At the end of each old year there are always predictions of what fitness trends will be hot for the coming New Year.  The fitness world likes to forecast what they foresee as being trendy keeping athletes in tip top shape. 

For 2017, The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has released its top 10 fitness trends foretelling what they believe will take off big in how and what people will use to keep their bodies at peak fitness performance.  This is the eleventh year for this annual survey with more than 1,800 health and fitness professionals worldwide giving their opinion on visualizing what will be strong consumer interests in the exercise world.

Here is what the top 10 fitness trends will be for 2017 as forecasted by the ACSM:

1.       Wearable Technology

Ever popular, more and more people are finding and liking a wearable way of keeping track of their fitness and health.  There is a wide variety of very good wearable technology that include activity trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices. 

2.      Body Weight Training

If you don’t want to have to worry about buying or using weights to build muscle, using just your own body weight can be just as effective.  Body weight training exercises are strength training exercises that do not require free weights or machines since your own body weight provides resistance against gravity.  Common body weight exercises include push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups.

3.      High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

HIIT is a type of training technique in which you give it your all through quick, intense bursts of exercise followed by short recovery periods.  It is a favorite for those with limited time for long workouts as it gets and keeps your heart rate up burning more fat in less time.

4.      Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals

There are more than ever a large number of organizations offering health and fitness certifications, making it vital of becoming a well-informed consumer choosing professionals certified through programs accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).  The American College of Sports Medicine is one such organization and is considered one of the most prestigious fitness-certification programs in the world.

5.      Strength Training

Continuing to be a strong contender for promoting fitness, strength training is here to stay.  Many health clubs place strength training as one of their core programs emphasizing the health and fitness benefits it can provide.  It is considered to be an essential part of an overall exercise program for achieving and maintaining physical fitness for both men and women.

6.      Group Training

Exercise training in a group has been popular for some time and is predicted to continue to be so. Instructors of a group training session help teach, lead, and motivate individuals in reaching their fitness goals.  By using their leadership skills and techniques, a group instructor is pivotal in helping to design an appropriate class meant to be effective for people at different fitness levels.

7.      Exercise is Medicine

This is a global health initiative and is a credential certification through the American College of Sports Medicine meant to help exercise professionals work closely with the health care community promoting collaboration between health care providers in order to change behaviors and reach stronger health outcomes for a patient who is referred to an exercise professional.

8.      Yoga

Around for centuries, yoga is still in style as it is now better understood of the vast health benefits it provides.  There are various forms of yoga including Power Yoga, Yogolates, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kripalu, Anurara, and others. Yoga is based on using a series of specific bodily postures practiced for health and relaxation.

9.      Personal Training

Kinesiology is becoming more and more popular as a major for students with a strong interest in fitness and wellness.  One type of job for someone who has majored in kinesiology is to be a personal trainer.  Many health and fitness facilities are looking and preferring personal trainers who have adequate education, training and the right credentials to have available to the general public.

10.  Exercise and Weight Loss

Many exercise facilities not only are focusing just on exercise but are becoming more centered on incorporating caloric restriction for better weight control for their clients. Fitness centers are hiring registered dietitians to work with their clients on developing better eating habits and food choices to enhance their workout and for weight loss.