American College of Sports Medicine 2010 Fitness Trends

I'm late late late in posting this. Darnit!
But here it is nonetheless. The last several years I've always taken a look at the ACSM forecasted fitness trends. Today I stumbled upon it and am excited to share them with you along with my own commentary. God knows I can't keep my opinions to myself for long!

And I'm so excited because in my little bubble in my little studio sometimes I wonder if I'm out of touch with what's going on in the big fitness world around me. But today, alas, I realize I've got my finger on the pulse and predicted many of these trends two years ago. The biggest one I saw coming for a while is that Yoga is not even on this list any more.

ACSM Predicted Fitness Trends 2010:

1. Educated and experienced fitness professionals. Because of an increase in the number of organizations offering health and fitness certifications, it's important that consumers choose professionals certified through programs that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, such as those offered by ACSM.
SAW THIS COMING FO SHO. THE CONSUMER IS FINALLY GETTING MORE SAVVY AS TO WHAT MAKES A GOOD TRAINER. IN MY STUDIO, I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INJURIES, ARE IN REHAB, RECOVERING FROM ILLNESSES. BABY BOOMERS ARE GETTING OLDER AND REQUIRE SPECIALIZED HELP WITH GETTING FIT, NOT MORE INJURIES ON TOP OF THEIR ISSUES.




2. Strength training. Strength training is an essential part of a complete physical activity program - for all physical activity levels and genders. In addition, some health clubs still focus exclusively on weight lifting and strength training.
YAY! IS IT FINALLY OK FOR WOMEN TO DO PULL UPS. I'M HAVING FEWER CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN WHO ARE AFRAID TO GET BULKY FROM LIFTING WEIGHTS. LOVE THIS ONE.

3. Children and obesity. Health and fitness professionals see the growing problem of childhood obesity as an opportunity to reverse an alarming trend. There is also an increasing market demand for programs tailored to overweight and obese children.
SAD SAD SAD. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE FAMILY PROGRAMS SINCE WE LEARN LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOURS FROM OUR FAMILY OF ORIGIN.

4. Personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for health and fitness professionals who act as personal trainers has become increasingly important, and is an integral part of staffing for health and fitness facilities.
MORE TRAINERS MEANS MORE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM. ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD MAKE GOOD COIN AFTER TAKING A WEEKEND CERTIFICATION ARE GOING TO FIND IT TOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING.

5. Core training. Different from strength training, this type of training specifically emphasizes conditioning of the middle-body muscles, including the pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen - all of which provide needed support for the spine.
SO GLAD THEY ARE DEFINING CORE THIS WAY. HOPE PEOPLE STOP THINKING OF CORE AS THEIR BELLIES.

6. Special fitness programs for older adults. With more and more of the baby boomer population reaching retirement age, health and fitness professionals are designing age-appropriate fitness programs to keep older adults healthy and happy well into their golden years.
AS I SAID ABOVE, THIS POPULATIONS NEEDS PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH THEIR AGING BODIES. DOESN'T MEAN TAKING IT EASY. I'VE GOT A 68 YEAR OLD FEMALE CLIENT DOING ASSISTED PULL UPS.

7. Functional fitness. This is a trend toward using strength training to improve balance and ease of daily living. Functional fitness and special fitness programs for older adults are closely related.
FUCNTIONAL FITNESS IS AN OVERUSED TERM. IF YOU'RE NOT DOING FULL RANGE OF MOTION MOVEMENTS THAT MIMIC THE WAY YOU USE YOUR BODY IN DAY TO DAY LIFE, THEN IT AIN'T FUNCTIONAL.

8. Sport-specific training. This trend distinctly relates to young athletes. High school athletes are incorporating training into their off-seasons in order to stay in top shape for their sports, and might join a health and fitness club or local community health organization to increase strength and endurance.


9. Pilates. Incorporating core training using the entire body, Pilates classes have become a mainstay of many health and fitness clubs. Pilates also improves flexibility and posture.
OK PEOPLE. I SAW THIS ONE MOVING DOWN THE LIST A WHILE BACK. IT DROPPED 2 SPOTS SINCE LAST YEAR. LYING ON A MAT AS YOUR PRIMARY MEANS OF GETTING FIT DOESN'T CUT IT. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.

10. Group personal training. Perhaps the most surprising top-10 trend of the survey, group personal training involves small groups, in lieu of one-on-one instruction. The trend may reflect economic difficulties and makes financial sense for both the client and the trainer.
I'M ON IT. THUS THE URBAN WARRIOR WORKSHOP. SMALL GROUP TRAINING TO SAVE CASH BUT GET PERSONAL ATTENTION.

There you go!
Have a good one.

Jane