20 Fitness Trends For 2012

It's 2012, you've made your resolution and got that new gym membership. Now what? A survey of more than 2,600 fitness professionals conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine ranked the top 20 fitness trends for the coming year. But before you roll your eyes, consider that the latest picks aren't just about what's faddish or in fashion -- selections are often based on new research in the field of sports medicine, as well as slow-growing business trends. In other words: many of these areas of consumer fitness are here to stay.

"We really wanted to answer the question for both the consumer and the health fitness professional," explains Walter R. Thompson, the Regents' Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health, who has been the lead author of the survey since its inception six years ago. "What should they make an investment in?"

The survey was completed by 2,620 health fitness professionals, including trainers, fitness instructors, program directors and other specialists. They were all certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The survey asked them to rank 37 possible trends, including popular items from previous years and emerging trends as determined by the editors of ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal, where results were published.

So what's in for 2012? For one thing, catering to Baby Boomers with specific programming just for older adults. "They are retiring in better shape than their parents and they have discretionary income," says Thompson. "They're looking to stay healthy and walk on a treadmill, but they're not going to do that when a 22-year-old is right next to them, running 8 min miles."

Some things remained the same: Since 2008, accredited and educated fitness professionals has been the number one fitness trend. And while it may seem disingenuous to have educated fitness professionals rank their own work as the number one fitness trend, Thompson insists that the result is based on real movement in the field of personal fitness. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for fitness workers are expected to increase 29 percent between 2008 and 2018.

But despite some continuity, other mainstays of the past few years have fallen off the list entirely: Pilates is off the list for the second year in a row. Stability balls, also known as swiss balls that help improve balance were also off the list for the second year after a fairly successful run.

Below are the 20 trends that the fitness community is betting on. What do you think will stick around?

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Comments

[Amr Salah Tawfik]

09:00 AM on 06/10/2012

I have the pleasure to brief you on our Data Visualization software
"Trend Compass".

TC is a new concept in viewing statistics & trends in an animated way
by displaying in one chart 5 axis (X, Y, Time, Bubble size & Bubble
color) instead of just the traditional X and Y axis. Discover trends
hidden in spreadsheets. It could be used in analysis, research,
presentation etc. In different business sectors, to name a few we
have Deutsche Bank, NBC Universal, RIM, Vanguard Institutional
Investor, Ipsos, Princeton University as our clients.

Link on Drilling feature (Parent/Child) - Just double-click on any bubble:
http://www.epicsyst.com/test/v2/drilling/

NBC presentation on TED using Trend Compass exported Videos on CNN
Money/Fortune:
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/12/21/from-laughing-to-judging-in-fifty-years-the-evolution-of-televised-emotion/

Link on our new Geographical Trend Compass (Earthquake in Japan - Mag
vs Depth vs Time):
http://www.epicsyst.com/test/v2/japan-earthquake

Link on Ads Monitoring on TV Satellite Channels.
http://www.epicsyst.com/test/v2/tv-monitor/

Link on UK Master Card vs Visa performance :
http://www.epicsyst.com/test/v2/mastercard_vs_visa/

Video on Trend Compass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzDCGB8xBq4&feature=related

Since we already develop 3D Virtual Reality applications, please find
below a link on a prototype for a new 3D VR Trend Compass application:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqULRUvikg&feature=related

Regards.

Amr Salah
Trend Compass Team
Epic Systems
www.epicsyst.com

[Breanne McCarthy]

04:09 PM on 01/31/2012

Interesting trend finds! Check out Well+Good’s site for their unique list of wellness and fitness trends expected to take off in 2012! http://bit.ly/zg16Zi

[Mary Stichak McCrorey]

12:29 PM on 01/16/2012

How can Pilates be off the list, but Core Training is on the list? Aren't they one and the same?

[lamont stone]

02:34 PM on 01/05/2012

i like aquatics swimming,and a set of exercises in the water for all muscle groups. there are many groups of folks that participate and encourage eachother

[aritul]

02:06 PM on 01/05/2012

Outdoor exercises (#14) and yoga (#11) seem like the way to go.

[homeinsulation]

01:46 PM on 01/05/2012

Spin class...it's like a party with music and everyone is sweating away to the beat. Great low-impact fun, lots of energy and it's pretty much the last vestige of being able to wear spandex!!

