Will the new fitness trends for 2019 be suitable for business travellers?
Now in its 13th year, the American College of Sports Medicine electronically surveys thousands of fitness professionals around the world to determine the fitness trends most likely to have a positive impact within the industry. The survey very specifically sources information regarding trends rather than fads providing the following guidance:
- Trend: “a general development or change in a situation or in the way that people are behaving”
- Fad: “a fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period”
It’s refreshing to see worksite health promotion and workplace wellbeing programmes enter the top 20 trends this year moving up to number 15. This indicates an increasing number of organisations are recognising the links between health, costs and productivity. As a result, more employers are introducing a range of programmes and services to help improve the wellbeing of their workforce.
The top five predicted fitness trends rank as follows:
1 Wearable Technology
Wearable technology jumps back into the number 1 spot as data accuracy continues to improve. Fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices are readily accessible and popular brands include Misfit, Garmin and Apple. They are the perfect fitness companion for the business traveller when it comes to tracking, motivation and accountability.
2 Group Training
Check out the classes at your hotel gym and benefit from the expert guidance of a group exercise instructor. Alternatively, contact the running or swimming club in the area you’re staying and ask to participate in their training sessions. You could also encourage fellow business travellers to join you for a pre-breakfast walk. The exposure to natural light will help to stimulate ideas and will ease any jet lag too.
3 HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) involves bursts of high-intensity activity (above 90%) followed by short periods of rest. HIIT is a fast, fun and effective way of staying fit when you’re travelling for business. The workouts are short, equipment free and can be done in the comfort of your hotel room.
4 Fitness Programs for Older Adults
With the rising retirement age and increased life expectancy exercise is becoming an important part of life for baby boomers and older generations too.
5 Body Weight Training
Body weight training is perfect for the business traveller as all you need to get started is you! Bodyweight exercises include; squats, press ups, lunges, planks, flutter kicks, commandos, mountain climbers, thrusters, burpees and tuck jumps, none of which you need a vast amount of space or time to do. CLICK HERE for some bodyweight workouts designed to be completed in your hotel room, hotel gym or outside in a park.
Remember regardless of trends, the key to staying fit whilst travelling for business is to choose an activity you enjoy. Here’s a to a fit and healthy 2019!
© 2019 Executive Travel Vitality
