The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has released its predictions for the top fitness trends of 2010. As with last year and the year before, Pilates is in the top 10. Well, yeah, the benefits are amazing!
Here is the ACSM top trend list, in order: Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals, Strength Training, Children and Obesity, Personal Training, Core Training, Special Fitness Programs for Older Adults, Functional Fitness, Sport-Specific Training, Pilates, Group Personal Training.
Something I find very interesting about the ACSM top 10 list is that Pilates is directly related to almost every single one of the trends. Pilates is the king of core training, of course. Not only that, but Pilates is popular as personal training, functional fitness, sport-specific training, and group training; and it plays a role in strength training, and programs for older adults as well. As a matter of fact, the ACSM used a photo of a Pilates class to illustrate their group personal training category. How cool is all that!? ( OK maybe I get a little carried away)
If you have been thinking about becoming a Pilates instructor, you might take a look at #1, Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals, and think even more strongly about it. 2010 could be a great time to start Pilates instructor education.
You can read the full text of the ACSM's fitness predictions here: Worldwide Survey Reveals Fitness Trends for 2010. The author, Thompson, Walter R. Ph.D., FACSM, FAACVPR, goes into some interesting detail about how the ACSM conducts the survey, and the difference between a trend and a fad.
