FROM WILD INNOVATIONS in group fitness to the at-home tech fitness revolution, the fitness landscape is in the midst of a transformation. The results will push you to rethink your workouts—and the things you’re doing when you’re not training, too.
You’ve seen early pieces of this transformation for several years. A few years ago, the rise of smartwatches had everyone tracking steps and preaching about heart rate variability. And at the height of the pandemic, Peloton, Hydrow, and a host of other connected fitness brands taught us all about the power of a home workout community.
But the next steps in the tech-fitness revolution promise to be even more sweeping, in part because, for the first time in decades, old-school gyms are embracing the world of tech and machine learning. The end result is poised to help new audiences embrace health and fitness in accessible and sustainable ways. Not a gym guy? Well, virtual reality will let you sweat from home, providing a new (and super-fun!) entry point for those intimidated by hardcore workouts. Motion-tracking tech will help you correct form errors—and help muscle scientists understand and analyze the form mistakes that average guys make.
Are you going hard already, but having trouble bouncing back? Get ready to jumpstart your gains behind an explosion in high-tech recovery gear that lets you access the same tools that keep pro athletes like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes in optimal shape. Add in a new wave of fitness trackers and blood tests that deliver next-level data insights, and you have a host of new tools for fitness success.
These tech transformations have combined with a new wave of in-gym ideas to revitalize a fitness landscape that’s been all about bench presses and squats for far too long. But a new generation of social media trainers is now helping everyone rethink the key qualities of fitness and longevity (spoiler alert: six-pack abs don’t make the list), and an energized group fitness scene will help you redefine ideas of competition and fitness community.
It all sets you up with the tools you need to become your ultimate self. Read on for the rundown on the fitness innovations we love most.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men’s Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He’s logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men’s Health in 2017, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
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