The Most Popular Workouts Of 2022 So Far
The fitness industry has seen many shifts over the past few years.
Being forced to stay at home has caused many of us to re-evaluate our health, or has pushed us into fitness out of sheer boredom. And for people who were already fitness fanatics, these past years have brought about a whole new wave of trends.
The digital landscape has also played a huge role in dictating these trends. The growth of social media, the rise of fitness influencers and the ubiquity of TikTok have brought about new ways to stay active. Working out is now a norm, it’s fun and it’s becoming more accessible.
So far, this year has seen a flock of new workout trends. We’re going to dive into the most popular workouts of 2022. And who knows, after reading this, you might be inspired to put on your running shoes.
Trending workouts of 2022
- ‘Hot girl walks’
In 2022, it’s hard to scroll through social media without hearing about so-called ‘hot girl walks’.
Walking has become a popular workout trend, especially after the pandemic. However, 2022 has seen the rise of a new kind of walk, known as ‘hot girl walks’.
Hot girl walks were brought to life by TikTokker Mia (@exactlylikeothergirls). At the end of 2021, Mia posted a fitness transformation video, which she said she achieved solely through going on hot girl walks.
Hot girl walks are different to normal walks, because they come with a set of rules. Hot girl walks are around 4 miles (or 6.4km) in length, and during these walks, you’re only allowed to think of the following three things:
- What you’re grateful for
- Goals and aspirations
- How hot you are
On social media, people have shared that they like to listen to podcasts or motivational music during their hot girl walks. However, Mia challenges people to be alone with the voice in their head, and to create a positive relationship with it.
Therefore, hot girl walks are more about mindfulness. They’re a cure for rumination and negative self talk. It’s for this reason that hot girl walks are so popular today, especially since people are still carrying lots of anxiety from the past few years.
Because of its mental health focus and easy accessibility, this trend is likely to gain even more momentum throughout the rest of 2022.
2. Low impact workouts
Whilst we’re on the topic of walking, it’d be appropriate to discuss low impact workouts, which have also gained popularity during 2022.
Lots of people are still relatively new to fitness, so low impact workouts are a great way to ease people into exercising that have just come out of living inactive lifestyles. These exercises are also attractive for people who aren’t into intense, sweaty, cardio-based workouts.
Low impact workouts are popular because they’re easier to sustain. They don’t instil the same feeling of dread than an intense cardio session would. It’s also a great, non-intimidating way to workout for beginners or people who are less confident at the gym.
Some great low impact workouts include:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Walking
- Bike riding
3. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
Over the past few years, HIIT has been ranked as one of the most popular workouts.
It’s also one of the most popular categories on the Steppen app too! Everyone loves HIIT because of its quick nature. Your workout is over and done before you know it, and you still get that endorphin high that makes exercise so great.
For those who don’t know, HIIT training involves short bursts of high intensity movement, broken up by quick intervals of rest. Unlike low impact workouts, HIIT is all about burning fat, building muscle and sweating.
HIIT is popular because it’s short and super effective. You can target your whole body in a 10 minute HIIT session, making this a great workout for busy people. You can also incorporate a lot of variety into your HIIT workouts, so they’re never boring.
We predict that HIIT will continue to trend over the next few years as it’s powerful, fun and can be done on the go.
4. Body weight training
Body weight training is popular because it’s an accessible way to workout. It relies on using body strength, rather than equipment, making it a great way to exercise at home.
Body weight training can be both high and low impact, so it’s super versatile. It’s also cost-effective, as it doesn’t require any machinery or weights.
The best part? It never gets boring. You can constantly switch up your routine to keep it fresh and interesting, as there are an endless list of movements that you can combine together.
If you’re looking to build strength without the gym, this is a great option for you.
Examples of body weight exercises include:
- Pilates
- Squats
- Push ups
- Burpees
- Planks
5. Short workouts
These days, people are getting busier, and attention spans are getting shorter. As such, short workouts have been growing in popularity.
People are finding it more manageable to exercise for 10–15 minutes per day. Whilst this doesn’t sound like a lot, it all adds up.
In fact, people are breaking up this 10–15 minutes into micro workouts. Micro workouts are movements you can do throughout your day that range from a few seconds to a few minutes. Completing a few micro workouts throughout your day is an easy and manageable way to build strength, especially for people with busy schedules.
Micro workouts can include:
- Holding a squat whilst waiting for the kettle to boil
- Going for a 5–10 minute run during the day
- Completing 10 push ups in between tasks
6. Online workouts
In 2022, online workouts have continued to grow in popularity.
Online workouts are super motivating, as you don’t need to leave the house to be active.
They’re also effective, as if someone feels a sudden urge to exercise, they’re able to get straight into it.
Today, there are an abundance of online workouts to choose from in a range of different formats. You can follow along with a Youtube or TikTok fitness video, pay for a livestream workout class, or even exercise with your favourite creators on Steppen.
2022 has been about building and serving communities
In 2022, lots of fitness creators are focusing less on one particular type of workout, and more on serving their communities.
As our lives get busier, it’s becoming more important to find ways to incorporate exercise into our daily routines.
Exercising has become more accessible, as we rely less on equipment and more on our own bodies to participate in a range of workouts. The online space has become a place to get to know your audience, and provide them with workouts that they enjoy.
Are you looking for a new way to workout? Change up your routine with the Steppen app.
