IDEA
Press Release - IDEA
Survey Reveals Latest Directions In Fitness
 Back to 2003 Press Releases
San
Diego – What are the latest trends in group exercise and personal
training programs? Which clients do these programs appeal to most and
what types of fitness equipment are most in demand? To answer these
questions, IDEA Health & Fitness Association has turned to 20 leading
program directors, business owners and personal trainers from a wide
variety of fitness venues and their responses comprise the 2003 IDEA
Trendwatch.
“This year,
the programs most in demand are the ones that are designed to help clients
attain their balance, agility and posture goals and they are popular
with older persons, new exercisers and baby boomers. Next, clients are
looking for kinder, gentler fitness formats like yoga and stretching
which have universal appeal, especially with women and seniors,” says
Kathie Davis, Executive Director of IDEA Health & Fitness Association.
“And reflecting
how consumers have embraced personal fitness training, two different
types of personal training formats also score high on the list of people’s
fitness wants. One-to-one personal training and partner training are
tied for the third spot in this year’s Trendwatch,” IDEA’s Davis adds.
“One-to-one training is growing in popularity with all types of clients
while partner trainer appeals to spouses, siblings, close friends, business
colleagues and even parents and their children.”
IDEA
2003 Trendwatch Specifics:
What
Do People Want?
• Balance,
Agility and Posture Training. Popular with new exercisers, athletes,
baby boomers and older adults.
• Kinder, Gentler Formats like Yoga and Stretch. Popular with middle-aged
and prenatal women, older persons, baby boomers, new exercisers and
Generation X.
• One-to-One Personal Training. Popular with all age groups, especially
seniors and baby boomers as well as women.
• Partner Training (defined as two clients sharing one trainer). Popular
with persons on a limited budget, women, husbands/wives, parents/children,
friends, and business colleagues.
• Post-rehabilitation Training. Popular with post-operative patients,
females with osteoporosis, older adults, and baby boomers.
• Small Group Training (defined as three to five clients working with
one trainer). Popular with all ages and fitness levels plus it has the
appeal of reduced fees-per-sessions with multiple persons sharing the
cost of a trainer.
Programs
More Popular than the Year Before:
• Yoga
• Personal Training
• Core Conditioning/Abs Classes
• Pilates
• Stretching/Flexibility
• Group Strength Training
• Fitness Assessments
• Indoor Cycling
Exercise
Equipment Increasing in Popularity:
• Stability
Ball
• Elliptical Trainer
• Pilates Reformer or Training Tools
• Core Equipment like Reebok Core Board or Bosu®
• Weighted Bar
• Indoor Cycle
The 2003
IDEA Trendwatch surveyed 20 leading fitness professionals from the United
States and Canada and they represent a broad range of venues including,
large and small fitness facilities, personal training studios, spas, hospital/corporate
fitness centers, outpatient physical therapy clinics and client’s homes.
The complete 2003 IDEA Trendwatch appears in the July-August 2003 issue
of IDEA Health & Fitness Source magazine.
IDEA is
the world's leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals
with more than 23,000 members in over 80 countries. Since 1982, IDEA
has provided health and fitness professionals with pertinent information,
educational opportunities, career development programs and industry
leadership while helping them enhance the quality of life worldwide
through safe, effective fitness and healthy lifestyle programs. For
more information on IDEA events, publications, educational products,
member services or other activities, visit the IDEA website at: www.IDEAfit.com.
|
