SWITCH HIIT FOR LIIT: FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2019 REVEALED

David Lloyd Clubs reveals what to expect in the gym next year.

With the end of the 2018 on the horizon, it will only be a matter of time before our thoughts turn from champagne and Christmas parties to what fitness trends to try out in 2019. From LIIT to HIIT, leading health and fitness chain, David Lloyd Clubs, reveals the trends that will be taking the country by storm in 2019…  

FITNESS GETS LIIT  
If you didn’t hear of HIIT in 2018, well, where were you? Whether or not High Intensity Interval Training was for you or not, HIIT’s rival, LIIT is coming to town in 2019. Standing for ‘Low Intensity Interval Training’ it offers a workout at a completely different pace to HIIT. LIIT classes are more about slow movements and good form, so expect to switch jumping jacks for slowed down squats. LIIT classes are great for anyone new to fitness or anyone coming back to it after a break, but don’t be fooled into thinking these slowed down sessions are easy. They’re also good for anyone who’s training at a high pace regularly, to help strengthen the body and recover. At David Lloyd Clubs, expect its signature SYNRGY classes to be adapted to include LIIT training. 

HIIT REMAINS …A HIT 
Though LIIT might take centre stage in 2019, there’s no getting rid of the ever-popular HIIT training. HIIT classes are so dynamic, varied and well, intense, that people keep coming back for more. HIIT classes might include anything from squat jumps to skipping; boxing to burpees. At David Lloyd Clubs, the bespoke Blaze classes which run for 45 or 55 minutes combine cardio, strength training and combat, for a HIIT mix that’s bound to keep your heart beating. 
The reason why HIIT works is that you work to 100% of your ability for short periods of time (2-3 minutes) and then you rest, sometimes actively, before ramping up to 100% again. As your heart is constantly adjusting to the changing conditions, your body learns to adapt and the changes in pace help to kick your metabolism into gear, meaning you burn calories long after the class has finished. 
HIIT classes are typically under one hour, so they’re ideal for getting good results when you have a busy schedule to work around. 

ROW IS THE NEW CYCLE 
Just as spinning rose to fame in 2010, 2019 is going to put the same spotlight on rowing. Boutique rowing studios have begun to pop up around the country and the humble rowing machine will begin to be incorporated into more activity in classes. ‘Rowing has the benefit of targeting a large amount of the body’s muscle groups,’ explains Michelle Dand, Head of Fitness Product and Programming at David Lloyd Clubs. ‘It works the legs, core and arms, so it’s a real all-rounder.’ 
Just like cycling, rowing can be done to music and the intensity on the rower adapted to make it more difficult, so there’s a lot of scope for a varied and challenging class. 
At David Lloyd Clubs, members can expect to see rowers become more prominent in existing classes. ‘Within our SYNRGY classes – small group circuit training classes that focus on cardio, strength, endurance and agility – some clubs will introduce ‘Lift and Row’, combining strength training with the cardio rowing offers,’ explains Michelle. 

WEAR IT WELL 
Wearable tech will continue to dominate in 2019, as training enthusiasts look to know more about their fitness levels and how their body works. Wearable tech can be also provide a huge boost to motivation by giving people a thorough analysis of how hard they have worked. Of course, it’s also good for healthy competition, whether that’s with yourself or others. 
There are now lots of ways to track your fitness, from how many steps you’ve walked in a day on your phone or watch, to how much sleep you had last night. Fitness goers everywhere are looking for ways to make this tracking more and more accurate, so we expect to see more along the lines of technology such as MyZone belts. The MyZone belts are worn around the chest during exercise and track the heartbeat and give a calories burnt reading at the end of a session, it also means you can track your workouts and compare your performance as you train. ‘We use MyZone belts within our Blaze classes,’ explains Michelle. ‘It means you can see when you are working your hardest and you can track how long you spend in the hardest zone: the red zone. Heart rate monitoring and workout trackers add an extra element to your workout and can be competitive and encouraging at the same time.’ 

IT’S PERSONAL 
It’s not just tracking our exercises that’s a huge trend for fitness fanatics, personalising your workout is also going to be big in 2019. ‘This is less about recording your work out and more about tailoring your health and fitness routine so that it is hard working and individual,’ explains Michelle. ‘There are some clever features on the horizon. Among the most impressive is the ability to tap into gym equipment to bring up the relevant info and tracking for that specific machine,’ she adds. 
We can also expect to see Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to deliver proactive daily health and fitness advice customised to the individual. If you missed your gym session, it could offer some alternative exercises to get in at a convenient time based around your calendar appointments or your location. 
These coaches may offer health advice beyond fitness too, like keeping track of your nutrition. If you’ve eaten a lot of carbs, sugar or red meat one day and you turn up at a restaurant, it may try to sway you away from ordering a cheeseburger and point you in the direction of healthier items on the menu that would be better suited to your nutritional goals.

FOCUS ON THE OVER 55s
This year, Public Health England (PHE) released new advice about adults keeping active*. The health body advised that adults in retirement age should keep up strength training, as it can help prevent falls, fractures and back pain. It’s not necessarily about lifting weights, - sports such as tennis and badminton can also help build strength and playing with others also provides a mental boost. 
PHE also advised that activities which promote good balance, such as Nordic walking with poles or even ballroom dancing can also have benefits for those over 55s. 
In 2019, there will be even more focus on the mature market, encouraging the older generation to try out new classes. 
Michelle Dand of David Lloyd Clubs explains, ‘As we get older we need to move right; mobility, balance and flexibility become more important, so classes such as yoga and body balance are perfect for improving these areas. As PHE recommend, building or maintaining muscle strength is also important, so workouts that incorporate heavy resistance are a must. For cardio, HIIT training is good and don’t forget a touch of mindfulness, meditation is great and so is finding the time to laugh and have fun with friends.’ 

Discover what classes and experiences David Lloyd Clubs offer at www.davidlloyd.co.uk.

* https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-health-benefits-from-strengthening-and-balance-activity

About David Lloyd Leisure Group

The David Lloyd Leisure Group has 114 clubs - 99 clubs in the UK and a further 15 clubs across Europe, comprising its two brands David Lloyd Clubs and Harbour Clubs (of which there are three - Chelsea, Notting Hill and Kensington).

It has over 600,000 members and employs around 8100 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 2000 while it contracts the services of more than 680 tennis professionals.

Across all clubs, David Lloyd Leisure has over 190 swimming pools (of which half are indoor) and offers over 13,000 exercise classes per week. Every week over 25,000 children learn to swim at David Lloyd Leisure, 16000 children learn to play in the Tennis All Stars Coaching Programme.

David Lloyd Club’s racquets facilities are unparalleled with over 1080 tennis courts as well as over 400 badminton and squash courts. Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, club lounges with free internet access, crèches, nurseries and specialist sports shops.