New trends in exercise

Tired of jogging around the same park every day? Fed up with lunges and crunches? If you’re getting bored doing the same old fitness routine every week, it might be time to shake things up a little.

Fortunately, we’ve done some digging to find the year’s most popular new exercise trends for gym junkies and novices alike. Time to lace up those trainers and jump on the bandwagon – there’s something here for everyone.

Aerial yoga

Don’t let the name fool you – aerial yoga isn’t nearly as scary it sounds! Designed to step up your regular yoga session, aerial yoga involves performing all of your usual poses and sequences while suspended in a stretchy, cloth hammock. The practice is designed to give you greater freedom of movement, while challenging your muscles more due to the pull of gravity. It’s yoga, but elevated (literally!). And don’t worry – you won’t tear the hammock!

Spin cycling

If you’re trying to get fit fast, spin cycling is the exercise you’ve been searching for. Sometime known as indoor cycling, spin cycling is a high-intensity, fast-paced cycling workout that typically takes place on a stationary bike with a weighted front wheel. The bike’s gears can be adjusted to change resistance, meaning you can slow it down or take it up a notch according to your fitness level. Most spin classes take place with at least a dozen participants and some also incorporate disco-like lights and music. The result is a fun and functional fitness class that’s bound to get your heart pumping and thighs burning.

TRX training

TRX – or Total Resistance Exercise – was developed in 2004 by a U.S Navy SEAL in response to the limited fitness equipment available to soldiers once deployed. The exercise, now wildly popular with fitness lovers around the world, involves using nothing but suspension straps and your own body weight to perform an intense, full-body workout. The straps can be attached to any sturdy structure (i.e. door frames or wooden beams), allowing the user to perform a number of different exercises in which they will push and pull against their own weight. TRX training helps develop strength, flexibility, balance and core stability, and is great for all fitness levels.

Group training

If you struggle to get motivated, or even if you just get bored while exercising alone, group training might just be the thing for you. Almost all gyms and personal trainers offer group training classes – from cardio and HIIT, to boxing and pilates – so you’re sure to find something to suit your interests and fitness level. Group training is an excellent way to stay motivated and accountable, and is also a great solution for the time poor, combining exercising and socialising into one jam-packed hour.