Over the past two years, online fitness was planet Earth’s number one fitness trend. Now, as the coronavirus settles and people get back to social endeavors, new trends in fitness have emerged and differ based on their region in the world. So, let’s take a trip around the globe and see how three different nations are getting fit.
South Africa
On the southern tip of Africa, several TikTok trends have captured the attention of the youth and caused a tremendous amount of growth in two very unique styles of exercise. The first, and more popular, would be the use of weighted hula hoops. This trend has seen increase in interest of an outstanding 234%, nearly double of the next closest (“Here are fitness trends”, n.d.). Unlike a traditional hula hoop, weighted hula hoops are, you guessed it, weighted! These hoops can generally range from one to five pounds. Many experts rave about the health benefits that come from use of a weighted hula hoop, such as Kehinde Anjorin, who says that doing so will help people with their “total-body coordination, muscular endurance, and core stability” (Warwood, 2022).
The next South African fitness trend, of which has an increase in interest of 124%, is the Zuu HIIT workout (“Here are fitness trends”, n.d.). Created by Nathan Helberg, this routine offers a different perspective on HIIT workouts. Featuring frog squats, bear crawls, and other animal themed exercises, this workout is meant to improve one’s “strength and mobility needed for optimal performance” (Gray, n.d.). While this can seem a little silly, it can be done in both individual and group exercise settings while helping participants improve flexibility and mobility while burning fat (“A beginner’s guide”, 2020).
Australia
Down under, things look a little different on a functional level, quite literally! Functional fitness is a fitness routine focused on activities that require everyday movement with minimal need for pricey equipment. Alia Jaghbir, an exercise physiologist, tells that the key movement patterns for this type of exercise revolve around squatting, lunging, pushing, and pulling (“Functional fitness”, 2022). Additionally, Jaghbir describes the benefits of functional fitness as increased speed, greater strength, improved flexibility, and reduced risk of injury (“Functional fitness”, 2022).
South Korea
Our final destination for this trip is in South Korea, where young women are breaking gender norms with a new fitness trend known as “geongangmi.” Translating to “healthy beauty” in English, this new fitness craze has many South Korean women ditching the standard beauty ideal of “thin and frail” and building muscle through weightlifting and strength training methods (Khameneh, 2022). Many Millennial and Generation Z females have flocked to this trend as it expresses feminist ideas that are influencing South Korea’s pop culture. Yoo Wanhee, a young woman seeking geongangmi, says it best; “muscles look cooler… there is no better standard for being satisfied with yourself” (Khameneg, 2022).
Picture courtesy of Pexels (NastyaSensei)
References:
A beginner’s guide to ZUU. (2020, June 8). AIA. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.aia.co.nz/en/onelife/move-well/a-beginners-guide-to-zuu.html
Functional fitness: real-world exercises for a stronger, fitter you! (2022, May 18). CBHS Health. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.cbhs.com.au/mind-and-body/blog/functional-fitness-real-world-exercises-for-a-stronger-fitter-you
Gray, C. (n.d.). 2022 fitness trends: from Zuu to hula hooping, these are the best workouts to do next year. Stylist. https://www.stylist.co.uk/fitness-health/workouts/exercise-trends-2022/601952
Here are fitness trends set to dominate 2022. (2021, December 8). Glamour. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.glamour.co.za/wellness/fitness-exercise/here-are-fitness-trends-set-to-dominate-2022-e6c2acce-394d-4ed7-88e1-7787cb886468
Khamench, A. (2022, June 10). ‘Muscles look cooler’: South Korean women reshape idea of beauty. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/10/muscles-look-cooler-south-korean-women-reshape-idea-of-beauty
Warwood, E. (2022, March 14). These 10 Weighted Hula Hoops Make For A Serious Cardio Workout. Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g35925564/best-weighted-hula-hoops/
