5 Most Popular Workouts You’ve Gotta Try in 2018
If we’re supposed to learn from our past to improve our future, then perhaps your resolution needs little more help than what was cool just a few weeks ago! The year in review and year ahead trend spotters have been hard at work, giving us plenty of fodder to plot our way into 2018.
If you’re looking at your goals and trying to make those jive with your tired old fitness routine, take a look at the hottest workouts from last year. According to Google, these were the five most-searched workouts in 2017. The results reveal some exciting ideas that will refresh your own moves and attitude about exercise.
- Murph Crossfit Workout
This intense WOD first debuted in 2005 to honor Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan. It was his favorite Crossfit workout, including a 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and a 1 mile run...and they recommend doing it in a 20-pound vest! A scholarship program in his name hosts a fundraiser fitness challenge each Memorial Day, called The Murph Challenge.
- Bungee Workout
Cardio, dance, and aerobics meet resistance training in this inspired new group fitness class with roots in Thailand. Strap into a bungee harness affixed to the ceiling and let yourself fly...and sweat! This low-impact, high-resistance class also improves balance, works your core, and provides a fun but intense total body workout. Check out the class at Crunch in NYC!
- Tabata Workout
This high-efficiency style of interval training is nothing new, but continues to gain popularity as people embrace the “more bang for your buck” HIIT fitness philosophy. You can ultimately get a real calorie-torching, total body workout in about half an hour. Tabata was born out of research at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, where they found more intense workouts in shorter bursts showed gains in both cardio and muscular development. Perform your move (burpees, push-ups, squats, etc.) for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, then repeat up to 8 sets in 4 minutes. Then repeat with a new move up to 30 minutes.
- TRX Workout
Resistance and strength training that utilizes your own body weight… and you never have to set foot in the gym! This is why TRX continues to be so popular after more than 10 years. It’s definitely not a fad! The bungee-like suspension bands affix to a sturdy door frame, or the like, for a total body workout that will help you reach your toning and strength goals. Hook it up at home, take it to a park, or even pack it in your suitcase so you don’t skip a workout at the hotel! They even provide workout and trainer guidance.
- Burpee Exercises
You know you love to hate ‘em, but man are they effective! Also known as a squat thrust, the burpee is a total body strength move with an added aerobic benefit. With every squat and jump combo, you’ll feel your heart rate rise and the muscles engage across your arms, chest, quads, glutes, hamstrings, legs, and abs. Follow the Tabata approach for a basic set of burpees, something you can totally do in 4 minutes every day. Or if you’re really committed, try the 100 Burpee Challenge. It’s like a C25K for burpees, with 8 burpees on day one leading up to 100 on day 27!