CrossFit is one of the fitness trends with the highest growth in interest.
Getty Images/Klaus Vedfelt
- New research by PureGym has revealed the fitness trends set to dominate 2023.
- The 12-3-30 workout method ranked as the top trend for 2023, with a massive 309% spike in interest during the last year.
- Traditional methods of exercise like Pilates and yoga have seen increases of up to 84%, with online workouts continuing to decline in interest year-on-year.
On the hunt for new and exciting ways to keep fit? As part of its newly released annual Fitness Report, PureGym has once again revealed its predictions of the workout trends set to take the new year by storm. And it looks like the viral 12-3-30 workout will be leading the way for fitness fanatics.
By analysing the current number of monthly Google searches for over 120 different fitness trends versus the same period one year ago, PureGym has detailed which have seen the biggest spikes in interest as we approach 2023.
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Taking the top spot
The 12-3-30 workout takes the top spot as the fitness trend that has seen the biggest rise in searches as we reach the end of 2022, with a huge 309% spike in interest year-on-year.
This likely won’t be a surprise to many, with the workout having gone viral on TikTok earlier this year when creator Lauren Giraldo revealed that she sets her treadmill to a 12% incline and walks at a pace of 3 miles (around 4.8 km) per hour, for 30 minutes, in a workout that is much harder than it sounds!
With over 119 million views on the platform alone, PureGym personal trainer Laura Eaton shared her thoughts on the workout and her tips for following it safely:
Walking is already a fantastic cardiovascular activity and adding the incline creates a bigger increase in heart rate – improving cardiovascular health and endurance. This workout is also much gentler on the joints than running or jogging, making it an excellent choice for different age groups and fitness levels.
It’s also great for those who experience gym anxiety, says Eaton, as you can walk through the door and hop straight onto a treadmill and build up your confidence in the gym.
She adds: “I would recommend that anyone suffering with lower back pain or extremely tight calves avoids working at an incline on a treadmill, but for those who it is suitable for, avoid holding onto the handles so you can straighten your body and make this more challenging.”
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Second-fastest growing fitness trend
With an impressive 173.21% increase in interest, CrossFit ranked as the second-fastest growing fitness trend, thanks to a recent resurgence in popularity.
A style of high-intensity functional training that has gained a cult following since its inception in California in 2000, CrossFit concentrates on 10 key physical traits, from stamina and strength to agility and balance. CrossFit also uses a group training setting that has created a community of like-minded fitness aficionados across the world.
Elsewhere, the top 20 includes some more niche workout trends, like twerking classes (+125% increase in interest) and Everesting (+83.33%) – a trend in which cyclists and runners shape their workouts so that they ascend and descend in equal amounts until they’ve ‘climbed’ the distance of the world’s tallest mountain.
More traditional practices have also seen a return to form, with Pilates up by 83.60% year-on-year and yoga up by 49.72%.
Overall, the 20 fitness trends with the highest growth in interest are as follows:
- 1. 12-3-30 workouts
- 2. CrossFit
- 3. Twerking class
- 4. 75 soft
- 5. Hyrox
- 6. Jazzercise
- 7. Stroller fitness
- 8. Pilates
- 9. Incline walk
- 10. Everesting
- 11. Floating yoga
- 12. Indoor surfing
- 13. Hiking
- 14. Yoga
- 15. Rock climbing
- 16. Calisthenics
- 17. F45
- 18. ZUU
- 19. Breathwork
- 20. Outdoor fitness
Much the same as PureGym’s findings last year, the popularity of glute workouts is going nowhere fast, with interest growing year on year (+22%). This crowns glutes as the body part global fitness fans are most interested in building, followed by shoulders and calves. On the other end of the scale, having sculpted abs looks to be less of a focus in 2023, with an 18% drop in interest over the last year.
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For every new trend that comes in, an old trend must go. The world of virtual fitness continues to lose mainstream interest as we move further away from the pandemic, with virtual fitness challenges (-45.76%), outdoor personal trainers (-45.45%), and virtual fitness classes (-45.45%) all seeing the biggest falls in interest.
Stephen Rowe, Chief Marketing Officer at PureGym, commented:
This is the second year we’ve explored fitness trends, and it’s been interesting to see how they change over time and what influences them. It’s clear that TikTok has an impressive ability to make viral trends and that people are looking for new and novel ways to increase their activity – Twerking classes aren’t something we’ve seen an interest in before, but if it gets people moving and raising their heart rates – we’re all for it!
For the full fitness report on the trends revealed in the research, visit www.puregym.com
