Fitness trends 2019: wearables, group training and HIIT
In 2019, wearable technology was number 1 again. Group training and HIIT stayed close behind, so technology and the club experience set the tone together.
Top 10 fitness trends in 2019
The ranking below follows ACSM's Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends. We keep the original terms recognizable, so the list remains easy to compare with other years.
- Wearable technology
- Group training
- HIIT
- Fitness programs for older adults
- Bodyweight training
- Employing certified fitness professionals
- Yoga
- Personal training
- Functional fitness training
- Exercise is Medicine
What stands out in 2019?
The return of wearables to first place shows that measurement had become structural. Trackers and smartwatches were no longer just gadgets.
Programs for older adults reached fourth place. That is an important signal: fitness had to connect better with an aging target group.
Exercise is Medicine remained in the top ten. Health, prevention and lifestyle increasingly became part of fitness positioning.
What does this mean for exercisers?
For exercisers, 2019 became a year in which data and guidance moved closer together. You could measure performance and discuss it with a trainer.
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- Planning, member management and coaching in one platform
- Built for coaches, studios and gyms
- Fewer separate tools, more overview
Older exercisers received more attention, which fits well with strength training, balance, mobility and maintaining independence.
What does this mean for gyms and coaches?
For clubs, the opportunity lay in combined products. Group classes, wearables and coaching could together create a more complete member experience.
The target group became broader. Clubs that focused only on young, high-intensity exercisers missed a growing group of adults and seniors.
How does 2019 fit into the longer trend?
2019 marks the transition to a market in which technology remains at the top. In 2020, more emphasis is added on free weights and health.
Continue reading in the series: Fitness trends 2018: HIIT and group training at the top | fitness trends by year | Fitness trends 2020: wearables and free weights.
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