimal rest periods. They rev your heart rate and turn workouts metabolic, meaning you burn fat long after you finish the workout.

2. Group Training
Fitness classes are still booming, holding the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row. There’s a distinction, though. The survey classified group training as classes with more than five participants. Small group personal training hit lower on the list (No. 19).

1. Fitness Trackers
Wearables reign supreme for 2019. Interestingly enough, they were at the top of the ranking for two years before dropping to No. 3 in last year’s survery. It “may be the result of manufacturers correcting some monitoring inaccuracies of the past,” Thompson guesses.