Ted Thornhill, Mail Online Travel Editor
May 23, 2024 11:58, Updated May 23, 2024 11:58
A series of fascinating reworked maps have revealed the most popular form of exercise in countries around the world – and it’s dance training that’s the most popular way to stay fit in the world.
The maps, which include a major world map and a regional breakdown, are color-coded to show which types of exercise each country’s residents prefer most, and the results are generated by analysing the types of exercise people search for most on Google, using a master list of 200 types of exercise.
‘Dance’ is the top search for exercise in 51 countries including Finland, Egypt, Kenya, Botswana and Papua New Guinea.
Pilates is number one in 40 countries including the UK, Portugal, Poland, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
The study was conducted by PureGym, which states that “dancing is a fun and easy way to exercise.”
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Georgia Boyle, personal trainer at PureGym Edinburgh, added: “Dance is a great form of exercise for several reasons. Not only is it a fun full-body workout, it’s also a great form of creative expression, stress relief and above all it’s a form of exercise that can bring people together.
“It’s accessible to all ages and it’s very easy to start dancing. You can try a class in person or at home, or just put on some music and dance around the house.”
“I think one of the biggest barriers to dance for people is that they feel they have ‘two left feet’ and therefore cannot be technically professional. But it’s important to move your body and enjoy the music.”
As for Pilates, which came in second, PureGym explained that it’s aimed at beginners and “focuses on improving strength, flexibility and balance.”
He continued, “It’s no surprise that Pilates is on the rise. The original form of this exercise, which began in the 1920s, now offers variations that people can do, such as reformer and wall Pilates. Wall Pilates was named the number one fitness trend for 2024 by PureGym, with interest soaring by 4,461 percent.”
The study found that yoga was the third most searched for form of exercise, topping the list in 26 countries, including Canada and China, but parkour (which originated in France) is not a favorite in its native India.
CrossFit ranks 4th (22 countries, including Mexico and Spain), and ab training ranks 5th (17 countries).
The rest of the top ten are boxercise (6th, 12 countries), running (7th, 10 countries), gymnastics (8th, 8 countries), climbing (9th, 6 countries) and hiking (10th, 5 countries).
Laura Melia, PT and general manager at PureGym Manchester, says staying healthy is all about finding what works for you.
She commented: “Everyone’s fitness journey is different, with different levels of strength and mobility, so what works for one person may be too much or too little for another. Don’t feel pressured to match someone else’s workouts or compare your progress with others.”
For more information on the research and the most popular forms of exercise in each country, please visit: www.puregym.com/blog/how-the-world-works-out.
