Movement trends come and go - whether you were part of the 80s keep-fit craze, a 90s street dancer or a 00s zumba-phile, chances are you’ve switched up the way you swivel those hips over the last few years.
For a new decade, we’re moving in a whole new direction. Movement has become both mental and physical, with a focus on general wellbeing as well as just tightening those muscles. Here we detail some wellness trends that we’re looking forward to springing into the mainstream over the next few years.
Micro HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training sessions are usually 20 minutes long, and can be a whole new level of intense - but there’s a new bitesize way of nibbling at this hefty helping of fitness.
For those of you not au fait with the term, HIIT is a burst of aerobic energy followed by a short anaerobic movement, repeated until you’re too exhausted to continue - or 20 minutes is up, whichever comes first.
Micro HIIT is where you take a single principle from a class - for example, a run up the office stairs - while you have a couple of minutes free (like waiting for the kettle to boil). This puts your body under a healthy level of stress, which triggers the production of stem cells, aiding regeneration.
Sound bath healing
Music as a healing tool has been used since the days of the ancient Greeks, with sound vibration used to aid digestion, mental disturbances and inducing sleep. Aristotle even detailed how flute music purified the soul.
Across the planet, Tibetans used singing bowls, Aborigines used didgeridoos - and then in the 19th century, scientists looked at studying how the effect of music could lower blood pressure, and assist the nervous system in digestion and metabolism.
For 2020, while we still don’t fully understand the science behind it, we’re still keeping it lo-fi. A sound bath is a meditation class that envelopes you in ambient sounds while you’re guided into a deep meditative state. If you struggle with distractions from your phone, it’s the perfect way to switch off and focus on yourself.
Virtual & remote wellness
Technology has infiltrated all aspects of life, so it was only a matter of time until the wellness movement got a hit of the future. Experts are predicting that AI software will become a prominent tool in wellness, with virtual chatbots assisting us and guiding us to answers regarding nutrition and healthy lifestyle management.
Available in your pocket 24/7, these wellness genies are promising to spot problems before they become more permanent issues. And as prevention is always better than cure, we’re hoping they fulfil on their potential.
Breathing apps
Meditation apps have been around for a while now, and with research suggesting they’ve made a huge impact on our approach to our mental and physical wellbeing and sleep levels, they’re now expanding their reach.
A number of the existing apps have launched breathing sessions, including minute-long stress busters for when you’re having one of those days. For beginners, we recommend Headspace, and for those of us who’re fully on board with the app-based chillout, Calm is the one to choose.
There’s also Stop, Breathe & Think, which is aimed at under 25s and aims to combat the mental health issues among young people. For the sceptics among you, opt for 10% Happier - referring to itself as ‘meditation for fidgety sceptics’, it’s a no-nonsense, no-gooey approach.
This article is not meant to treat or diagnose. Please visit your doctor for advice about any health concerns you may have.