Management Articles

According to the Kiplinger Business Resource Center, “The United States economy in 2008 should limp along, with little or no growth in some quarters and a lousy feeling to many businesses and consumers” (Idaszak 2008). When economic conditions create a difficult market, the fitness industry must respond quickly in order to weather the storm and prevent financial problems. Begin by reviewing your budgets and identifying costs that appear superfluous or redundant.

As a group fitness instructor, you seek out innovative choreography, purchase motivating music and put on your biggest smile in an effort to keep people coming back for more. While relating to participants may seem most pertinent, don’t neglect the critical connection with your group fitness director. Since this individual is typically the one who hires and fires, determines the class schedule and decides what equipment to purchase, it’s important to establish a positive and productive relationship with him or her.

It used to be that only those with disposable income availed themselves of personal training services. Now that more middle-class consumers are turning to personal trainers, the field has become even more competitive. That means trainers need to find a way to separate themselves from the pack. One way to do that is to generate more sales. Unfortunately, most trainers are ill-equi...

About 30 years ago, the first wave of group fitness instructors (known then as aerobics teachers) got their start in an industry yet to be defined. Many of those people are still teaching and training, yet as the industry grows and changes, continuing to shape itself, the need for a steady influx of teachers is evident. Since the world of fitness is radically differ...

Call it a destination, a haven, a community or even a resort—but the one thing you won’t be calling Life Time Fitness is just a gym. With attractions ranging from indoor/outdoor water parks to hair and nail salons, basketball courts to rock climbing caverns, a kids’ computer center to a full-service spa and café, Life Time Fitness creates a complete family wellness ...

At some point many personal training entrepreneurs decide they need assistance running their business. Are you trying to balance everything—training sessions, employee issues, business and financial matters, building and supplies, etc.? If so, it may be time to make a change. If you are at a juncture in your business life where you are feeling overwhelmed, stagnant, disorganized, fr...

IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the world's leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals with more than 22,000 members in over 80 countries, gets fiscal by helping fitness professionals fine-tune their businesses and budgets in the latest issue of IDEA Fitness Journal. Increasingly, fitness professionals are seeking to work for themselves. Early d...

One of the largest trends in the wellness movement is the emergence of spas around the globe. Today’s evolved spa offers a plethora of self-care modalities, including body treatments, nutritional approaches to wholesome eating, educational platforms ranging from guided meditation to stress management, and fitness components. More often than not, the fitness components prove distinct...

Being in this industry requires an entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility and a drive to achieve. Personal trainers aren’t just selling a service; they’re selling themselves as the purveyors of that service. This can lead to the perception that success in gaining clients equates with success as a person. And since there is often an undeniable relationship between ego and income, ...

Despite concerns over a faltering economy, business appears to be booming for health clubs, states the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Associa­tion (IHRSA) in its annual survey of U.S. health and sports club companies. According to the survey, average revenues increased by more than 18% in the third quarter of 2007.“This growth pattern has been observed duri...