Are you the type of person who finds a workout routine and then does that workout routine until you’re in a veritable workout rut? Because I am. Hot yoga, interval running, long-distance running, barre classes, I’ve done them all until my body and mind are flat-out bored. Not only does the intensity of the post-workout high diminish, but so do the physical results. Lately, none of my go-to workouts get me excited—they’ve gone stale—which means I need to spice up my routine. And quick. Intent on not letting my muscles turn to mush, I reached out to PERFORMIX House, an integrated fitness and creative studio and one of NYC’s buzziest new gyms. It also employs some of the top trainers in the industry, so I tapped them for their insights on the latest and greatest when it comes to breaking a sweat. Here are their picks for the most trending workouts of the season.
1) TECH IT UP A NOTCH
Heidi Jones, Trainer
“The future of fitness is data-driven technology, like Fitbit, Athos, Motiv, and the latest kid to move onto the block, Whoop. The tech has moved far beyond how many miles you’ve clocked on a run to now measuring how hard you should or should not push in a workout. Whoop measures a person's cardiovascular load (called strain), quality of sleep, and daily activity to compute how recovered you are for your next workout. I geek out on the numbers each day, which help me to manage my expectations for my next workout. When I see my recovery listed in green it means it's time to go HAM versus a recovery outlined in red which means rest is a necessity. Get ready for more metrics than any other device. It will ultimately have you re-thinking that extra glass of wine or next episode of Succession in lieu of that extra hour of sleep.”
2) TRAIN LIKE AN ATHLETE
Meghan Takacs, Trainer
“My favorite workout trend right now is performance-based, metabolic conditioning. It's a really dynamic way to work out, and a great way to keep you engaged and challenged. The great thing about this style of training is that you don't need weights to do it. And you don't need to be training for anything sport-specific. No matter what level you are, it makes you feel like a powerful athlete. If you can move, you are an athlete. This type of training is total body, meaning it recruits all your muscles throughout the whole workout, which in turn yields a high calorie burn during the workout, and an even better post-calorie burn for hours after the workout. An example circuit of this type of workout (bodyweight only) would be this: 4 banded sprint runs (I hold the band around your waist and you run forward), 4 ladder drills (dynamic foot work through the ladder), and 10 push-ups. The idea is that you go through explosive power drills (banded run), brain/body agility work (ladder drills) and then some kind of bodyweight calisthenic (push-ups). I really love this style of training because it works on improving cardiovascular health, without having to do things like run, so it increases your overall lean muscle mass and power, and it never gets boring. Each circuit is like an obstacle course for your body, and a puzzle for your brain. Working out dynamically means your body never knows what's coming next, so you never plateau.”
3) TRUST IN THE THRUST
Brittany Watts, Trainer
“My favorite trending workout right now is the pelvic thrust. To thrust, you rest your upper back on a bench and place a barbell with your desired weight over your hips. Then you bend your knees with your feet shoulder distant apart and drive your hips toward the ceiling until you reach full hip extension. I love the pelvic thrust because it targets the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius. Strong glutes are very important for increased overall strength in exercises such as deadlifts and squats. This workout is great for increasing strength and toning. It is also great for maintaining a strong core. For increasing strength, you want to load your thrust to at least 80% of your maximum weight with a rep scheme of 5-8 for 4-5 sets. For toning, you want to have the load at 50-60% of maximum weight with a rep scheme of 15-20 for 3-4 sets. A lot of people are realizing that pelvic thrusts are a staple exercise to obtain stronger and more lifted glutes. The results are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.”
4) BE AWESOME TO THE CORE
Gabe Snow, Trainer
“My favorite new workout is asymmetrical resistance/weight training. Asymmetrical loading (you only have one side of the body bearing weight or pressing, pulling, weight etc.) forces the body to use the abdominals and obliques to keep the body stable and upright. I love this because it’s very challenging—this type of exercise forces you to use your core. During every repetition, the abdominals grow stronger without having to do isolated ab work. (Which I hate doing.) Core strength is always vital, and this type off workout is great for strength training, toning, and weight loss. I think this is trending now because people are becoming more aware of functional training and how it benefits one’s physique and quality of life.”
5) GO WITH THE STREAM
Kurt Ellis, Trainer
“On-demand/at home fitness is a trend that’s making a resurgence in the fitness industry. These on-demand streaming services allow users to either stream workouts from their own streaming devices or from a piece of equipment (such as the Mirror and Peloton platforms). Our society today gravitates toward services that give them access to exclusive content, right at their fingertips. The on-demand platforms offer both convenience and inclusivity to a broader demographic of people.”
6) COME UP FOR AIR
Nick Pags, Trainer
“The more regular utilization of air-pressurized machines is something I’m really excited about. The Keiser Functional Trainer is my first choice. It offers so much opportunity for variability in program creation. It’s the right piece of equipment for the athlete, as well as the client in rehab. The ability to train at any speed and without any impact makes it an exciting tool. Lately, I have been using it to get much more explosiveness out of my training sessions, without risking joint health.”
