Staying fit never goes out of style -- but the methods that we use to keep our bodies active and healthy certainly shift and change. From inventive workouts that make staying in shape more fun, to new studies and information that help inform fitness offerings, machines and methods, there's always something fresh coming on to the health and fitness scene. We took a look at how a few trends have shifted as our ideas of what it means to get fit and be healthy evolve with the growth of the fitness industry overall.
Traditional Gym Memberships
For people with access to boutique fitness facilities, the practice of belonging solely to a traditional gym is becoming less common. With the focus on whole body health and wellness and personalized attention provided by boutiques, a room full of machinery (and an overwhelming number of possibilities) isn’t the right fit for some fitness enthusiasts – regardless of the bells and whistles that come with the traditional gym membership. Now, more and more traditional gyms are starting to offer boutique style classes, such as New York Sports Club’s Red Zone, to help meet the needs and interests of clients. Other large national brands have also found ways to partner with boutiques. ClassPass and Blink Fitness recently announced a partnership to offer users both gym access as well as a select number of boutique classes.
Hour-Long Workouts
No need to spend 60 minutes at the gym or studio anymore. Thanks to newer research on the efficiency of shorter, higher-intensity workouts, as well as the busy schedules of fitness enthusiasts everywhere, you’ll start to see more studios offering 30-45 minute workout sessions as opposed to the traditional hour-long format. Clients can expect to get more done in less time and you can think through ways to offer more classes per day, including at non-traditional times such as the lunch hour. Bonus: We’ve found that offering shorter class lengths has the potential to boost ClassPass reservations by up to 35%. Download our white paper to learn more.
Tracking Total Body Wellness
When it comes to being in shape, fitness and nutrition have long been the two areas that we pay attention to. Tech companies have seized on this opportunity, building out apps and wearables in order to help customers track everything from sleep to nutrition and training patterns. Yet research shows that, over time, user interest in these details wanes and becomes less motivational. Recently, more fitness studios have started to address the body as a whole by focusing on mindfulness as well in class. Meditation classes and alternative modalities such as restorative and foam-rolling classes help the mind and body function at its best.
