Fernanda Garcia-Villanueva, 8, does jumping jacks at a group exercise session in the 10-week Shapedown Program at The Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado May 29, 2010.
Fernanda Garcia-Villanueva, 8, does jumping jacks at a group exercise session in the 10-week Shapedown Program at The Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado May 29, 2010. Reuters

At the recently concluded IDEA World Fitness Conference in August 2014, a number of trends are set to dominate the fitness industry in the following year. Particularly, people are focusing more on minimal time with maximum results.

1. HIIT

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. In a report by Huffington Post about the upcoming fitness trends discussed at the IDEA World Fitness Conference, HIIT is expected to stay popular among gym-goers. Some examples of HIIT are P90X, Tabata and Insanity. These workouts are a combination of cardiovascular movements, calisthenics and weight training. You move from one activity to the next within a span of 20 to 40 minutes, burning a lot of calories in the process.

2. Workouts for children

Due to the growing awareness on child obesity, parents are enrolling their children at gyms or doing home workouts via online videos. There are workouts specifically designed for children beginning the age of four years old and above. These are made to encourage children to adopt an active lifestyle as well as eat healthier.

3. Yoga

Yoga is one of the traditional exercises but in 2015, more men are expected to join sessions because of the various health benefits. Yoga is proven to increase longevity, boost the immune system as well as improve mental health. More men are viewing yoga as a co-ed exercise, not just for women.

4. Short workouts

Putting the focus more on HIIT and recovery, shorter workouts are becoming more popular among people. Individuals are adding intensity to their workouts, at the same time lowering total time. Many aim to get out of the gym after only 20 to 40 minutes, which boosts their focus while exercising and allowing their bodies to rest more. A study published in the ACSM Health & Fitness Journal showed that focusing on intensity rather than duration, rendered more physical benefits for people.

5. Video workouts

People prefer to stay in the office or house while working out to save time. The popularity of video or online workouts is increasing as more people do exercises in front of a big-screen TV or computer. Many would rather invest in home gym equipment and accessories than get a commercial gym membership.