With the global pandemic causing gyms to lockdown in 2020 and 2021, the fitness industry has had a massive shakeup. So what’s going to be trending in 2022?

1. Weighted Hula Hoops 

In 2021 weighted hula hoops took centre stage on TikTok, with close to 200 million views alone under the hashtag #weightedhulahoop.

While the hula hoops we all fondly remember swinging around our hips as children weigh less than half a kilogram, the weighted versions can be as heavy as 3kg and are said to help strengthen your core, improve posture and balance, strengthen your lower body muscles and improve your flexibility and cardiovascular health. 

2. ZUU

ZUU started out as a HIIT workout designed for the Elite Sports & Armed Forces in Australia and has since taken the fitness world by storm. ZUU uses movements inspired by animals, like bear crawls, frog squats, gorilla walks and donkey kicks, to work up a sweat.

Commonly referred to as one of the most challenging workouts of the moment, the intensity and use of your own bodyweight results in increased cardiovascular endurance, functional strength and flexibility. 

3. Stroller Fitness

Stroller (or Pram for us British folk) fitness has been around for a while – it’s a great way for time-strapped parents to exercise while bonding with their baby, and it seems this form of fitness has been increasing in popularity again.

You can vary the intensity of the walk with the pram, add in single or double arm chest presses by pushing the pram away from and back to you, incorporate lunge walks and even work on some stretches while holding onto the pram. It goes without saying that precautions need to be taken to ensure the safety of your child.

4. Reverse Running

Running backwards is another trend that isn’t by any means new, having first picked up popularity in the 80’s. With a 50% increase in monthly global searches since the end of 2020, there is clearly renewed interest in this activity.

Some of the benefits of reverse running are said to include reduced impact on the knees, more calories burned vs traditional running, reduced imbalances between anterior and posterior muscles, and improved posture.

5. Trapeze Classes

Aerial fitness found its way into mainstream exercise classes with a multitude of options for people interested in a different form of workout – pole fitness, aerial silks and aerial hoops are also popular methods. However, trapeze classes have seen the biggest increase in interest.

The trapeze is a great confidence builder and allows you to work on your strength, practice balance and improve body control and awareness, all while learning an artform that dates back to the mid-1800’s.