Keeping fit is important regardless of age. Since the pandemic, fitness habits have changed, and new fads have taken root. From home gyms to outdoor yoga classes, there have been several new fitness trends over the last couple of years. As this year continues, there are new upcoming trends worth watching, and we are going to look at some of them.
Know Your Limits
Before we dive into the fitness trends to watch in 2022, it is important to recognise that not all of them will be viable for you. Depending on your health, you may struggle with certain exercises. If you have arthritis, you may find these fitness trends too painful to attempt; poor eyesight could also be an obstacle.
Before undertaking any new exercise regimes, consult your doctor for guidance.
VR Fitness
A surge in time spent at home has led to increased adoption of technology for fitness. You may be familiar with the Peloton and Echelon exercise bikes, which connect the rider to online classes with people across the world. Well now you can turn your workout into a game.
With VR (Virtual Reality) technology becoming increasingly affordable, more and more people are diving into this emerging fitness trend. Instead of performing your workout in front of your TV or with friends, you can instead enter a digital world. Depending on the VR system you use, you will be faced with challenges to overcome that get your blood pumping. As well as the satisfaction of keeping fit, you will also be progressing in a game, offering an additional sense of achievement.
Weighted Hula Hooping
Sometimes the best way to keep fit is to get in touch with your childhood. Hula-hooping is a returning craze that is certainly one of the fitness trends to watch in 2022. What sets weighted hula hooping apart is that, as the name suggests, the hoops are a little heavier than the average plastic hoop.
Using a weighted hula hoop can help to increase the strength of your core muscles. Depending on the nature of your workout, it could also increase your arm strength. If you don’t feel like you could handle the weighted variety, exercising with a plastic hula hoop could still benefit your health.
Reverse Running
If you already enjoy going for a jog, reverse running could be one of the fitness trends you need to try. It could also be beneficial for you if you find that a normal run becomes a bit taxing on your joints. Reverse running is said to put less stress on your bones. Moreover, it also uses different muscles, helping to build strength elsewhere in your body.
Running isn’t the only option, of course. You could make a habit of taking some time to walk backwards instead. This will still work your muscles without using quite as much energy. It is also something you could do with a walking frame, should you need one. If you are sometimes unsteady on your feet, make sure you have supervision or a fall detector alarm.
Surfing
With its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo, surfing is fast becoming one of 2022’s fitness trends to watch. It gets you out into the water as well as keeping you active. Whilst you may not be barrelling through crashing waves anytime soon, riding the waves on a surfboard – even if you’re just laying down – can benefit your muscles and joints.
Much as wild swimming is becoming increasingly popular amongst older adults, there are an increasing amount of people taking to the waves. For some, bodyboarding and surfing is even helping with health problems.
High Intensity Resistance Training
One of the best ways of building up strength is by lifting weights, and that’s what High Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) is all about. The aim is to tire your muscles out with short, intense bursts of training. Lifting weights is the main method, but resistance bands could also be used.
What makes this one of the fitness trends to watch in 2022, especially for older people, is that it is easily done. You don’t even need proper weights – a couple of bags of sugar could be all you need to give your arms a good workout. Taking ten minutes a day to engage in some HIRT could give your muscles a boost. Whilst it might be exhausting at first, after sticking with it for a few weeks you are sure to see results.
Walking Clubs
Of course, not all forms of exercise need to be quite so taxing. In older age, it is important we take care of ourselves and don’t push our bodies too far. A straightforward but rewarding way of keeping fit is to go for a walk. An increase in people exercising outside has seen an increase in outdoor exercise groups. Perhaps the best of these fitness trends is the increase in walking groups.
A walking group is great for getting some exercise without putting too much strain on your body. Furthermore, it is a great social activity and can have mental health benefits too. You will also feel reassured knowing you are amongst other people. Therefore, if you feel ill or unsteady on your feet, there will be people present to help you.
Staying Safe When Exercising
Keeping fit is important, but so is staying safe. It is important for you to have a system in place to look out for your wellbeing. This is where a personal alarm from LifeConnect24 could help. If you feel unwell, unsafe, or you have a fall, a press of a button alerts our Response Team. They will then assess the situation and inform your emergency contacts.
If you are engaging in any of 2022’s fitness trends, you may further benefit from a fall detector plan.
To find out more, get in touch with our team on 1 800 937543 or use our contact form.
