From Athleisure to Zumba, celebrate National Fitness Day with a fitness fix for every letter of the alphabet
These are the products, exercises and new trends you should try out if you want to achieve your fitness goals
DO you know your kettlebells from your crossfit? If not, you are far from alone. More than half of Brits have no idea what to do in a gym and a quarter are too embarrassed to ask for help.
So in honour of today’s National Fitness Day, fitness editor JENNY FRANCIS has compiled an A-Z guide of all things on trend in exercise.
A – ATHLEISURE
Gym kits don’t just belong on the treadmill, as model Gigi Hadid proves.
From stylish sports bras that double up as crop tops to super-soft leggings you can wear to dinner, athleisure kit is ultimate fashion fitness hybrid.
B – BARRE
If it’s good enough for Pippa Middleton, it’s good enough for us. Barre classes ditch big pieces of equipment in favour of postures and moves inspired by ballet and Pilates to strengthen your core.
High reps of small range-of-motion movements might sound easy, but you’ll feel the burn.
C – CROSSFIT
Crossfit has taken fitness to the next level. Using scoreboards, CrossFit classes are all about pushing barriers and working towards goals in very varied workouts with measurable statistics to motivate you.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, but you’ll feel the benefits. , from £20, nationwide.
D – DAVINA McCALL
The TV presenter turned 50 last year and has spoken about how exercise drives her both physically and mentally.
She has launched more top-selling fitness DVDs than any other woman in UK history, with an ab-tastic total of 17.
E – ESQUARED FITNESS
Sick of paying for a gym you don’t use? This new app allows you to “only pay for what you sweat”. Users log on to see which gyms and studios are offering cheap classes near to their location, and then book online.
No membership required. Currently available in London and launching in Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol in 2019.
F – FORTY-FIVE MINUTES
This is the “sweet spot” for exercise, according to recent research. And so-called F45 workouts are currently the biggest growing fitness franchise in the world, getting you using your 45 minutes to the max with a mixture of high intensity cardio and strength workouts.
Find your nearest studio at , classes from £20.
G – GOOD-LOOKING EQUIPMENT
Gone are the days we have to stash our ugly “home gym” weights under the sofa. This season fashionable gym equipment is a top interiors trend.
Designed to look good on any living room shelf, these illustrated kettle bells come adorned with everything from leopard print to cartoon boobs. Kettlebell, £32,
H – HOLIDAYS
Wellness tourism is now the fastest growing sector in travel, with Lonely Planet revealing a ten per cent rise in the fitness travel market this year alone. Bootcamps to help you lose weight include meals and workout plans to help keep you disciplined.
Or fancy some yoga and chill? Visit for a range of chillaxing options in destinations around the world.
I – INSTA-FITSPO
These days there’s no better place to find fitness motivation than on Instagram.
Our top three absolute faves are Alice Living @Aliceliveing for all-round workout motivation, Lilly Sabri @Lillysabri for sun-soaked ab workouts and Shona Vertue @shona_vertue for upgrading our stretch routine.
J – JOINING UP
Friends have a major influence on each other’s exercise routine, according to a research published the in Nature Communications journal. A study of the daily exercise patterns of over a million people over a five year period found exercise is “socially contagious”, sparking a big trend for “gym buddies”.
So grab a pal and spur each other on.
K – KLASS OF HER OWN
Myleene Klass, 40, is still pulling all the punches when it comes to celeb fitness.
Businesswoman, mother, and absolute body inspiration, try her 12-week home workout programme at
L – LIVE WORKOUTS
One of the biggest launches of the year is The Peloton Bike, devised by a New York-based fitness company and taking the indoor cycling world by storm. Each bike is equipped with a 22-inch HD sweat-proof touchscreen in which every hour of every day you can live stream spin classes directly to your home.
Fans include Joe Wicks, David Beckham and Rita Ora, who all own one, although they don’t come cheap at £1,995 plus £39.50 a month the subscription to unlimited classes. We predict this trend will be big news with cheaper versions on the horizon.
