I recently read an article in Well & Good about the 2016 Fitness & Wellness Trends and it had me thinking about exactly what we are going to see this year in terms of fitness, health and wellness and what I WANT to see.  Sometimes I get so caught up in what is supposed to be “good for you” or what is trending in wellness that I forget what I actually want to do for myself to be healthy.  And let’s face it, fitness and health are a very personal matter!  So here’s the 2016 Fitness & Wellness Trends!

Bowls

This was one of Well and Good’s picks for 2016 Fitness & Wellness Trends and I couldn’t agree more.  Everything healthy comes in a bowl these days.  Smoothie bowls, acai bowls, lunch and dinner bowls.  I’ll be featuring a few healthy bowl recipes in the near future, but if you want to make your own bowl think about adding healthy grains, veggies, beans and lean protein with good-for-you sauce toppings or herbs and spices.   

Fitness Fashion 

Fitness fashion definitely hit its stride in 2015 and it only seems to be going up from here.  With the invention of athleisure and the culture of wearing gym clothes not just to class or, well, the gym, but to brunch, the grocery store, coffee and more, fitness fashion is only going to grow.  Big names like Tory Burch, Derek Lam, Stella McCartney and more are launching their own activewear lines or pairing with big name activewear brands to bring cool sophistication to our yoga leggings.  And with more businesses popping up you’ll be seeing a lot more options.  So what do I predict will be big for 2016?

• Cutouts and mesh
• Leather or pleather
• Stripes
• Prints
• Skirts, dresses and sweats that go from gym to lunch

Online Workouts

2015 was all about the boutique fitness studio scene and while I predict further growth in this area, there has been a huge shift to online fitness classes.  DVDs are becoming obsolete with more and more services offering online videos and streaming classes.  This is the way that the hottest trainers are going to reach you!

Fitness Celebrities

It used to be that we always wanted to know what celebrities did to keep themselves in shape, but these days, fitness gurus are celebrities in their own right.  Take the new Bravo TV show Workout New York, that follows some of the city’s hottest trainers.  Or the fact that people like Beto Perez, Gabby Reece and Chalene Johnson are making millions and have a huge following just for sharing their passion of fitness.  Fitness celebritydom is definitely on the rise.

Fitness & Lifestyle Plans

No more fitness only or nutrition only, people these days want a holistic approach with plans addressing not just fitness but health coaching, nutrition, recipes and life coaching.  It makes sense, if you are going to commit, why not go all the way and deal with any other issues that may be holding you back from reaching your goals.

More Meditation 

Meditation has always been on the fringe of popular fitness but these days it is being wholly embraced.  With meditation studios popping up and more people beginning to espouse the benefits, it looks like meditation is here to stay.  One of my favorite sources for guided meditations is My Yoga Works.  Spend 5 minutes at the end of your workout giving it a try!

Being Strong Instead of Skinny

I’ve noticed a distinct change in the type of women we are seeing on the cover of fitness magazines, modeling fitness wear and just in general in the media.  Instead of tiny skinny models, we are seeing stronger, sculpted ladies.  I love it!

Gyms Die, Boutiques Take Over

I said before that 2015 was the year of the fitness boutique studio and I think ultimately 2016 is going to be the year gyms die.  Less and less people are spending their money on a full gym membership as more and more people are joining boutique studios that cater directly to their interests.  The issue I see here is pricing.  The boutique studios are generally extremely pricey, which precludes a huge number of the population and business like Class Pass, who offer discounted memberships to these studios have stepped in to fill some of the gap.  It will be interesting to see how the pricing model develops.

The Return of Pilates (and the continue power of barre)

Towards the end of 2015, an article came out that asked whether pilates was dead and the resounding answer was NO!  I think that pilates is not only not dead but is experiencing a resurgence with more studios opening and a focus on a more modern approach to the practice.  2015 was the year of the barre and while I still predict and upsurgence on the barre scene, I think it is spilling over into pilates with newer tougher classes being created and more people interested in both traditional equipment classes and newer classes like the megaformer or Chaise Fitness!

Training Mashups 

In 2016 it is not about one form of exercise but the mashup.  Combined workouts like barre + HIIT or dance plus strength training are the next big thing.  Changing it up and adding in an unexpected twist will help make you stronger and leaner.  I’m looking forward to seeing what inspired trainers and studios are up to!

Readers, what are your predictions for 2016?  What would you like to see more of in the fitness and health industry?