Goodbye CrossFit, Hello Low-Impact Workouts
High-intensity (HIIT) and CrossFit workouts, which until now dominated the world fitness scene, are being replaced by smoother and more functional methods. This movement reflects the change in the health priority of Americans, with a greater focus on longevity and the preservation of physical integrity in the long term.
Looking at the most current statistics, it can be confirmed that more than a third of Americans now opt exclusively for low-intensity training. This trend is corroborated by the Mindbody exercise reservation platform. Almost 29% of consumers said that their goal to exercise in 2023 was to achieve a long and healthy life, a notable increase compared to the 20% of the previous year.
15 years ago, high-intensity training (HIIT) and CrossFit were at their peak. However, according to Nima Alamdari, professor of sports and health sciences at Exeter University, high-impact exercises can accelerate the risk of injuries to the back, knees or ankles when practiced regularly.
Pilates emerges today as an outstanding alternative. Recognized for its benefits: balance, flexibility and core strength - Pilates saw its ClassPass reserves increase 92% in 2023 compared to the previous year. On Yelp, searches increased by 25% compared to the previous year.
Functional fitness attracts more than half of Mindbody respondents. Although it does not have an exact clinical definition, this type of exercise aims to improve the physiological functions of the body, thus preparing it for daily activities such as squatting, bending, pushing and advancing. Functional fitness, unlike stationary bikes and some gym equipment that is in repetitive movements, involves multiple muscle groups in dormant stages of movement.
A 2024 study on aging, in which Alamdari participated, found that women in the perimenopause and menopause phase who performed Pvolve exercises had more muscle mass in the legs compared to those who followed the CDC physical activity guidelines.
These researches and studies show that fitness is evolving into practices that ensure and improve health and vitality in the future. The fitness world is thus moving towards an era of exercises more conscious and adapted to the needs of longevity and the human body.