M – MIND GYMS
No weights. No treadmills. No annoying PTs. Just fluffy cushions, soft blankets, scented candles and calming sounds. Mind gyms and meditation studios are opening up all over the country, inviting you to sign up for up a max relax for your mental health.
Try Re:Mind studio, in Victoria, central London, , or Ragdale Hall’s Mind Gym, Leicestershire, . The Headspace app is also worth a download.
N – NUTRITION
A new app called Healthspan claims to take away all the confusion surrounding vitamins and supplements.
When you input your diet, weight and fitness levels, it delivers personalised recommendations so you know exactly what you need. See .
O – ON-DEMAND FITNESS
Forget Uber and JustEat, it’s all about ordering wellness to your front door.
From a last-minute personal trainer to a masseuse, it’s never been easier to boost your health from home. Download the TruBe app or visit
P – PLUS-SIZE WORKOUT WARDROBES
Khloe Kardashian’s new performance range for Good American launched last month and caters for women up to a size 24.
With leggings, sports bras and sweatshirts designed with real women’s figures in mind, ill-fitting Lycra is a thing of the past. Visit
Q – QUENCHING YOUR THIRST
Everyone should have a water bottle that gets repeatedly filled up to reach their two litres a day target. And even more so when working out.
Hydration is key as drinking water is one of the easiest ways to turn up your fat-burning capacity. Brita Fill & Go Active Water Bottle, £8,
R – RECOVERY
Stretch classes, rest days and looking after your muscles are the best way to keep your body in top form.
Workout company Sweat has just launched a new workout essentials pack, with massage ball, foam roller and resistance bands to keep your post-workout muscles at their peak. £38.04,
S – SUSTAINABLE FITNESS
Being environmentally friendly has made its way into the fitness world.
Now, you can buy 100 percent recyclable yoga mats, trainers made with recycled plastic, and visit Ecogyms – human-powered gyms where your pedal-power literally makes the lights work.
T – TECHNOLOGY BOOSTS
In 2018, you aren’t taking your fitness seriously if you haven’t got a piece of technology tracking your moves. Wearable tech keeps note of your steps, heart rate, numbers of floors climbed, calorie burn and sleep so you can monitor your progress.
Fitbit’s new Charge 3 is out in November and is already in high demand. From £129.99 – a great Christmas present idea.
U – UNDER ARMOUR
This is the sports brand that we are lusting for. It is the second biggest sports clothing manufacturer in the US, after Nike and ahead of Adidas – and only launched its women’s line in 2003.
Now worn by Andy Murray, Anthony Joshua, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez, to name a few. Women’s Under Armour Powerprint mid sports bra, £45.
V – VIRTUAL REALITY WORKOUTS
Virtual Reality headsets could be the future of fitness. The headset allows you to transport yourself into a “fitness game” wherever you are. Scenes include having to punch objects flying towards you, to jumping, ducking and running on the spot through fictional worlds.
Californian writer Job Stauffer claims he lost 50lb in five months on VR system HTC Vive, playing a game called Soundboxing. Not bad.
W – WEIGHTS
Once the area of the gym filled with testosterone, women are embracing training with weights more than ever before – and seeing huge results.
Fitness First gyms have started working with the governing body British Weight Lifting to support their mission to revolutionise the way women engage with weights.
X – X-RATED WORKOUTS
More women are reportedly turning to the bedroom to stay fit, choosing positions that not only offer pleasure, but also tone up the body and burn calories.
See or Better Sex Workout For Women: Sex Exercise, Sex Positions, Kegel Exercises & Sex Foods for Hot Sex by Jill Newman for toning, tantalising tips.
Y – YOGA
Meghan Markle swears by it, and yoga is having a moment. The latest zen trend is immersive yoga. Floor-to-ceiling HD screens show cinematic visuals of beautiful landscapes, making you feel you are doing your downward dog everywhere from a snow-covered mountain to a lush forest.
Look out for new studios popping up nationwide.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
Z – ZUMBA
The famous dance fitness class has been elevated with Strong by Zumba. It still has dance at its core, but the upgraded class sees you perform moves synced to a dance playlist by Grammy award-winning producer Timberland.
Available at gyms nationwide, from £5 a class. See.