Fitness-Industry Analysis
With the recession still plodding along and with many people unemployed, how has this poor economy affected the current trends of the fitness industry? Not surprisingly, fitness programs and services that are economical and easier to access dominate consumers' choices, according to a recent survey by the American Council of Exercise (ACE). The following trends are considered the top options by ACE and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Boot Camps
This style of training blends cardiovascular training and strength training, using the body's own weight and simple exercise tools, such as kettlebells, tubings, and cones. People find that boot camps are very affordable, and they tend to stick with the program longer because of the group support that is provided. Since many people are still on a budget, boot camps will most likely continue to prosper and be consumers' first choice in fitness programs in 2010.
Investment: $10-to-$20 per person per class.
Children and Obesity
For the first time in history, children of this generation may not live as long as their parents or grandparents because of the diseases and impairments associated with childhood obesity. With the cutbacks in physical education in schools and an increase in sedentary lifestyle (TV, video games, computers), there is a need for fitness professionals to provide their services to this population to help fight the obesity epidemic. Programs aimed to help increase physical activity, such as team sports (baseball, soccer, hockey), dance, and urban sports (skateboarding, parkour) are expected to increase well into 2010.
Functional Training
In the past ten years, functional training is becoming the preferred method of training among personal trainers and sports professionals. The philosophy of functional training is to use the entire body to move in various ways (example: front, side, rotation), speeds, and modalities---rather than isolating muscles and movement patterns as in many gym machines and other exercises (bicep curl, leg extension, etc.). This method can be carried over to real-life skills and movement, such as lifting a child or walking up the stairs while carrying groceries, and can be trained with very simple tools (tubing, rope, broomstick, wall, etc.) or just the body weight.
Functional training has limitless possibilities, is time saving, and increases the fun factor of any workout.
Kettlebell Training
Originally used in Russia for strength-conditioning, kettlebell (KB) training has increased in popularity in the past five years in the U.S. KB training works the entire body---which can be a method of functional training---and it is very popular among professional athletes, especially the mixed martial artists. The trend for KB training will continue to increase in 2010 as more people are aware of its benefits, and as more gyms are providing these tools.
Older-Adult Exercise
As the number of older Americans is growing, so does the need for special fitness programs for this population. This population consists of those who are frail and need higher degrees of strength, balance, and flexibility to do daily activities, and those who are physically fit beyond their age group, like Chuck Norris, at 69, and Jack LaLanne, at 95. Activities and programs that attract this population include ballroom dancing, walking/hiking, cycling, tai chi, and chair exercises.
Qualified Professionals
Unlike most professionals, like nurses, massage therapists, and auto mechanics, personal training does not require anyone to have any type of formal education and training. Therefore, a personal trainer can have a master's degree in exercise physiology or a weekend online certification for $99 with no experience in working with people. However, in the 2000s, there has been a large increase of fitness professionals with higher education and experience, according to a survey by the American College of Sports Medicine. This trend will continue to grow as more education and certification programs are offered by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and more demands for specialized fitness professionals.
Tags: fitness professionals, fitness programs, American College, American College Sports, body weight, boot camps, College Sports