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Revealing its predictions for the top fitness trends of 2024, the latest release of AUSactive’s annual Health and Fitness Industry Trends report shows Exercise for Mental Health not only making its debut on the annual list but also reaching top spot - highlighting the important role exercise plays in the overall wellbeing of the population.

Providing an industry snapshot of the trends exercise professionals and business operators are seeing among their clients and members right across the nation, the survey’s Top 10 Fitness Trends are:

1. Exercise for Mental Health
2. Fitness Programs for Older Australians
3. Group Exercise Training
4. Functional Fitness Training
5. Exercise is Medicine
6. Traditional Strength Training
7. Employing Registered Exercise Professionals
8. Pilates
9. Wearable Technology
10. Inclusive Exercise Services

AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish said while it was good to see a new inclusion at the top of the list for 2024, it highlighted a broader issue that many people are facing in today’s world.

Elvish explained “mental health is more prevalent now than ever before. Many people these days feel overwhelmed and are experiencing higher levels of stress due to economic, global and even family pressures.

“It’s certainly become more of a focus for all parts of our community, young and old.

“Seeing people turn to exercise to help their mental health is encouraging as it shows more and more people are seeing the holistic benefits of keeping active.

“Not only can regular activity help manage mental health, but it can also be used as a preventative measure to keep us mentally fit and ready to face the world.”

Charell Berg, 2023 Group Exercise Leader of the Year Winner at the AUSactive industry awards, focuses on the power of movement for mind and body and said exercise these days was far more than just looking good.

Berg advises “our bodies are designed to move and with movement we can manage pain, recover from injury faster, manage our mental health and prevent lifestyle related disease or illness.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the mental health struggles many of my clients have faced, from anxiety and depression and low self-confidence. Through movement the transformation has been unbelievable and it’s very rewarding to see the positive mindset shift and life changes they have experienced.”

“We no longer just go to the gym to look good, and the results of this survey show that exercising for our mind is far more important for more people than just physical appearance.”

Noting that the top three trends of 2024 also had an important social and community element to them, showing the complementary benefits exercise has, Elvish added “exercising for mental health, fitness programs for older Australians and group exercise training all have one thing in common - they involve getting people together and this is one of the most important and rewarding benefits exercise or physical activity has.

“Not only does exercising in a group or with others keep us motivated it also helped people connect, talk and check in with each other.

“The more we do to look after our own mental health and check-in on others. the better we can function and look after our overall wellbeing.”

Image: Anytime Fitness' fundraising for the R U OK initiative.

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