Outdoor Activities is the Most Preferred Fitness Trend by Gen Z

As per the results of the survey conducted by Expert Market Research, Outdoor activities emerged as the most preferred option as chosen by 23% of the respondents followed by Mind body activities.

In the dynamic world of fitness, trends are evolving, driven by upgradations and changing lifestyles be it outdoor activities and sports, mind-body practices, the rhythm of dance workouts, the integration of wearable fitness technology, and the convenience of virtual classes—these trends redefine how we approach our fitness routine. According to a comprehensive survey conducted by Expert Market Research across top-tier 1 and 2 cities, which included 45,000 respondents, the results delve deeply into fitness trends people are interested in.

Emerging Fitness Trends

The survey results show that outdoor activities lead the fitness trends with 22.83%, followed closely by mind-body activities at 21.6% and dance workouts at 17.32%. This study aimed to analyze emerging fitness trends and individuals' overall fitness routines. Clearly, outdoor activities and mind-body activities together make up around 44% of the total share, surpassing other categories. This indicates a strong preference among respondents for sports and mind-body practices over other fitness options.

Outdoor activities emerge to be the top fitness trend as they offer participants the opportunity to engage in physical exercise while enjoying the benefits of fresh air and natural surroundings. To encourage the same, Indian government launched Rajiv Gandhi Adventure Scheme on 26th June 2009 for promoting adventure activities amongst students. Under the Scheme, special adventure camps are planned on a yearly basis for 2000 NSS Volunteers with at least 50% of the volunteers being girl students. The Indian sports industry registered an 11% yearly growth, as per GroupM ESP Sporting Nation Report 2024. The report revealed that the Indian sports industry is worth Rs. 15,766 crores, which is nearly four times what it was worth 10 years ago.

Valuable insights from our survey reveal that Mind body activities and Sports have taken top positions as emerging fitness trends. Mind body activities, such as meditation and yoga, are particularly favored by middle-aged and older adults, contrasting with Outdoor activities which are popular among Gen Z and young adults. Interestingly, recent trends show a shift as more Gen Z individuals are embracing mind body activities. This change is attributed to increasing peer influence and a desire for better work-life balance among younger generations. This indicates a breaking of traditional stereotypes about age-related preferences in fitness activities. Looking ahead, the integration of technology into fitness routines, such as virtual meditation classes and fitness apps, is further democratizing access to these practices. This technological advancement enables individuals to participate in mind body activities from the comfort of their homes, enhancing convenience and accessibility.

Fitness Trends Among Women

Important findings from our poll indicate that sports and body exercises have emerged as the top fitness trends. In contrast to outdoor activities, which are popular with Gen Z and young people, mind-body practices like yoga and meditation are especially preferred by middle-aged and older people. Remarkably, current patterns indicate a change as more members of Generation Z are adopting mind-body practices. Younger generations' quest for a better work-life balance and growing peer pressure are blamed for this shift. This suggests that conventional beliefs regarding age-related preferences in fitness activities are being broken. In the future, technology will continue to democratize access to exercise routines through its incorporation into them. Examples of this include workout apps and virtual meditation courses. This development in technology allows people to participate in mind body activities from the comfort of their homes.