17 Top Fitness Trends For 2024

Wondering what the latest fitness trends are? Well, you’re in the right place!

In this article, we’ll discuss the most talked about training methods, as well as how different fitness technologies and equipment are revolutionising our approach to exercise.

We’ll also predict some future fitness trends, and explore some of the reasons why they’re so popular right now!

If you’d like to implement some of these trends in a professional capacity, the best place to start is with OriGym’s Personal Training Diploma!

Enquire today or download and browse our free course prospectus for more information on what we offer!

What Has Caused A Surge In New Trends In The Fitness Industry?

Over the last few years, the fitness industry has faced more challenges than ever before. 

From the closing of gyms during national lockdowns, to their re-opening a few months later, businesses and brands have been forced to quickly adapt to meet the needs of consumers and, ultimately, to survive.

However, these challenges have led to the rise of several of the latest fitness trends and trends in health more holistically.

For instance, the shift during lockdown to online platforms and apps has meant new fitness technology trends, with many becoming online personal trainers and online fitness coaches.

Covid-19 has also led to people being generally more health conscious, focusing on holistic wellbeing more than ever before, which is reflected in some of the latest fitness trends.

Finally, the emerging trends in health and fitness of hybrid training and of more ‘fun’ forms of exercise, which offer the chance for more socialisation, reflect the world slowly adapting to a ‘new normal’ and being in contact once again.

Top Fitness Trends Predicted for 2024

From fitness equipment trends to popular workout styles, let’s jump in and explore some of the latest trends in fitness for 2024!

#1 - An Increase In Home Gyms

Although popular pre-pandemic,  lockdown accelerated the popularity of home workouts and led to some of the biggest fitness equipment trends, and particularly with people building home gyms.

This is still one of the biggest current fitness trends, as people are continuing to make the most of the equipment they’ve invested in.

Consequently, the demand for at-home gym equipment remains high, and continues to be one of the trends in health and fitness for this year.

Smart fitness equipment is another one of the biggest fitness technology trends, with devices that connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to stream virtual classes and interact with other users.

For instance, brands such as Peloton, who sell stationary bikes that allow you to train with a virtual coach, remain one of the latest fitness trends that will stick around.

This is because, for a lot of people, smart home equipment is often more cost effective over time if they usually stick to one piece of equipment or one style of class.

You don’t have to invest in several expensive cardio machines to capitalise on this trend; you could go much more minimal and invest in some free weights or a yoga mat instead! 

#2 - Gyms Starting Hybrid Memberships

Another one of the latest fitness trends is a combination of people heading back to the gym whilst still embracing the home workouts established during lockdown.

Some people have embraced the best of both worlds heading to the gym a few days a week, whilst still capitalising on the fitness technology trends and working out at home when it’s more convenient.

As a result, many gyms have chosen to adapt to health and fitness industry trends such as this one, and boost their gym revenue with hybrid memberships.

This allows members to use all of the equipment on the gym floor, and join in-person classes, combined with virtual workouts that they can perform in the comfort of their own homes.

The virtual workouts are frequently offered through apps developed by the gyms themselves or taking a leaf out of the best fitness YouTube channels with online video content to stream.

Despite reduced gym or studio attendance on Mondays and Fridays, as more people work from home, this has allowed gyms to begin rebuilding business after the financial devastation of lockdown.

ABC Fitness are a great example of this. Their hybrid membership offers a mixture of different at-home and in-person resources to suit any client’s needs!

Their flagship package provides the best of both worlds, allowing them to both retain their in-person customers, and attract those looking for high-quality online classes. 

#3 - Increased Concern About Gym Hygiene

In a world forced to be more aware of contamination during Covid, one of the latest fitness trends to emerge is a heightened awareness of hygiene in sports centres and gyms.

In a 2020 study, researchers found that approximately ¼ of the surfaces that they tested harboured drug-resistant bacteria and other pathogens and confirmed that infection control protocols should therefore be implemented in all public spaces. 

