2017

Who are the Millennials and What is Athleisure Wear?

Who are the Millennials and What is Athleisure Wear?
Millenials have embraced fitness like no other generation!

Nielsen’s Les Mils Global Fitness Survey found that more Millennials are invested in staying fit than any other generation. According to the study, 48% of all 18+ regular exercisers who do gym-type activities are Millennials, while Generation X comprises 32% of this market and Baby Boomers just 20%. Studies suggest that 45% of Millennials take part in fitness classes as oppose to 27% of people aged 55 and older.

What's Millenials Got to Do with Athleisure ?


Millennials have successfully incorporated fitness regimes into their daily lives. Large numbers of Millennials prefer cities in which they can walk around and not rely on a car. They favor staying in attached houses with easy access to shops/restaurants and a shorter commute to their workplace.

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Unlike earlier generations which considered working out to be more of a chore than enjoyment, Millennials look forwards to exercising. Studies show that Millennials think of working out as a way of socializing. Studies found that Millennials generally choose to work out with a partner or within groups, under the supervision of trainers who are within their age range.

They are willing to make healthy choices when choosing what to eat. Forbes reported that Millennials are not only willing to pay for healthy food, they are also putting in the effort to go find it if it is not easily available. Generation Z (people less than 20-years old) are even more conscious of food ingredients and are willing to pay more for healthier meals than Millennials.

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What is Athleisure wear?


Athleisure is a trend in fashion in which clothing designed for workouts and other athletic activities is worn in other settings, such as during work, casual or social occasions. Athleisure outfits are yoga pants, tights and leggings that "look like athletic wear" and are characterized as " fashionable, dressed up sweats and exercise clothing". The idea is that gym clothes are supposedly making their way out of the gym and becoming a larger part of people's everyday wardrobes. By some accounts, the athleisure trend grew out of women wearing yoga pants. Another account suggests that the trend came about because people could wear them for multiple occasions without having to change, which meant greater convenience, since people did not have to carry an extra gym outfit on the way to the office, for example. - Wikipedia

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Millennials are so committed to gyms and exercise that the fashion industry had to introduce Athleisure wear  with brands like Lotus Boutique , RYU Apparel and other millennial-centric focused brands; comfortable clothes designed for workouts that can be worn in other settings as well. Athleisure has become so normalized that it is no longer being referred to as a separate class of clothing.

Redefining traditional work-out regimes, the Millennial Way


Millennials have a distinct view on fitness and exercise. Previously, people would assume that a daily workout required you to stay in the gym for at least 2 hours every day, however, Millennials prefer alternate methods. Millennials are not using the traditional method to get fit. Simple cardio workouts are obsolete according to Millennials, instead, they have embraced high-intensity exercise methods that push their limits but do not need much time.

10 Tips For Success For The CrossFit Newbie

Crossfit can be described as the greatest fitness phenomenon endorsed by Millennials. Crossfit has become a lifestyle movement among Millennials that focuses on high-intensity workouts that differ day-to-day and can be completed within 25minutes, less than half the time of a traditional workout in the gym. Another aspect of Crossfit that appeals to Millennials is that it offers them a sense of community that is not available in other fitness regimes. Members of Crossfit gyms partake in inter-gym competitions. The annual Crossfit Games, search for the “Fittest on Earth”, where athletes compete in workouts which they learn a few hours before the event. The workouts are released online to enable worldwide participation.

Aside from community, music has a surprising influence when it comes to Millennials choosing gyms and fitness classes as well.

[caption id="attachment_25187" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Image Source: Nielsen Group [/caption]

Eating Healthy is not Optional for Millenials


Millennials have had a huge impact on the food industry; their consciousness of calorie intake has instigated restaurants to show the number of calories each dish consists of on their menus. Back in 2013, Fortune Magazine reported that a massive $18 billion loss in the food industry could be attributed to the disruption caused by Millennials. Popular fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and KFC were pressured to introduce healthy food options after receiving heavy criticism for their unhealthy menus.

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The gluten-free diet trend is being carried by Millennials as they represent around 28% of the gluten-free market. They are aware of the health risks associated with food additives and pesticides when purchasing food, therefore, place a high value on organic food.

Veganism has been brought into the mainstream by Millennials. After decades of facing ridicule, vegans are finally getting their way in the food market where hundreds of vegan restaurants now emerging (specifically in Europe). Millennials consider veganism as the ‘ethical choice’ which according to them is also healthier because of higher dependence on fruits and vegetables.

Pop-culture influence on Millennials


Like always, pop-culture has played a huge role in shaping the mindset of this generation. Celebrities continue to endorse an ideal body image (at least this time it’s a healthy body). The advent of Social Media has given fans access to very personal information of their favorite celebs, so they are very aware of the lifestyles they follow on the products they use.

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With the creation of social media, Millennials share a close bond with celebrities which they idolize. Constantly being under pressure to look a certain way, celebrities have to embrace healthy lifestyles. Those that are genuinely passionate about fitness often share their photos and videos of themselves working out on social media platforms. Their fitness trainers have Instagram pages dedicated to sharing celebrity fitness regimes with their followers.

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Some celebrities like Jessica Biel and Kevin Hart have taken up initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The transformation of many celebrities from chubby to fit or thin to shredded is always made public and garners a lot of attention. Female celebrities particularly are under a lot of scrutiny when it comes to weight. Celebrities like Fergie and Blake Lively have shared their post-pregnancy diet and fitness regimes while Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba have credited their weight-loss to waist trainers; another body toning trend that is gaining momentum.

Veganism happens to be another trend propelled by celebrities. Many celebrities have spoken out against animal cruelty in slaughterhouses and the benefits of adopting a meat-free lifestyle.

So, what else can we expect from the Millenial Generation?


Millennials have contributed to the world in many important ways. They are not afraid of challenging conventional ideas and are open to embracing new ones. Armed with unlimited research and medical evidence, they are able to make informed decisions about their health and fitness. Embracing all the technology and information they have available, Millennials have learned to adopt a healthy lifestyle and actually enjoy it (which earlier generations struggled with).

Here’s hoping that their decisions/sacrifices pay off and they are able to avoid the pitfalls that deteriorated the lives of earlier generations.

[caption id="attachment_25189" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image Source: Bryan K Orourke[/caption]

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Author Bio: Judy Robinson

Judy Robinson is an enthusiastic blogger who spends her entire day writing quality blogs. She is a passionate reader and loves to share quality content prevalent on the web with her friends and followers. Her forte is Fashion, Fitness, and Lifestyle, keeping a keen eye on latest trends in those industries. For more updates follow her on Twitter @judyrobinson

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