Commentary: From Hyrox to aerial yoga, fitness ‘fads’ can be a good thing

SINGAPORE: Hyrox is all the rage right now. But just like physical fitness trends before it – CrossFit, Spartan races, spin, reformer pilates, or even aerial yoga – there’s a wave of dismissive comments from those who consider it “just a fad”.
For those not keeping up with the latest trends, it is a relatively new type of race, involving different exercises (like weighted sled pulls and carrying kettlebells) interspersed with running. It can cost almost S$200 (US$150) to participate.
Critics have questioned why anyone would pay to do exercises that could be performed almost anywhere for free. Some deride it as glamourised gym work, not a “real sport” deserving of respect. Others dub it a pursuit for those facing a midlife crisis.
It’s easy to mock fitness trends. But are they “just a fad” and would that even be a bad thing?
For many people, getting off the couch is the hardest part of the journey towards physical fitness. Anything that helps people get started can potentially make a huge difference.
When a new and interesting fitness trend floods their social media, some may be motivated to just give it a try. For others, maybe it’s the FOMO (fear of missing out) that gets them off the couch when they see all their other friends participating.
FOMO can be a force for good here.
Be it in CrossFit gyms, spin studios or Hyrox social media groups, there’s often a strong community element, which has been found to be among the strongest predictors of exercise adherence (sticking with an exercise plan).
Beyond helping us keep up the motivation to continue exercising, the strong friendships also keep us coming back and provide a sense of belonging and accountability. For Hyrox, this sense of community can feel global, as the race follows an identical format anywhere it is organised.
Research has shown that once exercise becomes a habit, people are significantly more likely to stick with it for the long term. If a trend gets us to start working out regularly, we are more likely to develop a workout routine that will persist. Even a short-lived trend could end up building an exercise habit for life.
As one of my patients put it humorously: “I paid S$200 for Hyrox fitness to torture myself with my friends. It was a big success – I have never trained as hard or as consistently”.
Running at the park alone might be free, but putting our money down with friends ups the stakes in terms of commitment, accountability and even, some good fun.
We all know by now that exercise is one of the most powerful ways to improve health.
Scientific research tells us regular physical activity is linked to increased lifespan and improved metabolic health, and significantly reduces the risk of serious diseases from heart disease and diabetes, to even some types of cancer. A huge number of studies have shown that regular exercise improves mood and mental well-being, is highly effective at relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety, and could reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Even a little exercise is better than none. The Health Promotion Board recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, or about 20 minutes a day. But just a few minutes of daily physical activity has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and death.
Even so, many are still not getting enough exercise. The Ministry of Health’s National Population Health Survey 2020 found that 42.9 per cent of adults surveyed did not exercise at all.
There are signs of positive change. In 2022, 74 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed by Sport Singapore said they participated in sports at least once a week – a sharp increase from 54 per cent in 2015 when the survey was first started.
New forms of exercise – especially the trendy glamorous ones that people love to post about on social media – are contributing to this rise in physical activity.
When training for a Hyrox (or another intense athletic event, like a Spartan race or Tough Mudder), it’s also important not to get too carried away. A moderate amount of exercise is undeniably beneficial, too much too soon could be detrimental.
High-intensity training can pose health risks without proper conditioning. A concerning side effect is called rhabdomyolysis, which occurs when the muscle tissue breaks down rapidly with intense exercise. This can lead to severe complications, including kidney damage.
That is why it is important to gradually increase the intensity of workout, pay close attention to your body’s signals, and seek professional guidance if needed. Working with a personal trainer or health coach can help you balance exercise and recovery, to find that sweet spot of fitness gains without causing damage to your body.
Call Hyrox a fad or not, don’t dismiss – or worse, ridicule – certain fitness trends because you don’t see the appeal. Let’s embrace physical activity in all its forms and keep our eye on the bigger picture of improving health. 
One of my team members gave an interesting pitch when trying to get me to sign up for the next Hyrox: “I get a good benchmark for my fitness level and track progress. It provides an excuse to get friends to work out with me. And importantly, they take cool photos of me.”
All valid points, but I’ll stick to my preferred sport, tennis, for now. But no judgment from me – whatever gets you off the couch.
Dr Kyle Tan is a co-founder and consultant at NOVI Health.