Most gyms have therefore introduced new hygiene and safety measures in order to reduce transmission. Some of these include:

• Compulsory sanitisation of equipment after use
• A reduction in class sizes
• A limit on the number of members in gyms at any one time.

Consequently, many brands have capitalised on these health and fitness trends, and have chosen to introduce or push products that allow users to prioritise their gym hygiene levels and wellbeing. 

For instance, well-known fitness brands such as Sweaty Betty and Gymshark offer sweat towels, whilst La Pochette now sells machine-washable antibacterial bags that allow you to separate sweaty gym clothes from other items within their bags.

With this heightened awareness and sensitivity towards hygiene, it’s one of the biggest current trends in the fitness industry.

If you want to learn more about career opportunities in the industry, familiarize yourself with the best-paid fitness jobs.

#4 - More Frequent Outdoor Exercise

With 90% of our time being spent indoors during lockdown, it’s no surprise that the next on our list of physical fitness trends is an increase in people choosing to exercise outdoors.

Although many people chose to begin working out from the comfort of their own homes when gyms closed, others chose to benefit from the great outdoors instead when restrictions first started to be reduced.

Outdoor exercise continues to be one of the biggest global fitness trends as it’s ideal for those who remain hesitant about returning to the gym or other fitness facilities.

Not only does it offer an alternative form of exercise for the clinically vulnerable, but outdoor training and forms of exercise such as:

• Bike rides
• Organised hikes
• Group walks
• Running meets

One of the most interesting future fitness trends in this vein is the increasing popularity of stroller fitness.

Stroller fitness is one of the latest fitness trends that offers parents the benefits of exercising outdoors whilst bonding with their babies.

It may sound like a fitness fad, but don’t underestimate the power of walking with a stroller! The intensity of this exercise can easily be increased and made to incorporate some of the following:

• Calf stretches
• Lunges and lunge walks
• Upper chest exercises, such as chest presses or pulls

#5 - Increased Demand For Shorter Workouts

As more people return to work and our lives become busier again, one of the latest health and fitness trends is making workouts as quick and effective as possible.

Known as the ‘micro workout’, this is one of the latest fitness trends to incorporate a holistic workout that embraces:

• Strength training
• Flexibility training
• Mobility exercises
• Cardio and aerobics

For instance, you may set a goal of performing 100 squats by the end of the day, which can be broken up into sets of 10. 

Whenever you find yourself with a spare 5 minutes, you can then perform one set of 10 reps, and then repeat this every half an hour!

This is a great way to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, and the health risks that come with it, without altering your routine drastically. 

As well as being one of the best physical fitness trends for those who have little free time, micro workouts are also great for those who struggle with their fitness motivation. 

If you feel that you fit into one of these categories, then micro workouts could be one of the most exciting current fitness trends for you to try out!

#6 - Increased Popularity in HIIT Workouts

Next on our list of the latest fitness trends is another one for fans of a shorter workout!

HIIT workouts, standing for high-intensity interval training, consist of short bursts of activity, with short rest periods in between.

As an intense form of exercise that can be performed in a relatively short period of time, HIIT is therefore one of the most efficient ways of working out! 

As well as being time efficient, another one of the benefits of HIIT training is that it’s great for losing weight.

Due to its intense nature, HIIT burns more calories than the average low-intensity workout, as shown in this 2015 study.

Researchers found that HIIT came out on top above:

• Weight training
• Running
• Cycling

HIIT was found to burn 25-30% more calories than these other forms of exercise!

HIIT also continues to be one of the most popular global fitness trends, because of its suitability for a range of abilities, as well as its accessibility.

For instance, HIIT can be performed using machines such as stationary bikes or ellipticals, but you can also perform it simply using intervals of bodyweight exercises, or running uphill in spurts.

This remains one of the biggest fitness technology trends too, with HIIT apps being some of the home workout favourites during lockdown.

Fitness influencers such as Joe Wicks have contributed to HIIT being one of the biggest trends in the fitness industry too, by releasing free workouts on YouTube and Instagram.