[Alex Astilean]

01:43 PM on 01/05/2012

Talk about motivation.

Jessica Simpson is rightfully gaining weight while she's pregnant with her first child, but as Page Six reports, the pregnant celebrity is ready to drop those pounds to the tune of $3 million, as soon as she gives birth.

Sources tell the newspaper, the blonde singer inked the deal with Weight Watchers, which should help her speed up the process for her wedding to Eric Johnson.



Still, this isn't the first time the star has promised to slim down for cash -- and is currently in litigation over it.

In 2005, Simpson was reportedly paid $500,000 to take part in an (unreleased) exercise video about losing weight, and instead, chose to gain weight and reap those benefits, alleges the CEO of the company that produced the video.

Following comments Simpson made to Lucky magazine about how gaining weight made her more relatable to the average woman, and helped in creating a billion dollar fashion empire, Speedfit's CEO, Alex Astilean told the Huffington Post, he believes it was never Simpson's intention to be the spokesperson for the video.

One thing is for sure, Simpson seems determined to make as much money off this pregnancy as possible. From unsuccessfully trying to wrangle $500,000 out of the tabloids to announce Hollywood's worst kept secret, to the first photos of the child (which aren't thought to bring in much money), to dropping the post-baby weight, the singer is making it clear her body and this baby is a business.

[Bob716]

01:38 PM on 01/05/2012

I started working out in the gym almost 25 yrs ago. To this day it's one of the best investments I've ever made regarding my health & well being.

[Lyn S]

01:33 PM on 01/05/2012

My lemming trends out a lot.

[snakemon]

01:14 PM on 01/05/2012

Feed bag off runnin shoes on.

[Mikey19]

01:04 PM on 01/05/2012

I'm surprised that pilates is not on the list because it is one of the ultimate core workouts out there! It's a complete total body workout that improves strength and posture and flexibility. There was an article I read that a woman started doing pilates at 90 (she had done yoga and aerobics most of her life) but really attributed her quality of living to pilates! She lived to over 100! Also, a lot of celebs incorporate pilates into their workout! All of these "core" workouts (crossfit, TRX, etc) incorporate moves that Joseph Pilates created years ago! Make it a part of your exercise regime! It's all about the breathing!

[Quincy Renfroe]

12:07 PM on 01/05/2012

#8 :D

[Lorraine Esposito]

11:50 AM on 01/05/2012

20 great ideas to choose from!

[thstolbe]

11:31 AM on 01/05/2012

i say the cheapest thing to do to get in shape is run, jog or walk in a public park!next, do push ups and last eat healthy!going to the gym is a mental strain and a gas in the tank problem!i may consider getting my health club membership back.if you want to get stronger you have to lift weights but if you want to stay toned and in shape just do simple home exercises 4 days a week about 30 to 40 min in the privacy of your own home!

[lamont stone]

02:36 PM on 01/05/2012

AMEN

[Cheryl Statum Kobal]

09:46 AM on 01/05/2012

#5 Children and Obesity Prevention: One third of our children are not overweight because of schools eliminating recess or too many video games (although that certainly doesn't help)! Exercise is only 30% of the picture...diet is 70%. The primary reason why children are overweight is because of the highly-processed, calorie-dense and nutrient-deficient DIET they are fed. PopTarts, waffles, pancakes, donuts and sugared cereals for breakfast; processed school lunches pulled from a plastic wrapper and reheated in a microwave by cafeteria workers and soda machines; and then a steady diet of fast food, pizza, mac&cheese, cheeseburgers, french fries, chicken nuggets, tacos, subs, Chinese food, frozen dinners, potato chips and soda for dinner. Look at the children's menu at ANY restaurant, and you will see the same unhealthy options over and over! The top five foods consumed in this country by adults and children alike are on this list. Our children have been abused with food so badly that they view it as a source of entertainment and can no longer even recognize many fresh fruits and vegetables because they've never actually SEEN them. It's sad to acknowledge that children born after 2000 will be the first generation to live a shorter life than their parents. Parents buy the food and (occasionally) prepare the food and are being lazy and selfish by purchasing fast food and other convenience foods.