3 min readEnhancewell
Humans have exercised since ancient times. A document from 600 BCE records that a physician named Susruta prescribed exercise as something that “should be taken every day.” Through the ages, wellness trends have shifted. After all, if you’re working the land, you don’t also need to squeeze in a 5-mile run. In the early 1900s, women were advised to lift imaginary pianos, and Dr. Emil Bunzi suggested “six to eight yawns, each followed by the operation of swallowing” to strengthen the lungs.
Our needs have changed. We work out not just to look good, but to feel good and maintain independence as we age.
2026 Fitness Trends
Functional Fitness
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but how confident are you in our Social Security program? Are you set for the future, or does it look a little unstable? Today’s fitness trends are preparing for tomorrow. Workouts are increasingly focused on functional fitness— including joint health, mobility, balance, and functional strength—so you can maintain your independence for as long as possible.
When you prioritize functional fitness, you reduce the risk of injury while training your body to handle everyday activities with ease as you age.
Life Stage Training
Think back to your music tastes and fashion choices of 20 years ago. Times have changed. Your body probably has too.
The way you trained two decades ago isn’t what your body needs now, and what you’ll need in two decades is different still.
A major trend right now is life stage training, with perimenopause and menopause finally getting the spotlight they deserve. During this hormone shift, women’s bodies are changing—on the inside and outside. The high-intensity workouts of the past aren’t even making a dent. Life stage training sees trainers shifting their focus to strength training and hormone-friendly recovery to manage cyclical shifts and fluctuations in energy levels.
Pilates: A Lifestyle, Not a Trend
Trends come and go. Can you believe that cigarette ads in the 1930s and 40s boasted the approval of doctors? And the packs themselves contained exercise cards? It’s true.
Pilates was invented during World War I to help injured prisoners maintain their strength. More than 100 years later, Pilates is still helping people achieve their fitness goals.
Pilates is low-impact with huge results. By strengthening the core, improving flexibility, and building muscle, this method can enhance mobility and reduce the risk of falling.
As women face the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause, Pilates can adapt as physiology changes. Women in those life stages need less cortisol, which means they may work out hard without seeing results. By tempering the impact, Pilates can deliver real results.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, Pilates can help shape your future for the better.
Enhancewell Collective is a NYC-based Pilates studio for people from all walks of life. From Broadway performers to senior citizens, our studio is a welcoming place for everyone who wants to achieve their goals.
Sign up for a private session or group class today, and set your future self up for success.