What are 4 online fitness trends set to excel in 2021? Numerous small fitness studios and gyms had to close their doors forever. It forced people to look for options to exercise within four walls, and online fitness is one of them.
So what are the top 4 online fitness trends for 2021? Let’s find it out!
1) Online training
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, online training is a new #1 online fitness trend. Moreover, it is the fastest-growing segment of the fitness industry – more than 50% of all smartphone users had installed a health or fitness app.
There are several reasons for its popularity:
Price
Online training is usually cheap or free since you can find plenty of workout videos on YouTube.
Availability
It is available 24/7 through live or prerecorded classes and delivers individual and group exercise programs online. With online training, you don’t need access to the fitness studio or gym.
Safety
During a pandemic, it is advisable to exercise at home. The lack of fresh air in the gym, coupled with intense airflow from exercising, can create an environment in which viruses can spread easily.
Benefits of Online Training
Skip the Gym
Online training is a perfect choice for those who are new to exercise, feel uncomfortable when stepping into a new workout world, or are not sure what types of exercise to choose. It allows you to learn the basics and test different workout programs without leaving your home.
Access Limitless Opportunities and Trainers
You no longer need to take a class from the one fitness instructor at your local gym. There are thousands of fitness instructors on YouTube, and all of them are ready to help you.
The same goes for other kinds of training. If there are no karate classes in your area, go online and choose one of the dozens of karate training programs available.
Exercise According to Your Schedule
Most online programs are offered at your convenience, so you are not locked into a specific class schedule.
Workout for Less
Online fitness plans are usually much cheaper than offline ones – most of them cost less than $20 per month. Some programs are free of charge, especially if you don’t need personalized attention.
Login Anywhere
You can work out wherever you are – at home, at the beach, in the park, or on vacation. The only thing you need is an Internet connection.
Drawbacks
Lack of Motivation
Many people prefer exercising at the gym since they struggle with self-motivation. If you belong to this group, online training is not for you.
Nobody is There to Help You
Most online fitness programs do not provide you with a personal trainer who checks your form and offers modifications based on your workout performance.
2) Apple Fitness+
Apple Fitness+ is another major trend in online fitness this year. It uses exercise-tracking sensors to offer intelligent workout schemes and provide real-time support during training. You can access Fitness+ on your iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV. The only things you need to start are a service subscription ($79.99/year) and an Apple Watch.
What is Unique to Apple Fitness+
Developers from Apple have found a way to overcome a lack of motivation. They have implemented the Burn Bar metric to their Fitness+ service, setting you against the Fitness+ community. It allows you to participate in a two-minute calorie-burning exercise and compare your results to other users. Another cool thing about Apple Fitness+ is that the more you use it, the more this service knows about you. The first time you start it, your Apple Watch pulls any data from the apps connected to your Apple Health account, as well as any previous workout data it has recorded. Fitness+ uses this data to create personalized exercise recommendations that you can access on any Apple device.
Besides, Apple integrated Apple Music into their Fitness+ app, making your workout experience even more enjoyable. Moreover, you can listen to music and check out a playlist without an Apple Music subscription. In case you already have a subscription, you can download your favorite workout playlists to your music library in just one click.
What Workouts Are Included on Apple Fitness+
Fitness+ has several types of workouts to choose from, such as Rowing, Treadmill (for walking and running), Cycling, Core, Dance, Yoga, Strength, High-Intensity Interval Training, and Mindful Cooldown. You can filter exercises by duration, music genre, and trainer to find the best fitness routine for you.
Why the Apple Watch Matters So Much
Apple Watch is an essential part of your workout, as it acts as a remote controller to start and stop your training. Additionally, the built-in sensors within your Watch power the customized elements of each exercise, providing you with real-time metrics such as heart rate, distance, speed, and calories burned.
Benefits of Apple Fitness+
You can see your speed, heart rate, calories burned, and other parameters.
Most workouts offer modified, improved versions of exercises.
You can select from a large group of instructors with different fitness and dance backgrounds.
You can access Fitness+ on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Drawbacks
Fitness+ does not offer a built-in social network, coaching for outdoor training, and live classes.
The app requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer.
3) Peloton
Peloton has taken home fitness to a new level of intensity, ensuring you get your wellness fix. With one of the highest price tags on the market, the Peloton exercise bike is made to impress you with its large screen, modern design, and advanced features. And its class-like streaming experience gives Peloton bike significant long-term value for cycling fans.
Compatibility
A Peloton App is undoubtedly the thing that makes the Peloton bike better than others. It grants you access to real-time performance tracking, live and on-demand classes, and unlimited accounts for your friends and family members.
The Peloton App users can access prerecorded and live cycling classes, arm and floor routines, and stretching exercises. All you need to start is a stable Internet connection.
Performance
The Peloton exercise bike provides a smooth ride and adjustable resistance. Although the company warns that the first few rides may stick a little, it is rather an exemption than a rule. Most customers say they did not even feel it.
This bike allows you to burn double the amount of calories you would burn on the treadmill. Moreover, you can adjust your workout to your fitness level by setting resistance levels as necessary.
Benefits of Peloton Exercise Bike
Many motivating features
User-friendly controls
Sleek, compact design
Immersive live and recorded classes
Drawbacks
The bike must be plugged in
Cycling shoes required for included pedals
Bike and membership are pricey
4) Mirror
The Mirror is an interactive fitness device that can stream exercise classes while showing your reflection. It looks just like any other mirror until you power it on. With this futuristic device, you can exercise wherever you want, as it doesn’t require a lot of space.
Design
The Mirror, with its sleek and modern design, blends nicely with any type of home decor. A 40-inch, Full HD display packed in the middle of this device looks bright and vibrant. Two 10-watt speakers located at the bottom of the Mirror are quite loud and provide a crisp and clear sound. Additionally, you will find a 5-MP front-facing camera at the top. You can use it to take selfies and for personal training. There is also a lens cap to cover it if you are worried about your privacy.
Setup
The setup of this fitness device is quick and easy. Its installation takes less than one hour. A professional will mount it to the wall, and all you have to do is plug your Mirror in.
Its small size and portability are probably the best things the Mirror has to offer. You do not need a ton of space to complete the workouts, and you can install it wherever you want.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the Mirror features a 25-foot Ethernet cable and dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. For the best streaming quality, use a LAN cable connection or place the device as close to the Wi-Fi router as possible.
As for third-party integrations, it is compatible with any Bluetooth heart rate monitor, as well as the Apple Health App and the Apple Watch.
Pricing
The Mirror is quite an expensive device. It costs $1,495 plus a $250 delivery and installation fee.
Benefits of the Mirror
Great for small spaces
Large display
Sleek design
Thousands of live and on-demand exercise classes for all fitness levels
Drawbacks
Requires monthly subscription service
High price
The Bottom Line
2020 has changed the way our lives look in many ways. It has also caused some significant shifts in the fitness industry and fitness trends. As interest in fitness continues to grow, people are looking for ways to exercise when the gyms remain closed.
Going online is one of them. The online fitness market offers more and more original workout solutions that you can use from the comfort of your home. Moreover, it seems that people will stick to online training mode even after the fitness studios reopen since it provides more flexible, personalized guidance. No one really knows what will happen in 2021. But we can be sure that the fitness industry will evolve to become strong enough to take it on!