Fitness and Wellness Trends for 2023

Health has been made a priority for a lot of people ever since March 2020. Not only are we reconsidering our day-to-day habits, we are also rethinking what exercise means to us. It’s not necessarily about weight management anymore, but what best flows into our lifestyles and how it can tie into overall wellness, both physical and mental. We’ve put in the work to find what workouts are going to be trending in 2023, so you can start the new year right.

While we are still finding our footing after quarantining, working out at home has continued to be the go-to for many. With the big change of how and where we exercise, comes the merging of technology and working out. Whether you’re using an interactive smart strength training system like Peloton, Spivi, or Accurofit, or gamifying your routine with dance and workout games through Oculus or Nintendo Switch, working up a sweat in your living room has become more effective and fun. The gamifying aspect can keep you encouraged and excited to workout, with the ability to earn points, join a community, beat levels, earning badges, completing quests, and earning a spot on the leaderboard. Going tech has also provided a gateway for those that are too anxious to be in a gym and allows the freedom of trying something new without the embarrassment. MindBody’s 2022 Fitness Report found that 35% of Americans attended  in-person fitness classes after they tried it out at home through an online class or tutorial. On top of all of this, there is the benefit of connected trackers within these tech based workout systems and can link up with your fitness accessories like the Apple Watch and Fit Bit.

There has been a big shift in what people consider to be “healthy”. It’s not just watching your portions and burning X amount of calories anymore. It’s about your headspace, reducing stress,  your emotional presence, and what you are surrounding yourself with. People will really take advantage of being able to be outdoors in 2023 after two years of pandemic, if they haven’t already. There has been a large influx of people preferring outdoor workouts, like hiking, rock climbing, and even “forest bathing”. Forest Bathing started in Japan in the 1980’s, where you go and surround yourself in nature and just walk or sit and be still. By allowing yourself the space to take in all of the senses of nature around you, not rushing through the experience or focusing on a goal. Other wellness and holistic focused exercises that have seen a huge increase of interest and practice are yoga, especially reiki based, pilates, breath training, and guided meditation. These are all about controlled movement, finding stillness within your body and mind, and creating emotional balance. After everything we have been through over the past couple of years, this type of workout, or practice, has really taken a foothold in America. To back up this point, The Mayo Clinic reports that “doing 30 minutes or more of exercise a day for three to five days a week may significantly improve depression or anxiety symptoms. But smaller amounts of physical activity — as little as 10 to 15 minutes at a time — may make a difference.”

When thinking about the long workout sessions you have planned, half the time it can keep us from ever following through. However, there have been some discoveries made over the past year that can be encouraging for those looking for a way to start without having to push themselves to the max too soon. By starting with short bites of exercise throughout the day versus long sessions can change your mindset when it comes to working out. Another trending workout that is heading into 2023 with strong numbers is the 12-3-30. This is a low impact workout set up, primarily focused on the treadmill. You incline the treadmill at 12, set the speed to 3, and walk for 30 minutes. It’s a low impact movement that is a great addition to your workout routine or the start of one that can bring balance to your day-to-day. Overall, walking has regained massive popularity and is expected to continue to grow.

We have come to a point where we don’t want the one-size-fits-all experience. What works for you doesn’t work for someone else, and we should be able to choose what works best for us. So many gyms, apps, classes, and exercise equipment companies are considering that as we head into the new year. The focus will be pulled into wearable tech, your fitness watches and etc., so they can keep track of calories, workout times, and overall health progress. Some may choose the frequency over volume technique, others may want more intense workouts like the trending Tabata, a HIIT workout that is 20 seconds on of intense cardio and 10 seconds off. If they work out at home, they’ll seek out fitness apps, online classes, youtube videos, and smart home gyms that best align with their needs. Others will want to join a class that breaks away from the predictable, old school style and have a refreshed approach that is exciting and engaging. Think of those really fun cycling classes with the lights and pumping music, or the soul-soothing yoga sessions, or group crossfit.

The way we think about what it means to be healthy has changed and will continue to evolve. So do what feels right to you. You are the captain of your own spirit ship, your journey to wellness, and your 2023.

Need a new water bottle to ring in the new year? Check out our top picks .