For something that has existed since the dawn of humankind, the field of wellness seems to have an endless capacity for evolution. Whether rediscovering ancient practices, inventing new methods of movement, exploring the endless possibilities of the mind or devising innovative solutions to age-old problems, we’re constantly recalibrating our understanding of what constitutes health – and finding newer, better ways to achieve it.
The past few years in particular have seen remarkable advancements in this area, not only in the increased efficacy of existing treatments and the creation of new ones, but also in the growing perception of ‘wellness’ as a continuous, multifaceted and worthwhile pursuit that is vital to our overall wellbeing.
The field is progressing so quickly, in fact, that it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we’ve reached out to leading experts to stay informed.
First, we ask fitness specialists to reveal the major new trends shaking up their fields, from age-old sports like archery and kalaripayattu, to the latest advances in athletic tech. Next week, we'll be checking in with yet more experts to pinpoint must-watch developments in mindfulness and nutrition.
“My field [kalaripayattu] is an ancient traditional martial and healing art, so trends and developments within it are maybe not so much desired. However, I notice that people in general have started to look for more balanced and complex physical activities that include various types of movements, both for strength and flexibility, as well as body and mind. Cardio enthusiasts and weightlifters stretch more and follow mobility routines, while yoga practitioners include more muscle-building workouts to find balance for movement patterns they already know. Perhaps more people will discover kalarippayattu and find it beneficial, as it embraces a very diverse, multifaceted and profound training system.”
Sankar Lal Sivasankaran Nair, Kalaripayattu Master and Ayurvedic Therapist
“I think something to look out for in the coming year is going to be the increased desire to link exercise with improving VR technology – things like VR headset workouts and bigger corporate experience equivalents.”
Simon Green, Elite Personal Trainer
“Neither of these are new, but the most important advances in freediving – and most sports – are likely to continue to be breathing and mental skills. Breathing is obviously critical for a breath-hold sport like freediving, but it’s important for all sports. There’s no physical activity that can’t benefit from more effective breathing, and there’s no better way to learn effective breathing than freediving.
“Mental skills, however, may hold the largest opportunity for improving performance. With the physical abilities of top athletes so similar – in cycling and running, efficiency and output gains of half a percent are huge – mental skills are the ultimate performance enhancer. (Doping is cheating, and can have horrific effects on health). Skills that help an athlete remain calm during physical or mental stress can – like proper breathing – allow an athlete to maintain performance with lower heart rate and energy output. This can lead to increases in speed and endurance measured in percentage points: minutes on a marathon, metres in the pool. Remaining calm also leads to better decision-making – such as how to pace in running or swimming, or shot selection in tennis or basketball – another huge performance-enhancer.”
Robert King, Expert Freediver
“For me, as I study and teach such an ancient art, it's the realisation of how this wisdom can apply so well to our current times. We may no longer need to prepare for the traditional battlefield, but we can use this knowledge to add attributes to enhance performance in other fields.”
Nic Gill, Kalaripayattu Expert
“We’re noticing that more and more of our members are interested in going back to basics. That means shooting barebow (without any sights or rods added to their bows) and also learning traditional longbow. Perhaps after lockdown, people are embracing the simpler pleasures in life, and this is finding its way into the archery world, too.”
Leander Pittis, Archery Expert
“As a population we are getting older, so there will be a strong emphasis on mobility, along with lifting heavy to maintain and build muscle. Time-efficient training – big bang-for-your-buck exercises and routines, either at home or in community-based gyms – will remain popular, as will the use of e-bikes to get around and the practice of outdoor exercise that allows you to be in and surrounded by nature. More people will realise the need to work on all elements of wellness rather than just focusing on one discipline, combining meditation and stress reduction with strength training, mobility and overall fitness. Wearables will continue to grow, giving more accurate data and linking of experts and businesses. We’ll also see more personalised nutrition and emphasis on gut health, rather than a universal approach.”
Jamie Baird, Personal Trainer, Fat Loss and Fitness Expert
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