The future of fitness is bright, with exciting new technology trends and promising developments emerging in 2023.

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just looking to get a little healthier, there are plenty of options available to help you reach your goals and lead an active lifestyle.

Let’s take a look at the biggest tech trends that will change the fitness industry over the next year.

Fitness in the Metaverse

Virtual and augmented reality workouts will continue to make waves in the new year as more people seek out immersive fitness experiences.

VR and AR workouts like Supernatural, Holoball, and Thrill of the Fight are not only fun and engaging, but they make exercise more accessible to people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

This year, we’ll also see progress on devices like cutting-edge AR contact lenses, which could provide heads-up fitness displays during workouts. Mojo Vision is currently developing augmented reality contacts and working with companies like Adidas, Trailforks, Wearable X and 18 Birdies to determine the best use cases and interfaces for this new technology.

IoT-enabled fitness devices

Wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers have been around for a while, but the next generation of wearables debuting in 2023 will be even more advanced. The IoT-enabled healthcare device market is expected to reach a value of $267 billion by 2023.

Clothing and sportswear like smart shoes and socks can collect biometric data on body movement, distance traveled, muscle stretch and heart rate to help people improve and personalize their home workouts .

We will continue to see the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into wearable fitness devices in 2023. AI can enable wearables to provide more personalized and accurate recommendations and feedback, helping users to optimize their workouts and achieve their fitness goals.

Playful fitness

Gamified fitness uses video game-like elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and rewards to motivate and engage users.

There are many gamified fitness programs and apps available, including fitness trackers, which allow users to compete with friends and relatives and earn rewards for achieving their goals.

eSports – a type of competitive gaming – is also growing in popularity, with professional teams and leagues popping up all over the world. Look for tournaments featuring esports such as fighting games, strategy games, first-person shooters, etc.

Personalized fitness

AI-powered fitness apps can now provide personalized workout recommendations based on an individual’s physical and health levels, as well as personal fitness goals.

These recommendations may include the type of workout, level of difficulty, number of reps, or duration of the workout. AI-powered personal training apps like Gymfitty and ArtiFit deliver smart workouts that adapt in real-time to specific user needs.

The emerging field of exercise and wellness genetics will also continue to grow in 2023. Now you can get DNA analysis that provides personalized health and fitness recommendations based on your specific genetic differences when it comes to metabolism, muscle mass, endurance response and optimal diet type.

Home fitness

Millions of people invested in high-quality home fitness equipment during the pandemic, and interest in home workouts has continued since then.

Advanced home fitness equipment now includes features like cameras, touchscreens, motion sensors, and access to online trainers and classes.

Gyms and studios are also using a hybrid model to offer classes for people who want to choose to train in person or at home.

Biohacking

Biohacking, a do-it-yourself biology practice aimed at improving health, performance, and well-being through strategic intervention, will continue to be popular in the new year.

For example, a form of biohacking called nutrigenomics focuses on how the food you eat interacts with your individual genes. Using this type of biohacking, people try to map and optimize how different nutrients affect the way they think, feel, and behave.

More extreme biohackers modify their bodies using technology such as magnets, chips, or computers embedded under their skin. This year we will see more biohackers finding ways to improve their physical fitness using these implanted devices.

holistic health

Another trend is the growing emphasis on holistic wellness and the importance of emotional and mental health.

As a result, we’re likely to see more fitness programs focused on stress management, mindfulness, and nutrition coaching in addition to traditional workouts.

Wearable fitness devices can now track sleep patterns, stress levels, and other mental health indicators, then provide personalized, holistic recommendations and resources to help people manage their individual issues.

The experience economy

As part of the experience economy, more and more fitness clubs are shifting from selling physical products to selling services and experiences. Businesses are focused on creating unique, meaningful and memorable experiences for customers to set themselves apart from their competitors.

For example, Flywheel now offers competitive cycling experiences in their classes that include stadium-style studios, leaderboards that allow you to compete against your classmates, and the ability to customize your resistance and revolutions.

Orange Theory offers group classes at its in-person studios that include OTbeat™, an exclusive heart rate monitoring technology that allows members to see real-time data during their workouts.

Fitness for older generations

As the baby boomer generation ages, many companies are focusing on helping seniors stay fit. Virtual and augmented reality offer the ability to train from anywhere, at any level, as seniors’ bodies change and people face limitations related to age or health.

Smartwatches and wearables can also provide personalized workout recommendations and even send fitness and diet information to healthcare providers. This can help healthcare professionals coordinate care with virtual health monitoring.

Optimized fitness over time

We are all short on time, and the busier we are, the less time we seem to have for training.

A big trend we’ll see in 2023 is the continued popularity of shorter, optimized workouts and classes that are designed to be effective and efficient in a short amount of time.

These types of time-optimized fitness programs will include things like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and circuit training routines that combine strength and cardio exercises. Some time-optimized fitness programs also incorporate technology, such as wearable fitness trackers or virtual reality workouts, to optimize workout efficiency.

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