#7 - Lower-Impact Exercise to Protect Joints

As popular as HIIT workouts continue to be, low-impact workouts are also one of the growing health and fitness industry trends.

Rather than exercising purely for aesthetic reasons, one of the latest fitness trends has been a renewed focus on holistic health and wellbeing.

This means that people are looking to work on daily functional movements, in order to improve:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Mobility

Low impact workouts are highly beneficial for these elements of physical health, and performing them can help reduce the risk of injury in more intense workouts.

Some of the low impact exercises that remain some of the biggest trends in the fitness industry are:

• Walking
• Rowing
• Yoga & Pilates
• Swimming
• Barre

In fact, data from review-discovery platform BrandRated revealed that online searches for ‘indoor rowing’ increased by 990% between July 2020 and 2021! 

The above exercises respectively strengthen the muscle without putting too heavy a strain on the body, especially joints.

#8 - Overall Wellness as a Fitness Goal

As we have discussed, one of the latest trends in health and fitness is the growing popularity of exercises that help with holistic wellbeing rather than just aesthetic goals.

For instance, scientific studies have shown that gentle yoga styles can help to boost the immune system.

The physical stretches that yoga practice involves, plus the added benefits of meditation, help to promote mental as well as physical wellbeing.

This shows how attitudes towards fitness today are beginning to shift, and are going beyond achieving the perfect bikini body.

That’s why we’re beginning to see the latest fitness trends embrace overall wellness and use exercise as part of a regime including:

• Getting a good night’s sleep
• Consuming a healthy and balanced diet
• Taking supplements
• Prioritising recovery, including stretching, foam rolling, and sports massage
• Incorporating meditation into your daily routine

This is known as ‘360 wellness’ and, as one of the hot fitness trends, is also becoming a key message promoted by many health and fitness brands.

#9 - Treating Exercise as Treatment or Medicine

One of the growing fitness trends is the idea that exercise can be used to aid injury and illness both as a preventative measure and a treatment.

Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is a global health initiative that has been designed to promote these ideas. 

Provided by Anytime Fitness and Technogym, EIM aims to make physical activity assessment a standard in clinical care for people of all abilities.

They aim to connect health care with evidence-based physical activity resources, to promote exercise’s role in medical care!

Another new initiative which promotes exercise as a form of treatment is CrossFit’s ‘Precision Care’ health programme. 

Originally founded with the aim of pushing people towards fitness and preventing illness, CrossFit-trained health professionals provide personal healthcare through the programme, based on:

• Your unique genes
• Your biomarkers
• Any specific goals and needs you may have

You may already be familiar with some of these ideas through the exercise referral process. These initiatives take some of these ideas and use the following to focus on exercise as a preventative treatment:

• Blood tests
• Genetic analysis
• Doctor consultations

EIM and ‘Precision Care’ are just two examples of recent initiatives which promote exercise as medicine, which continues to grow as one of the biggest trends in the fitness industry for this year!

#10 - Incorporating Mind-Body Practices into Fitness Regimes

We’ve already discussed how exercise for physical wellness is one of the current trends in fitness this year, but the mental health benefits of exercise are another key focus.

Following the pandemic, many people are looking for ways to ease stress and anxiety and so have turned to mind-body practices.

A mind-body practice is considered to be a type of complementary and alternative medicine, which utilises a mixture of the following, to relax both and mind:

• Movements of the body
• Mental focus
• Controlled breathing

Some common examples of this type of practice include:

• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Meditation

These latest fitness trends grew hugely in popularity during lockdown. As a result, many of these can be found as part of class timetables in gyms and health clubs, right alongside more traditional gym classes!

Even national gym chains, like Virgin Active, have started to incorporate more alternative exercises into their timetable:

In fact, these trends in the fitness industry have sparked interest in neuroscientific research, which shows that practices like these develop a process called neuroplasticity.

This is the improvement of cognitive function and the brain’s ability to adapt to emotional, physical, and mental circumstances.

