2020 changed so much, but the fitness industry, undoubtedly, was one of those hit the hardest.

lmost overnight, personal trainers had to immerse themselves in the world of Zoom, with studios offering virtual classes to keep their customers fit from home. Virtual marathons popped up left, right, and centre. As gyms remained shut, running became cool. Oh, and home workout equipment sold out everywhere.

So, will this year look any different? After knowing that the spread of the virus is possible even after getting the vaccines, our gut instinct may be saying no. But that’s where we think you’re wrong. Humans are resilient and adaptable and ever-changing, and so is the face of fitness. Hold tight – we reckon there’s some seriously exciting challenges, fit kit and apps about to hit the mainstream that’ll keep your motivation levels sky-high, even without access to a gym.

Keep reading for our predictions of the biggest 2021 fitness trends, including even more time outside, huge virtual challenges, and a more little-and-often approach to working out generally.

Being outside

We’re talking walking, hiking, jogging, trail running, cycling, and wild swimming: you name it, people are only going to continue immersing themselves in nature for 2021. There’s something about only being allowed outside once a day that just really makes you want to be outside, breathing in the fresh air, surrounded by green, huh.

Bigger virtual challenges

So you can’t go to the gym, but you can get outside. Fitness motivation at an all-time low? It’s time for a challenge, we think.

2021 will see even more people embark on virtual races, be that running races of a five km, 10km, half marathon, marathon or ultra-marathon distance, a cycling challenge, or a more general fitness challenge, like mastering your first five pull-ups.

Why? Well, they’re a super simple way to keep motivated when you’re spending most of your time at home. Set yourself a challenge like, say, beating your five km personal best, and you’ll be raring to go come your next run. This is the way people will keep going this year – focusing on fitness self-improvement, in whatever way they can.

Ultra-marathons in particular will gain traction in 2021, with people wanting to push themselves further to prove they can and to raise money for much-deserving charities, too.

Wearable tech

With more people working out at home, expect to see wearable tech become a necessity among those serious about tracking fitness and health goals. Companies like Apple, Samsung and Google have all launched various forms of wearable tech over the years and now, given that a lot of people are concerned about training without an actual trainer present. There are also bands like Whoop, that factor in your recovery and sleep to give you a more holistic approach to training and your body’s needs.

Remote personal training

Think one-to-one personal training is totally off the cards? No longer, thanks to Zoom and PT’s developing clever ways to approach virtual training.

Personal trainers are ready and waiting to help you reach your goals from home. Fun fact: celebrities have been doing Zoom PT sessions for years to make sure they still get their sweat on from wherever they are on tour. Book a consultation if you have a fitness goal you need help to achieve. You won’t regret it.

Mindfulness

If 2020 was a difficult year for all of us, 2021 is the year we get our minds right. Meditation has long been creeping up as a wellness trend, but this isn’t just a fad. Now, even the world’s best athletes are openly talking about the importance of mental training and utilising meditation in their training programmes. It might be hard to find the time to relax and unwind, and of course meditation can mean many things to different people, but there’s never been a better time to get into it.

Recovery

If there was one takeaway that came out of 2020, it was the need to slow down. The pandemic afforded us all an opportunity for a lengthened inhale. While society has long pushed this idea of “hustle culture” and being constantly on the go, finally we’re waking up to the fact that if we’re going to perform optimally and train hard, then we’re going to need to give our bodies adequate time for rest. Recovery will be huge come 2021, and not just when it comes to taking a day off from logging miles. Think instead of cryotherapy, acupuncture and various other forms of technology and tools that will be utilised to speed up the recovery process.