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No one can predict the future, but there’s one thing we can be certain about: the fitness industry will continue to evolve as quickly as technology develops.
Fitness brands and their computer engineers specialising in health and fitness tracking can spend months or even years working on a device.
When you look at the history of the fitness industry, this progression in the way workout training programs have changed is only natural.
Until recently, you could count strength training as lifting weights, doing 3-4 sets of 12 repetitions using an arsenal of gym equipment, then resting for the following 3 days.
And then, why not do some cardio endurance training by going for a jog or a bike ride?
The age of the internet has changed the way we exercise. You can find a certified online personal trainer for private training sessions at a distance or simply train at home using an app - setting and achieving fitness goals has never been so easy to do!
Here are a few other things that have changed in recent years:
- Bodybuilding and muscular toning has made a comeback
- Personal training is helping motivate more people to stay active
- Wifi-enabled devices and social networking has encouraged the creation of fitness communities
- Exercise is no longer restricted to the gym; you can work out at home or in the great outdoors!
Let’s explore what the future may hold for health and fitness in terms of technology and trends.
The Return of Bodybuilding
Every day we see advertisements, slogans, and promotions telling us that we need to get fit and look after our health, with words like ‘metabolism’, ‘protein’ and ‘macros’ being thrown around.
The modern media never seems to stop showcasing what they think it means to have the ‘ideal’ body.
As a key source of information, the world’s population turns to the media only to see that selfie culture has taken over.
Becoming physically and mentally healthier has never been more important to people than in recent years. History has already seen similar movements in the world of fitness, and the trend seems to have come full circle once more.
By the way fitness is going in terms of its trends, it wouldn’t be out of the question to suggest that bodybuilding will make a comeback very shortly.
This doesn’t mean oily athletes covered in fake tan posing on stage in their pants. Rather, people are putting more effort than they used to into increasing their muscular strength through weightlifting and resistance training as part of their functional training programs.
There’s a bit of vanity in us all, and it’s highly likely that you’ve looked at yourself in the mirror to see how your body looks when you tense.
It is completely possible to gain muscle mass and have an aesthetically-pleasing physique without taking medication or dietary supplements.
The most noticeable difference in modern-day fitness is that both budding and experienced athletes have returned to the use of gym machines to build muscle instead of practicing methods based on dodgy exercise science.
If you find this hard to believe, just practice gently lifting weighty objects, doing 5 sets of 5 several times a week. You may be surprised at the results - even in the short term.
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The Growing Distance Between Parts of the Fitness Industry
The world of fitness is developing so quickly that the large health clubs are having to change their outlook.
At present, a mini-war is taking place, with traditional fitness clubs (offering group training sessions) and personal training services (offering tailored one on one advice from a fitness professional) on opposing sides.
The smallest gyms in the industry lack the high-spec equipment found in bigger businesses and tend to only offer the basics, such as step boxes and weights. Although modest, they can offer a good workout.
On the other hand, larger gyms offer group fitness classes with an accredited fitness instructor, as well as an arsenal of workout equipment.
As the larger gyms are losing out to personal training businesses, the need for them to adapt to survive is becoming more and more urgent.
Alternative Exercise Programs
Fitness Communities
Despite the growing gap between small and large fitness organisations, sporting communities have begun to emerge, as like-minded people come together to work out and socialise.
A few of these communities include CrossFit, Zumba and parkrun, and many people find that these kinds of clubs keep them motivated, especially if they’re new to exercising.
Being a part of a sporting community fulfils our human need for a sense of belonging whilst also providing a support network from others in similar situations.
Breaking Down Barriers
Exercise programs that can be completed in your workplace have already been developed as the practice of exercise is branching out further away from traditional gyms.
Breaking free from the four walls of the gym has a multitude of benefits for each athlete, such as saving time, ditching membership fees and having more flexibility in your schedule.
10 Things to Look Out for in the Fitness Industry
Predicting how something will develop in the future isn’t always easy, however, a recent study of the fitness and personal training industry informs us of the many certainties concerning its evolution.
- Development of small and medium-sized organisations: gym-goers no longer want to feel that they are disappearing amongst a crowd of people during group training sessions, and prefer one to one coaching during their workouts. For this reason, small and medium-sized fitness clubs will be able to develop their services as more customers move over from the larger gyms.
- The smallest businesses: Very small or individual personal training businesses will continue to grow in number as demand for one on one training techniques from a fitness professional keeps rising.
- Growing market competition: with the increasing number of people signing up to personal fitness training, competition for gym members will also rise.
- Local communities: the most effective way for a smaller gym or personal training business to fend off the competition over the next few years is to focus their attention on smaller communities. Being as close to their clients as possible will be indispensable for these organisations, as people try to cut travel time down to a minimum.
- Dedicated training options: Club managements will need to start focussing on the needs of the population to win their loyalty with suitable fitness programs that are adapted to a target audience. Many examples of this already exist, with senior fitness classes available at lots of gyms all over the country.
- Fun fitness: in order to attract the younger generations, health clubs and personal trainers will have to play to their love of gaming by incorporating gaming technologies into workouts.
- Sport specialism: Specialising in a particular field of fitness such as Pilates, yoga, or fitness nutrition can give gyms and trainers the edge when it comes to attracting a certain type of customer.
- Higher levels of fitness expertise: With amateur athletes pushing themselves further than ever before, fitness instructors and personal trainers will have to receive a higher level of training in their profession than their usual personal training certification in order to keep their clients safe. In addition to reducing risks of injury and learning first aid and CPR, this can help trainers advise on many levels of health and fitness.
- Online personal training: More and more people are turning to the internet to find a personal trainer who can coach them via webcam. Though this may seem bizarre, finding an online personal fitness trainer can be a good option for busy people as well as those who travel a lot, for example. This removes the need for the coach and client to travel for their personal training sessions, as the instructor can provide specialist advice from a distance.
- Fitness trackers: These handy and incredibly clever devices can help people keep an eye on their general level of activity as well as analyse their statistics during a workout.
The future of fitness is certainly exciting.
Whether you prefer small or large gyms or even working out in the comfort of your own home, the arrival of the internet means that you have access to a wide range of information at the touch of a button – you may even get yourself an online personal trainer who will help you take your training to the next level.
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