The more you practice activities such as yoga and meditation, the more neurological connections are built between the mind and body. 

This process alters the structure and functioning of the brain, and can help to change your response when stressful situations arise.

Issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress account for 1 in 5 GP appointments in the UK, so healthcare professionals are beginning to prescribe these mind-body practices as treatment.

No matter your age or ability, there are therefore several benefits to mind-body practices, so it's no surprise that they are one of the biggest current trends in the fitness industry!

#11 - Increased Use of Wearable Wellness Trackers

Due to their popularity over the past few years, wearable fitness trackers are not one of the biggest fitness technology trends on our list.

However, this year companies are developing fitness trackers which are even more innovative, because they are going beyond just providing fitness metrics.

Following some of the holistic wellbeing trends in the fitness industry, many people are looking to brands to provide new ways for them to feel their best, and build healthy lifestyles. This is where wellness trackers come in!

Advances in wearable fitness trackers, smart watches, and heart rate monitors have made it easier for the health conscious to collect new metrics such as:

• Blood pressure
• Oxygen saturation
• Respiratory rate

Some trackers even offer an electrocardiogram option, to help you keep on top of your heart health!

Human performance company WHOOP has released a new version of their fitness and recovery tracker with new features and capabilities including a skin temperature sensor and a sleep coach!

#12 - Increased Demand for Wellness Coaches

Wellness coaches have become one of the biggest health and fitness industry trends for this year, as they help to establish long term habits and achieve the aforementioned ‘360 wellness’.

Rather than focusing purely on fitness, health and wellness coaches use theories of behaviour science to create their training programmes.

Wellness coaches are also train in implementing strategies to cultivate positive mindsets, as well as those that will help to increase their client’s confidence and sense of motivation. This means that clients will not only be able to reach their goals in the gym, but also in everyday life too!

Milla Lascelles is a perfect example of the holistic approach to wellbeing that these coaches have, and the diverse range of services they offer.

Milla works with individuals, runs retreats, and even works with corporations in wellness workshops!

She was even featured in Vogue in 2021 to promote the benefits of wellness coaches in general, just as we were easing restrictions and moving out of lockdowns!

#13 - Centering Music and Collaborations with Musicians

Exercising to music is far from a new trend in the fitness industry with plenty of people centering classes around particular styles of music, or aiming to create the definitive workout playlist!

The reason it’s one of the newest fitness trends to surge in popularity is that more brands and companies are beginning to capitalise on the use of music as a tool for improving performance and engagement with their clients!

For instance, the stationary cycling brand Peloton has collaborated with artists such as Beyonce and Billie Eilish to launch live workout classes which harness the power of music, and get consumers excited to exercise at home!

Following the trend of 360 wellness, listening to music is now not only considered to be a great way to push through a workout, but is also a popular tool for helping you to relax, de-stress, and even fall asleep.

Popular wellness apps such as Calm and Headspace, which in themselves have grown in popularity throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, use music as soundtracks to their meditations.

Similarly, the smartphone app Endel creates personalised ‘soundscapes’ based on your individual biometric data to calm your mind and lull you into a deep sleep!

#14 - Pushing For Inclusivity in Fitness

One of the most significant differences with these trends in the fitness industry is the challenging of old ideals to create a more diverse and inclusive fitness industry.

For instance, fitness streaming app Kakana offers classes which are tailored specifically to people with limited mobility with many of the instructors themselves leading classes from their wheelchairs.

Similarly, Jabbie is another inclusive and body positive app which goes above and beyond current health and fitness industry trends.

Founded by activist and researcher Joy Cox, Jabbie encourages people to move their bodies in a way that suits their own needs, interests, and abilities, rather than what society deems to be the ‘correct way’.

The free fitness app Joyn also offers a range of classes including:

• Dance
• HIIT
• Yoga
• Stretching

All of these have the option to perform the movements sitting, standing, or lying down.

