December is underway and most people are beginning their holiday parties. The smell of cinnamon, vanilla, hot chocolate, peppermint and pumpkin pie wafts into noses as we visit department stores, bakeries, the homes of our families and try new recipes for the company pot luck that is coming up.
We are also slowly approaching the New Year and with that comes yet another dreaded list of resolutions. On the top of most resolutions is the vow to eat better, lose weight and be a happier, more centered person.
This article will focus on the fitness trends for 2019, and not surprisingly touch on all three of those top resolutions directly and indirectly.
People who tend to take the time and commit to an exercise regime will, in turn, find themselves subconsciously making better eating decisions, which will fruition a happier, aware, productive, healthier and satisfied existence.
Oh, and world peace.
Rejoice if you are a trained personal fitness professional because at the top of the list are people seeking the expertise and time of educated and experienced (certified) professionals.
YouTube exercise videos, home fitness DVDs and fitness television channels are popular too, but it takes a real one on one professional to motivate, demonstrate properly and hold people accountable for their fitness goals.
Sometimes that is exactly what we need to establish an ongoing fitness habit! Jobs for fitness workers are expected to rise much faster than the average for all other occupations, according to the U.S. Labor Department. 
In the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row, strength training continues to be a strong trend. No longer restricted to bodybuilding, most people now incorporate some form of weight training to improve or maintain muscle strength.
This is especially important to blast fat and speed up the metabolic rate! In this category also lies gravity training and kettlebells, two of my favorite ways to strength train!
Think cross fit, boot camps or Spartan workout! Body-weight exercises use minimal equipment and include push-ups, pull-ups, planks, and squats.
Body Rock TV has a great website and many videos that use this type of plyometric workout to keep bodies in tip-top performance. Other great sources are Insanity and P90X (plyometric) DVD. 
Here is refreshing news, “Exercise programs aimed at the problem of childhood obesity are also a major fitness trend.”
After years of hearing schools cutting physical education classes entirely because of budget cuts, it really does not help the growing epidemic of children becoming the fastest growing age group to developing type 2 diabetes (among other chronic diseases).
Schools are increasingly partnering with commercial and community-based physical activity programs to prevent and treat rising childhood obesity rates.
Also check out http://adventuresofadiposemax.com/, a comic strip about Adipose Max that aims to win against the evil doings of bad food choices and a sedentary lifestyle.
Great moms and parenting groups that aim to foster healthy attitude and lifestyles, such as Moms IN-Charge is also a fantastic movement toward bettering the way we live, educate and role model the youth of today for a healthier generation(s). 
Consistently in the top 20 fitness trends, researchers say most popular diet plans incorporate exercise to encourage weight loss.
I suggest investing in a pedometer or if you have a smartphone to download a free or inexpensive app that includes a pedometer and just start moving.
Challenge yourself to move a little more each day. Walking is a great form of body movement and is a great start for people new to exercises.
Fitness clubs are capitalizing on an aging baby boomer generation with age-appropriate exercise programs. On the top of those lists are Zumba classes, yoga, biking, tennis, golf and swimming.
I used to teach senior fitness programs, and most times you just need a sturdy chair. Baby boomers are so much more advanced, nowadays.
There are Wii fit exercise routines for those with the Wii and water aerobic exercises are always a popular, low impact choice. 
As more personal trainers are becoming certified, they are becoming more accessible in a variety of settings, such as corporate wellness, community-based, and medical fitness programs.
I have even seen personal trainers on wheels, where they bring their own gym to your house and those who advertise sessions in the privacy of your home on Skype!
Researchers define functional fitness as using strength training to improve balance, coordination, force, power, and endurance to perform activities of daily living.
Functional fitness programs are designed to reflect actual activities done as a function of daily living and are often used in fitness programs for older adults.
I know of some trainers who despise using the nebulous umbrella term “core” when describing what exercises works what part of the body because technically, almost all exercises will engage the “core” in some form or the other.
Using equipment like balance balls, BOSU balls, wobble boards, gravity, kettlebells, and resistance bands, stresses strength and conditioning of the stabilizing muscles of the mid-section.
Researchers say exercising the core muscles in the hips, lower back, and abdomen improves overall stability for daily activities and sports performance. 
A very motivating and pocket-friendly route to fitness goals. This is where personal trainers provide services to small groups of two to four people at deep discounts.
It is very popular nowadays in small, private as well as large, corporate gyms. 
Antigravity Yoga, Yoga with Wings, or Aerial Yoga is a growing trend. This type of yoga is a unique fusion technique, revolutionary in relieving compressed joints and aligning the body from head to toe.
The AntiGravity® Hammocks, or "wings" act as a soft trapeze and as a support while you master simple inversions and finally progress to more advanced poses. Very beautiful to watch and even more exhilarating to practice.
Try it in a studio that offers it! You will be amazed at how great it is for your body and how energized and centered you feel, too! 
Whatever your 2019 resolution, try to make an effort to write it down and stick to your goal. Reward yourself with non-food treats when you reach a certain (realistic) goal, such as going to see a concert, destination visit, pedicure, massage or sign up for a competitive race to really get you on track and meet some great people along the way in training groups! Happy 2019!!
Resources: webmd.com, todayiwill.com, and ACSM'S Health & Fitness Journal: November/December 2012 - Volume 16 - Issue 6 - p 8–17, doi: 10.1249/01.FIT.0000422568.47859.35.
