The New York Times

 

 

At this time of year we are always bombarded by media reports of new year's resolutions, the hottest fitness trends - and inevitably the reality that only a small percentage of people actually find fitness success.

Why is that?  Why does our industry continue to produce solutions that, for whatever reason, simply do not work for clients?  Well, the NY Times has done a wonderful job providing a State of Industry-esque report and clearly demonstrating the massive opportunity that exists for fitness professionals, personal training and customized fitness solutions.

I've included a link to the full article below, but here are the highlights (that continue to reinforce why personal training is such a sustainable fitness solution):

  1. "45% of fitness-club members quit going in any given year."
  2. "You can't get the best and the cheapest at the same time."
  3. "Socializing...is key to long-term exercise success. You've got to connect the client in a meaningful way to others."
  4. "It's about connection."
  5. "People who take personal training and do group fitness classes are more likely to stick with a gym."
  6. "Health clubs don't understand they should be a support system for people."
  7. "Only 15% of the American population belongs to gyms. When you've got 85% saying, 'I don't think so,' we've got to recalibrate what we're doing."

NY Times: January 26, 2011; Full-Service Gyms Feel a Bit Flabby

This article and assessment is SPOT ON.  Gyms don't work for most people. Most people do not develop a "connection" to a weight machine, to a treadmill, to a computer, to a DVD or to a fad. People develop connections to people. That's the way it always has been and that's the way that it always will be.

Here's what will ALWAYS be in demand:

  • Great personal trainers
  • Great personal training businesses
  • Fitness solutions customized - perpetually evolving - for the individual client

Why should the client have to conform with the current fitness trends, fads or technology flavor-of-the-day?  I believe the concept must connect to the personal needs of the client. Fitness professionals and 

Great personal training businesses will ALWAYS be in demand to provide real, sustainable, life changing fitness solutions that only a personal connection can.