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Struggling to find something you love? Discover what’s hot in the world of health and fitness.
1. Whole-person fitness
It doesn’t matter how toned you are and how many km you can run in under 30 minutes if your mental health isn’t in good shape. Whole-person fitness is all about creating a programme of wellbeing that looks at every aspect of yourself – from diet and nutrition to meditation and mindfulness. Start by reading The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness by Lani Muelrath (£9.99).
2. Fitness festivals
A host of new festivals in the UK and around the world are tapping into the market for getaways that offer more than just music and booze. Think wild runs, spa treatments, expert talks, amazing plant-based food and world class DJs in a vibrant festival atmosphere. A few to look out for in 2019 include Love Fit Festival in Kent (19th-21st July), Wanderlust London (27th July), and the London Yoga Festival (12th-13th October).
3. Gym hopping
Signing up to a year-long gym membership can be both expensive
and daunting. What if you have a busy month and can’t manage to fit in your usual workouts? What if you move house or just get bored of your local gym? Cue the new breed of flexible fitness networks that offer you access to a huge variety of classes and gyms in a range of locations. Start a free trial at movegb.com, or check out zero-contract payasugym.com
4. Tabata training
Much like HIIT, this kind of workout focuses on short 20-second bursts of intense exercise such as burpees, jump squats, kettlebells and chest presses, followed by a 10-second rest, then repetition. It gets your heart rate going, burns fat fast, and targets the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Watch videos on YouTube if you want to try it at home or search The Register of Exercise Professionals (exerciseregister.org) for a qualified trainer near you.
5. Tech workouts
Don’t have time to go to the gym? Make use of the new technology that’s transforming how we workout. Fiit (fiit.tv) offers over 100 classes with top personal trainers that can be downloaded and streamed on your TV. A strap worn across your chest allows you to compete with other members and track your performance. Or, try the free Kaia Personal Trainer app, which uses unique motion tracking technology, can create a personalised fitness plan, count reps and provide real-time audio feedback for exercises, including the side plank, bridge and reverse crunch — all just using your smartphone.
6. Cryotherapy
It might not be a workout but cold therapy can enhance your performance and speed up recovery times, making it a huge trend amongst sports professionals, Olympic athletes and leading celebrities. The cold chamber treatment takes your body to sub-zero temperatures to help fight ageing, treat skin conditions, relieve pain and reduce inflammation and injury. It is even said to aid sleep. It’s not for everyone, but if you fancy giving it a go, make sure you find an experienced professional, or try londoncryo.com.
