What Are This Year’s Top Fitness Trends?

To be “well” means seeking a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Wellness is a lifelong effort, and fitness is a part of the quest.

There are multiple dimensions of wellness—including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, social, and occupational. It turns out that when you work out, you’re not only boosting your physical wellness but other dimensions as well.

As part of the Mindbody Wellness Index, we asked more than 20,000 Americans from 50 major U.S. cities about their fitness habits. We learned which cities are most dedicated to fitness, how often they’re getting their sweat on, and what forms of exercise they want to try next.

Nearly 60 million Americans attend group workouts at least once a week.

Here are the classes Americans love, and what’s set to be a 2020 trend:

1. More Mindful Movement, Please

While many forms of fitness get your heart pumping, mindful movement takes things down a notch.

Mindful movement refers to slower-paced exercise, promoting strength, balance, and flexibility. Variety is everything, though; most people who take mindful movement classes also do cardio fitness.

America’s top three mindful movement classes:

• Gentle/restorative yoga (13% of those who do group workouts weekly)
• Power yoga (11%)
• Mat Pilates (5%)

2. Group Fitness Is So In

…and dance fitness is the most popular group workout.

America’s top three fitness classes:

• Dance fitness (20% of those who do group workouts weekly)
• Strength training (19%)
• Cardio machines (15%)

3. Different Generations, Different Modalities

It comes as no surprise that different generations have different interests—especially when it comes to fitness. Which fitness classes are different generations most eager to try next?

Older Gen Z wants to try:

• Kickboxing
• Martial arts
• CrossFit®
• Pole dancing
• Aerobics

Millennials want to try:

• Kickboxing
• CrossFit®
• Aerobics
• Martial arts
• Rock climbing

Gen X wants to try:

• Aerobics
• Strength training
• Cardio machines
• CrossFit®
• Gentle/restorative yoga

Young Boomers want to try:

• Gentle/restorative yoga
• Aerobics
• Strength training
• Cardio machines
• Dance fitness

4. Group Fitness Fans Are Happiest

Whether it’s gentle yoga or aerobics, the more people exercise, the happier they say they are. It turns out though, that group workouts are correlated with even higher levels of happiness—which means it’s time to book that next class!

Exercise is vital to wellness at any age. The benefits of workouts aren’t just limited to physical wellness either. There’s a fitness class for every generation, and we’re excited to see what the most popular classes are come 2021.

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