The most efficient workout trends of 2021 revealed by fitness expert

Have you been trying any of these workout trends at home?

Smiling woman doing squats during home workout
(Image credit: Westend61 via Getty)

Workout trends are sure to be more popular than ever this year as the ongoing effects of the pandemic make working out at the gym impossible. With so many people turning to at-home workouts, the quest for the best dumbbells and best resistance bands for women has been consuming all our lives. But whether you’re into high itensity exercise, or prefer to take things a little more gently, it’s often hard to tell how efficient your at-home workouts really are without the guidance of an expert to help you. 

Now we might just have the answer for you as the experts a GolfSupport.com have looked into the most efficient workout trends of 2021, with exclusive insight from Elliot Hasoon, Founder of EH Coaching and host of The Simply Fit Podcast.

Elliot has analyzed the top 10 trendiest workout types of 2021 and calculated exactly how many calories a person can lose after just 30 minutes of working out. The answers might just come as a surprise to those who find their favorite form of exercise isn’t quite as efficient as they thought. 

But for anyone still searching for their ultimate at-home workout trend, here’s all you need to know before you decide if one of these is the one for you! 

1. Indoor Cycling 

Indoor cycling has been revealed as the most efficient workout trend, with an individual weighing 61kg burning approximately 240 calories after 30 minutes of working out, whilst an 84kg individual could burn around 350 calories after 30 minutes of cycling! But why is indoor cycling quite so efficient? 

A woman training on a stationary bike inside her home.

(Image credit: Alejandra de la Fuente via Getty)

Elliot Hasoon explains: “It is a fantastic cardio workout that offers a huge amount of variety, you can focus on muscular endurance, strength, speed and vary the intensity based on your experience level. Also helpful for those with knee injuries due to the low impact.”

2. Muay Thai and kettlebell training 

These two workouts both share second place, with an individual weighing 61kg reportedly burning approximately 210, whilst an 84kg individual could burn around 320 calories after 30 minutes of each workout. 

When it comes to the reason why, Elliot reveals that: “Muay Thai is a great way to improve stamina, muscular endurance and coordination, great if you’re looking to lose body fat, build muscle and learn a self-defense discipline."

Young woman exercising with kettlebells in gym

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"A workout with kettlebells is an effective cardio and strength workout that will use the majority of your muscle groups and it’s easy to do in the comfort of your own home,” he shares.

3. Dance workouts 

Perhaps one of the most fun ways to keep fit, dance workouts come in third! Those who enjoy having fun whilst working out can burn around 180 calories, for a 61kg individual or 270 calories for an 84kg individual, for just 30min of exercising, it’s claimed. 

dancer practicing in studio

(Image credit: JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty)

“Dancing is an effective cardio workout that can be varied in intensity to match the experience level of the individual. The enjoyment element is probably the biggest highlight of dance workouts along with the accessibility as it often requires little/no equipment,” Elliot explains.

4. Calisthenics and resistance training 

Coming in joint fourth place are calisthenics and resistance training. But what exactly is calisthenics? It’s a form of training with minimal or no equipment - instead, the person uses their own bodyweight. After just 30 minutes of calisthenics or resistance training a person weighing 61kg can allegedly burn around 130 calories whilst a person weighing 84kg can burn around 200 calories. 

“Calisthenics will help you develop lean muscle/muscular endurance, it can become very challenging the more advanced you get, but is very accessible once again, as it’s all centred around using bodyweight,” Elliot shares.

Full Lengthwoman exercising with a resistance band in gym

(Image credit: Carina König / EyeEm via Getty)

He goes on to explain that resistance training “will help you build lean muscle and simultaneously burn calories. It’s known that those with more muscle in their body burn more calories than those without. Using short rest periods and compound movements will help increase the calories burnt per session.”

5. Fast-paced walking 

Fast-paced walking is perhaps one of the simplest workouts to do from home and a brisk 30 minute walk around your neighborhood can reportedly help a 61kg person burn around 120 calories, and an 84kg person can burn around 180 calories. 

Elliot describes fast-paced walking as: “Very underrated but probably the easiest place to start, low impact, very easy to regress/progress and little/no equipment needed.”

Woman walking outside in the sunshine

(Image credit: Patrik Giardino via Getty)

6. Yoga and barre

Sharing sixth place are yoga and barre and it’s been suggested that a person weighing 61kg could burn approximately 100 calories for 30 minutes of exercise, whilst a person weighing 84kg could burn approximately 160 calories. 

“Yoga will help you improve your mobility and mindfulness due to the focus of breathing and stretching. It’s a great place to start for those new to exercise or who are intimidated by high intensity workouts,” Elliot discloses.

Young woman doing yoga exercise at home

(Image credit: Oscar Wong via Getty)

But if you're not tempted to reach for the best yoga mats quite yet, then never fear!

“Barre is a great workout for increased flexibility, muscle tone, with very little injury risk or impact on joints. Can be an effective supplementary workout between your higher intensity sessions,” he explains.

7. Pilates

Pilates comes in last place, with a person weighing 61kg reportedly burning approximately 90 calories for 30 minutes of exercise, whilst a person weighing 84kg burns approximately 150 calories. 

Beautiful young woman working out at home

(Image credit: Qi Yang via Getty)

Elliot highlights that: “Pilates is great for those with injury, who want to improve posture and is accessible for both younger and the older generation.”

Will you be giving any of these workout trends a try this year?

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Senior Lifestyle Writer with five years experience working in digital publishing, ranging from book publishing to magazines. She currently looks after all things Lifestyle for Woman&Home, GoodToKnow and My Imperfect Life.


Before she joined Future Publishing, Emma graduated from the University of Warwick with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Comparative Literary Studies. After leaving education, she started out her publishing career in the world of books, working as a Publisher for an independent digital publisher specializing in back-list and debut commercial fiction novels. With a huge book list and a passion for bringing the best stories to the broadest audience possible, Emma filled her spare time with reading the latest best-sellers and catching up on hit adaptations.


In 2017 she joined TI Media as a fiction writing coordinator on Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Weekly Fiction as part of the features team. From here, she used her love of books, working to bring short stories to our dedicated readers and began writing for the books pages of Woman, Woman’s Own and Woman&Home, as well as online features ranging from genre round-ups to travel pieces for womanandhome.com.


After honing her skills, Emma branched out online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first. When she’s not writing about the next big lifestyle trend, she enjoys cooking, long walks and watching as many crime dramas as she can!