As fitness professionals, we work in an ever-evolving, fast-paced industry where technology, sustainability, and the integration of holistic wellness will transform the way gyms operate and attract members. When we consider the “gym of the future”, we acknowledge that it must include more than state-of-the-art equipment. The future of the fitness industry will focus on rethinking spaces, services, and experiences to meet and exceed clients’ and members’ needs and demands. This article explores the key trends that promise to shape the fitness industry of tomorrow, touching on aspects as diverse as artificial intelligence-based personalization/precision training, mental health, and environmentally sustainable practices and equipment.
The Future of Fitness
The sudden presence of COVID-19 threw our entire society into a tailspin, and fitness centers took a hit just like many other businesses. Through this experience, fitness professionals realized we needed to shift our mindset about how we continued to serve our clientele. On the heels of this challenge, we emerged stronger than ever, with a clear vision for how we need to evolve, grow, and adapt to survive into the next decade and beyond.
Below we list some of the key strategies involved in “future-proofing” the fitness industry:
- Embracing Hybrid/Digital Models: by offering online coaching, streaming workouts, or using apps to provide flexibility, fitness professionals can expand their reach beyond the gym floor.
- Leveraging Wearable Technology: integrating client biometrics from wearable devices can lead to more personalized training, recovery, and nutrition plans.
- Finding a Niche: trainers will need to pull away from generic client work and focus instead on specialized niches such as prenatal, exercise senior fitness, nutrition, or any other sub-specialty.
- Prioritizing Community and Mental Health: by creating a supportive community, clients will begin to seek connections, holistic wellness, and stress relief in addition to physical results, comfortable in the knowledge of their unconditional acceptance.
- Increasing Paths of Communication: by making use of social media platforms, trainers can deliver value, build a brand, and connect with potential clients, transforming engagement beyond the brick-and-mortar facilities.
Changing the Public Perception
While fitness instructors have always known that regular exercise plays a key role in promoting good health / reducing the risk of developing chronic health conditions, physical activity has finally achieved public recognition as a means of achieving and maintaining optimal health. The COVID-19 pandemic likely served as the catalyst that finally encouraged the general public to begin adopting healthier lifestyles. This, in turn, has and will continue to create opportunities for health and exercise professionals who have the ability to facilitate that change.
Recognizing the connection between physical and mental well-being, the fitness industry of the future will incorporate mental health support into its offerings. Amy Thompson, vice president of the Fitness Group for Pocket Media and an ACE Certified Health Coach, shares her thoughts on this novel growth opportunity: “In a post-COVID-19 world, the need to help others adopt healthier lifestyles is the perfect scenario for personal trainers who have the skills and abilities to help clients make the lifestyle changes necessary to establish healthier habits.” We will witness dedicated spaces for yoga/tai chi classes, more meditation/mindfulness offerings, and the integration of digital platforms with guided meditation sessions.
Creating a Sense of Sustainability on the Fitness Floor
Sustainability, a novel concept that seems to have gained importance in fitness center operations, prompts gyms to seek out companies that develop energy-generating equipment and prioritize durable, long-lasting products to minimize waste. By implementing eco-friendly practices like using recyclable materials and reducing energy consumption, fitness centers have positioned themselves to survive well into the future.
Along with these practices, the layout of gym floors seems to have undergone a facelift, moving away from rows of traditional machines towards more open spaces that allow for functional and movement-based training. This shift, largely driven by the rise of activities like HIIT, functional fitness, and sports-specific training, assures space for more dynamic and versatile workout areas.
Changes in the Delivery of Fitness
Another way the COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for future fitness changes is the rapid rise of online services that offer a new way to deliver workout programs to clients and group exercise participants.
When fitness facilities faced government-mandated shutdowns, companies that offered live-stream fitness classes jumped ahead with a major competitive advantage over traditional gyms; they could suddenly deliver workouts to an almost unlimited number of consumers at a fraction of the cost of rent, exponentially expanding their business reach and model.
Virtual fitness classes, delivered one of two ways (on-demand workouts from a library of previously recorded programs or by following along with a class taught live and broadcast over the internet), provided a lifeline for consumers seeking workout solutions while quarantining at home. This sustainable shift in consumer behavior will create business opportunities for fitness professionals willing to offer their own streaming workouts. Some instructors began, and have continued to pursue, Zoom or FaceTime classes and training sessions. In this manner, clients from anywhere in the country or overseas can participate.
Future Fitness Requires an Understanding of Behavior Change
To grow as an industry, instructors will need to shift their growth mindset and continuing education to understand why participants come to the gym and what will keep them moving. These behavior changes hinge on instructors learning more about what makes people tick and how best to infuse these principles in the group setting.
Future-proofing a fitness career involves taking the extra steps to keep pace with a changing world. It requires keeping a vigilant eye on the dynamics occurring beyond one’s place of business. While it’s challenging to protect our current business while exploring new opportunities, doing both consistently leads to sustainable growth and the ability to impact more lives.
Future-proofing requires a fundamental shift in thinking. Considering the eventuality of change keeps us fresh. Growth remains imperative for the future of our industry; to that end, a successful future fitness professional will expand their horizons by reading, networking, attending seminars, and earning new certifications. Trying new paths may not always pan out; however, redefining “failure” as simply a detour to somewhere else will serve any fitness professional well, now and in the future.
To best prepare for whatever lies ahead, a future-focused fitness professional must continue learning while honing current skills. Non-fitness-related skills such as communication, active listening, leadership, and stress management will come in handy not only for one’s clients but also for self-care.
Setbacks Can Propel Us Forward
Developing resilience can help tremendously as you learn to future-proof a fitness career in the dynamic landscape of our industry. Resilience reflects one’s ability to recover quickly from difficulties, challenges, and setbacks. By focusing on career dreams and aspirations and seizing new opportunities, we can reinvent our industry.
As we reflect on how our industry suffered and bounced back during COVID-19, we can welcome the silver lining: the strong possibility that health and exercise professionals will be designated essential personnel, as we can help people achieve and maintain optimal health. Armed with the aforementioned ideas and suggestions, we find ourselves poised on a very exciting precipice. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
References
canfitpro.com/blog/the-future-fit-pro-6-steps-to-level-up-your-leadership-and-career/
acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/7783/3-tips-to-future-proof-your-fitness-career/?srsltid=AfmBOormKAepshrz3gqgJvbzlgCHQTWBkU3C5LjGjxdwasqXUZrPGFXU
acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/7766/the-future-of-the-fitness-industry/#:~:text=Another%20disruptive%20force%20that%20is,who%20holds%20an%20accredited%20certification
acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/7775/what-does-2021-hold-for-group-fitness/athletechnews.com/the-gym-of-the-future-what-every-fitness-professional-should-know/#:~:text=This%20practical%20FAQ%20covers%20the,exceptional%20value%20to%20your%20clients
