5 fitness trends to watch in 2023

Happy New Year! With the memory of food comas and hangovers still lingering, the start of a new year is when most people kick off their New Year’s resolutions and fitness trends catch a new wind. In past years, we’ve seen the rise of home gyms and workouts, wearable technology and virtual fitness.

As the fitness landscape continue to change, what will be the next fitness trends to sweep the nation by storm?

1.      Mobility training

With TikTok and Instagram Reel popularity on the rise, users are being fed organic content from creators. One trend on the rise is the emphasis on mobility training and the importance of it for overall performance in the gym. It’s less about getting heart rates up and chasing numbers on a barbell, and more about priming the body for optimal functional movement. And gym goers are getting more clued up on its importance and seeking out mobility workouts.

In 2023, consider running a mobility training workshop, incorporating mobility movements into your group fitness class warmups.

2.      Posture workouts

Tech-neck is the epidemic that’s gaining more attention. We all have smart phones that we spend far too much time off. Some studies have even found that spend an average of 5.5 hours per day on their phone! Not to mention a large portion of the population now work from home and may not have the most ergonomic of office set-ups.

As a result, people are wanting to combat poor posture and the pain that can accompany it. There’s a wealth of resources out there that offer posture workouts for the everyday tech-neck sufferer. And you can be one of them!

3.      Exercise for mental health

Mental health awareness and quality, open conversations around mental health are on the rise. As a society, we’re becoming more accepting and supportive towards those who are facing mental health challenge.

Physical exercise has been one thing that has been widely studied and concluded to help ease or reduce the impacts of poor mental health, including reducing stress, anxiety, depression, improving self-esteem and cognitive function. As a result, more people are seeking out exercise they genuinely enjoy, such as sport, gym, or group fitness classes with a community. Instead of working out because they feel like they “have to”, they’re starting to recognise the importance in exercise for the mental health benefits along side the physical benefits.

4.      In-person workouts

In recent years, virtual workouts have been a top trend in the fitness industry thanks to the global pandemic and lockdowns. Now that the world has opened again, people are gradually moving back to in-person and facility workouts. Les Mills found through some recent trend research that 85% of gym goers are interested in live, in-person classes at a facility of their choice.

However, virtual workouts aren’t going anywhere. For the time-poor, introverted, or shy individuals, virtual workouts offer a convenient way to get a sweat on without setting foot in a gym.

5.      Gym culture and community

Similar to the growing trend of in-person workouts, more gymgoers are seeking workouts, facilities and gyms that have a thriving and welcoming culture and community. Humans are social beings, so after almost 2 years of distancing and isolation, people are seeking connection and community once more. And what better way than through exercise?

Sport teams, group fitness classes, and boutique fitness studios will be booming in 2023 as people venture out to rebuild their communities.

These are just a few fitness trends we’re predicting for 2023, and there’s so much gym and leisure centre owners can do to leverage from them. So put your thinking caps on and start planning for the new year – we have a feeling it’ll be your best one yet!