On the 6th of April we celebrate the International Sports Day. In Poland, more and more people start their adventure with a healthy lifestyle, and 30% of Poles are active at least three times a week. Global trends in sports change from year to year, and traditional forms of training are complemented by newer activities combined with sports technology. What will be in fashion in the world of fitness in 2019?
Trend #1. Mobile technology
The Internet and new technologies have established themselves in the world of professional sport for good, and now they are becoming allies of active leisure enthusiasts. According to the “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends 2019” report, the biggest fit trend of this year is mobile technology, including fitness trackers, smart watches and devices for monitoring heart rate, number of calories or sitting time. The trend appeared for the first time in 2016, remaining in the first place for two years, after which it fell to third place in 2018. In Poland, 11% of people who practise sport at least once a month use gadgets to measure the number of steps, distance or pulse (MultiSport Index 2018). One in five active people (18%) use mobile applications to support their training. Interestingly, in the so-called pro-amateur group (training at least three times a week) social media, where we share sports results, are not very popular – only 14% of active people (by definition, training at least once a week) share information about their activity through social media. A little more, 31%, watches instructional videos regarding training online.
Trend #2. Group exercise
The second place in the world of sport trends is occupied by group exercises with an instructor, which are the second most popular way to spend time actively (48%) in Poland, right after individual classes.
– Among MultiSport card users we see constant interest both in group activities as well as individual training in the gym. Classes with a trainer are a great solution for people who start their adventure with activity and those who need more motivation to exercise. The group motivates, and a ready training plan properly implemented in class by a professional instructor allows faster and safer achievement of sports goals – says Adam Radzki from Benefit Systems.
According to the MultiSport Index 2018 report, during group trainings we are usually accompanied by friends (70%) or life partners (17%). Only 6% of people who prefer playing sports in the company exercise with children.
Trend #3. HIIT
A solution to the chronic lack of time is coming – HIIT, which stands for High Intensity Interval Training. Short exercise time and the effect in the form of rapid fat reduction placed HIIT in third place among the global fitness trends. The training consists of short, intense anaerobic exercises combined with lighter cardio exercises. It usually lasts no more than half an hour.
Trend #4. Fitness programmes for seniors
Changes in the society mean that physical activity is no longer just a way to a better figure, but something more. It turns out that 37% of active Poles, i.e. about 7.4 million people, treat regular exercise as a ticket to better health. The trend associated with the activation of older people, which came 9th last year, is coming back to the world of sport trends in the 4th place.
The World Health Organisation recommends the elderly physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week or even very intense activity for at least 20 minutes for three days a week. Although life expectancy is increasing (currently Poland ranks 41st among all countries in the world in terms of life expectancy of its citizens), its quality is not improving, and one of the reasons is the low rate of physical activity among seniors – according to the MultiSport Index 2018 report, up to 56% of people over 60 do not engage in any physical activity. However, there are more and more sports initiatives on the market targeted at the Baby Boomers generation, including fitness classes and sports cards for people over 60, such as MultiSport Senior, the younger brother of the popular MultiSport card.
– According to the UN forecasts, by 2050 the world population of people over 60 is expected to double, and according to experts, in 2030 diseases of affluence will cause as many as 2/3 of deaths in the world. Physical activity can effectively limit their negative consequences. Thus, it is important to support regular activity at every stage of life. It turns out that if one in two inactive Poles began to exercise, the mortality rate in Poland alone would drop by 6% – continues Adam Radzki from Benefit Systems.
Trend #5. Bodyweight
One position higher than last year comes a low-cost bodyweight training, e.g. push-ups, pull-ups, squats or lunges. This type of training uses simple skills, and the exercises are performed with minimal equipment, which is usually found in our homes or in outdoor gyms.
The range of physical activities available on the market is structured in such a way that everyone, regardless of their age, will find something for themselves. Sports and recreation clubs offer both calm and more strenuous forms of training. The body likes variable dynamics of activity, so it's worth differentiating your trainings – sometimes ride a bike and sometimes choose cross fit. It is also worth combining cardio and strength training. All you have to do is want to do it because possibilities are plenty.