With the key brand message ‘movement for everybody’, Joyn has personal trainers with disabilities to represent different identities and body sizes instructors represent a range of different identities and body sizes, making them the perfect advocates for these current fitness trends.

Just as anybody can exercise, anybody can become a PT too. Check out OriGym’s article on becoming a personal trainer with a disability to find out more!

#15 - Live Online Fitness Classes

One of the biggest fitness technology trends for this year is the rise of live workouts and fitness classes, which can all be streamed and performed from the comfort of your own home.

Many big fitness brands have created subscription-based virtual streaming services, which are designed to replicate group fitness classes at home using digital streaming technology.

The reason that remote fitness classes have become one of the hot fitness trends so quickly is because they increase the reach of instructors to a larger audience.

As a result of these new technologies being developed during the pandemic, the ‘theatre’ of fitness will return as one of the future fitness trends for this year, as more people are able to participate in interactive online classes.

According to Les Mills’ Global Report, having ‘rock-star instructors’ leading classes such as these has been the single most important factor when choosing between classes, more so than the type of class or the music being played.

From these online, live-streamed workouts, one of the newest fitness trends is the increase in celebrity personal trainers, their agents, and even the merchandise they produce!

#16 - Privileging Fun and Group Fitness Classes 

Alongside online fitness classes, one of the new group fitness trends is forms of exercise which focus less on calorie burn or intensity, and more on how we feel whilst working out.

Following the pandemic, ‘fun fitness’ is emerging as one of the biggest trends in the fitness industry as we start to embrace the benefits of group exercise and making working out more sociable again!

For instance, classes which create a sense of community and togetherness are growing rapidly such as:

• Trampolining
• Trapeze
• Roller skating

Another example of one of these new group fitness trends is ZUU, an army-inspired form of HIIT founded in Australia. 

Although originally designed for Elite Sports and Australian armed forces, ZUU uses animal-inspired exercises such as bear crawls, gorilla walks, and donkey kicks, to help the average person increase their endurance, flexibility, and functional strength skills.

If you’re a TikTok user, it’s likely that you’ve seen the weighted hula hoop hashtag, which now has over 198 million views.

This is a group exercise trend that can help to:

• Improve posture
• Engage your core
• Improve flexibility

So, these new group fitness trends are not just great for becoming sociable again but also for a number of important physical goals!

#17 - Focusing on Endurance With Reverse Running

The final, and perhaps most unique, on our list of the latest trends in fitness is reverse or backwards running.

This trend is great for those hoping to rehabilitate themselves after sustaining an injury to the hamstrings, lower back, or knee joints.

This is because it reduces any imbalances you may have between the anterior and posterior muscles, which helps to lower the impact on your knees that running can sometimes have.

Running backwards also creates a greater range of motion at the hip joints, which helps to improve posture and creates greater activation of your calf and quad muscles.

It can also create a greater cardiovascular demand than traditional running, which in the long run can improve endurance and aerobic capacity.

Before You Go!

We hope our list of the latest fitness industry trends has sparked some inspiration! Hopefully you’ve seen something you want to try, the benefits of something you’ve started doing, or how to strike the balance between home workouts and the gym!

Don’t forget, if you want to pursue a career in fitness, and capitalise on some of these trends as a PT or gym instructor, check out OriGym’s PT Diploma.

You can also download our free complete course prospectus for more information on everything we offer!

References

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2. Mark W. LaBelle et.al., ‘Infection Risk Reduction Program on Pathogens in High School and Collegiate Athletic Training Rooms’, in Sports Health, (Jan/Feb 2020, Vol. 12, Issue 1), pp.51-57
3. Paul H. Falcone et.al., ‘Caloric Expenditure of Aerobic, Resistance, or Combined High-intensity Interval Training Using a Hydraulic Resistance System in Healthy Men’, in Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, (March 2014, Vol. 29, Issue 3), pp.779-785
4. Yeun YR, Kim SD. Effects of yoga on immune function: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 Aug;44:101446. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101446. Epub 2021 Jul 10. PMID: 34265577.