The end of the year and the start of the next is a great time to change up our wellness routine, set some new goals and intentions for the year ahead and try something fresh and exciting. The health and wellness industry is a great space where things are constantly evolving and new ideas are always coming out. Here are some of our top picks for the year ahead.
These Are the Top Wellness Trends to Watch Out For In 2023
Xtend Barre
Xtend Barre is both one of the toughest and most enjoyable workouts out there. Not only is it a class that flows for a full 45 minutes, but the exercises are unique, they hit you in all the right places and they will tone you right up as you discover muscles you didn’t even know that you had. This is a full body workout that blends barre, which is traditionally known as a series of exercises performed by dancers to strengthen their muscles and joints, with the principles and science of Pilates to improve your cardio, strength, endurance and flexibility.
If you’re looking to feel strong, break a sweat, and bust out some moves to the beat of high energy music, then Xtend Barre is calling your name.
Training in progressive blocks
BFT’s training is taking the world by storm. Hailing from Australia, studios can now be found worldwide in the US, Canada, Asia, New Zealand and the UK. One aspect of their training that separates BFT from the rest is that they program their workouts into 8-9 week progressive training blocks, a method that has been used by elite athletes for decades, to ensure that fitness levels are improved and strength increased whilst minimising the chance of injury and burn out.
How it works is a goal will be chosen, for example to improve the deadlift technique of members. From there BFT’s 13 workout styles will be programmed into the training block with a focus in assisting members to improve their deadlift. Once the training block is complete, a new goal is announced with new sessions to accompany it.
Training this way means that you are consistently working multiple planes of movement, muscle fiber types and all energy systems to ensure that you improve. Reducing the overuse of certain movement patterns and exercises which may cause injuries over time.
Measuring your progress
Often with the New Year comes New Year’s resolutions, and with all the indulging and relaxing over the holiday period, a health kick goal is often one of those resolutions. But more often than not, those resolutions go out the window pretty quickly. Being able to measure your progress is key to staying motivated to continue your fitness journey, as seeing how far you’ve come can inspire you to keep going.
mPort, who are the leaders in 3D body mapping technology have created a fantastic new app that uses infrared technology to take your measurements straight from your phone. The app’s ‘Bodymapp’ technology uses the depth sensors in your phone’s front camera to create a 3D avatar of your body, and you can compare your avatars over time to see how your body has changed. The app also measures and tracks up to 20 different measurements and metrics which will show you more about your health and fitness than your weight alone. You also get a 7-page health report with each scan to help you better understand your results. This is an affordable way to keep track of your fitness progress and stay motivated to achieve your goals.
Being mindful of where your food comes from
According to stats in Ibisworld, the ready meal market in Australia has grown an average of 3.3 percent per year over the past decade due to rising incomes and consumers being too busy to cook, however one downside of this is that it can be harder to assess the quality of the food you are eating, and it can be harder to know where it comes from.
A successful food entrepreneur Bianca Monley (who also founded Eat Fit Food when she was 22 years old) has released a new meal delivery serviced called Lifely which champions regenerative farming. They source all of their food from local suppliers who share their dedication to respecting the environment and the humane treatment of animals.
More people are becoming aware of their impact on the environment and being humane so being mindful of where food comes from is a logical trend and step for the year ahead.
Breathwork
When many of us go on a health kick we spend money on workouts, new supplements and equipment, what we often don’t think of is the tools that come naturally with our body, one of those tools being the power of our breath. By learning to master your breath you can boost your energy, improve your sleep, reduce stress and anxiety. It is essentially a free bio hack that so many of us are not aware of and are not using.
You may be thinking “well breathing is natural, I obviously know how to breath” but if you are someone who often wakes up feeling tired with sore eyes and a dry mouth, you might be mouth breathing. Breathing through your nose is have we breath functionally and learning how to do this optimally is a great way to improve many aspects of your life. Additionally, difference breath work exercises can be used depending on your goal, be it that you want to boost your energy or you want to wind down for a restful sleep.
