Top 20 Trends In the Fitness Industry (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our top 20 trends in the fitness industry blog mini series. If you haven't already read part 1 you can find it here. Let's continue where we left off with number 11.

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11 Exercise for weight loss 

This trend has been present in the top 20 list since its inception in 2009, one of the most consistently high scoring topics. It shows an association between physical activity and losing weight amongst the respondents. This however is not the case for a significant amount of those who have engaged in physical activity for a prolonged period of time.  The goal is typically the opposite, to gain muscle mass and associated weight. 

Recommendation: 

This may imply a benefit towards tailoring weight-loss focused training packages towards newer clients. This can help your business look at the packages you are currently offering and ensure you are offering something to all levels of experience. 

12 Functional fitness training 

Functional training puts an emphasis on ‘balance, coordination, muscular strength, and endurance’ ultimately benefiting the day to day life of the client. Particularly popular in sports such as CrossFit this type of training is growing in popularity but can take many forms. 

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Recommendation: 

It can be done with free weights in a CrossFit setting but a yoga studio could implement this type of training with a strict plan incorporating difficult positions. Functional training is accessible to all kinds of clients & facilities. 

13 Outdoor activities

While this may be an impossibility for many fitness facilities due to location it has consistently ranked within the top 20 fitness trends of the last decade. Typically done in a group setting outdoor activities include hikes, walks, cycling a trail, surfing etc… these have multiple benefits. Organising a hike or expedition for your customers can significantly expand the available audience for your facility. Encapsulating those who have an interest in the outdoors but are not particularly drawn to fitness. 

Recommendation: 

It can help bring a group together creating a community with the fitness facility at the heart, it can help mix up a fitness routine and remove the mundaneness of routine. These trips can be day-long activities, over a weekend or however long you deem necessary depending on time and circumstance. 

14 Yoga 

Yoga has always been very popular, over the last year new ways to practise yoga have come into the spotlight. Such as Power Yoga, Yogi-lates, and Hot Yoga, these different takes on a pillar of fitness could be an inspiration to others in the fitness community to look at their own sport and see if any new innovations are possible. 

Recommendation: 

Innovations in the way the sport is practised, the environment it is done in, the equipment used are all possible avenues. A small differentiation can have a significant impact on new customers as it is often the novelty that attracts people rather than overall health benefits. Changes may be to make the exercise more fun as opposed to making it more difficult. 

15 Licensure for fitness professionals 

A topic that we have already touched on twice in this list is the regulation of the fitness space. This time concerning the legislation around the types of people able to call themselves fitness professionals. The article makes reference to doctors, dieticians and physical therapists being unable to practise without first holding a license. This seems to be a consensus between customers and professionals within the industry. 

Recommendation: 

The recommendation here is to ensure that staff are trained to a high standard as it is something that can have a significant impact on the business. With well-trained staff customers are better taken care of, you can offer a wider range of services based on their training and the business will run more smoothly. 

16 Lifestyle medicine 

The evidence-based practice of encouraging individuals and families to adopt more sustainable healthy habits that can enable them to live a long healthy life in conjunction with a workout regimen. This can include but is not limited to eliminating the use of harmful products such as alcohol and tobacco from one’s diet. 

Recommendation: 

This could be adopted by fitness facilities as a precursor to a diet plan. Slowly integrating the individual into healthy habits, then into a healthy diet etc… This may be a way to appeal to an older demographic who may have a number of unhealthy habits. By presenting a simple, easy to understand pathway will demonstrate the value of adopting this approach. 

17 Circuit training 

With a similar goal to HIIT training discussed earlier circuit training is viewed by many as a less intense more varied version of HIIT. Typically done in a group setting this can be a fantastic way to mix up your group sessions and add variation to your workouts. With each exercise being performed in succession with a small break in between. This ensures that the client’s attention is kept for the entirety of the session due to the nature of the exercise. 

Recommendation: 

Circuit training should be considered when looking to introduce a new method of training to a group. It can provide a unique challenge to every member of the group with minimal effort from the instructor. 

18 Worksite health promotion and workplace well-being programs

This point concerns the efforts made by employers to ensure their employees are fit and healthy.  This is through the implementation of systems to monitor the health and wellness of their staff and the associated productivity level.  Typically conducted on-site or in a local gym, these programs have the benefit of being a win-win. Employers have happier more productive staff whilst employees save money and can attend a gym of their choice. 

Recommendation: 

This may prove an opportunity for fitness facilities to put together a package appealing to local businesses to improve the productivity of their employees. 

19 Outcome measurements 

Outcome measurements focus on the efforts made to define, track and report outcomes leading to the accountability of trainers and fitness facilities. While this may initially be seen as cumbersome the benefits of demonstrating strict self-regulation is a higher perception of quality amongst employees and customers. 

Recommendation: 

You will attract higher quality staff and higher-paying customers if you are perceived to be the best. This depends on your marketing strategy but holding staff accountable has benefits in the smooth daily running of the business and promotes autonomy.

20 Children and exercise

Trends around children and fitness are primarily concerned with preventing obesity. A pathway approach could be adopted here. Taking children from a young age and putting them through a large range of sports on a trial basis taking them into their teens. This will ensure every child has a chance to find something they enjoy in a setting they are familiar with. 

Recommendation: 

This can be achieved by partnering with other local sports organisations. It puts the fitness facility at the heart of the community and will build a bond between these children and fitness for life. 

Conclusion

Each one of the trends discussed has a positive impact on clients and a way in which businesses can benefit from offering these services. It is important to make sure you are up to date with all of the relevant information within the industry. Subscribe to our email list to be informed on when we post our next blog! You can do that by clicking here.