4 Fitness Trends Expected in 2022
1,140 total views, 2 views today
2022 is coming soon, and it’s sure to be unlike any year before. As the COVID-19 pandemic, wanes and waxes, many facets of life may feel somewhat more normal, but one that won’t ever be quite the same is fitness. Home fitness skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple of years, but will fitness be the same after COVID? Read on below for four of the biggest fitness trends expected in 2022.
Wearable fitness tech
One major fitness trend of the last few years that will likely continue to grow in popularity in 2022 is wearable fitness tech accessories. It seems that nowadays nearly everyone wears a smartwatch, but that’s just the beginning.
There are many wearable fitness accessories on the market now, including rings and armbands that can count your steps, monitor your heart rate, and track your workouts, such as running or swimming. In our increasingly connected world, many of these devices can be used to challenge or compare workouts with friends who live far away!
Small workouts throughout the day
One important philosophy taking hold at the beginning of this decade is the idea of fitness as a broad part of a healthy lifestyle, and not as something that needs to take multiple hours to be worthwhile. In the past, the stereotype of a healthy and fit person was of someone who “works out,” but that may not be the case in 2022.
Recent science has pointed to the fact that walking instead of running and doing small physical tasks throughout the day can actually be better for overall health than a few hours of focused exercise. The focus of fitness in 2022 may thus be geared more towards general health and less towards aesthetic or high-performance-based fitness. Keep that in mind when developing your 2022 fitness routine!
Virtual reality fitness
With the increasing popularity of virtual reality, the integration of VR into the fitness world is expected to hit hard in 2022. The opportunities for VR to expand into fitness are limitless, with many large companies currently exploring virtual sports, programs that let you experience another setting while on a treadmill or stationary bike, and even virtual reality fitness games.
Many of the smart home fitness machines that are already on the market will receive some exciting updates and improvements this upcoming year.
Going back to the gym
While home fitness took over the fitness space in 2020 and 2021, there will be a resurgence of fitness classes, gym memberships, and in-person fitness events in 2022. Races and other athletic events that were canceled or postponed for the last few years have been rescheduled to go forward in 2022.
Home fitness has its benefits, but being able to go back to the gym and in-person events will be good not only for physical fitness but for mental well-being as well. Having people to push you to work harder is key for better physical fitness, and thankfully the world may be able to return to that this year!