5 Digital Fitness Trend Predictions After COVID-19

“Digital fitness” has been one of the hottest keywords in Google in the past few years. Following the global pandemic, it’s only natural that we are all a little bit more familiar with what it actually means. After all, technology has successfully been helping us stay connected and boost out healthy habits, even when we had to do it remotely. 

Today the rise of digital fitness is undeniable. We are certain digital fitness will remain central to keeping people healthy and active worldwide. 

Here are the 5 digital fitness trends that we predict will shape the future of fitness clubs after COVID-19.

1. Wearable Technology

Health is the single most important factor at the moment. While we continue to eradicate the pandemic cases globally, staying active and protective will remain a big priority.

Wearable technology is the perfect mental health companion with its continuous reminders and positive reinforcement upon reaching your daily goals. 

Exercisers can choose anything from smart watches and elegant wristbands, through Bluetooth-connected shoes and VR headsets, to clothes that monitor your muscle activity and heart rate. The message is clear: keep on moving. 

As a PT, you can dig deeper into the health stats of your members, check in with them and see if they need any further workouts to match their fitness goals. After all, members love to share their achievements with others!

2. Virtual Coaching

While fitness clubs are closed to members, the next best thing is virtual coaching. Offering your gym members the option to train online with you will certainly have a positive impact on your relationship. Streaming classes on social media will boost brand awareness and it might even attract some new prospects.

Our top pick would be using social media to gain momentum before you create more focused group sessions on Zoom or elsewhere. The streaming content can then be used for further marketing campaigns, including Instagram Stories and Reels, Facebook series and GIFs that can easily be shared across all social media channels. 

 

 

3. On Demand Content

Whether you want to share individual workouts or record class sessions, building a library of On Demand content will increase the time spent with your gym’s brand. What the gym closures during the pandemic showed us was that exercisers are committed to exercising and moving, even more so when they have the flexibility to do it at home.

If Joe Wicks can train virtually from his living room, then so can you. Remember to keep your videos short, informal and have fun with the process. Plus, there are many affordable mobile editing apps if you want to jazz up your production.

 

4. Community Events

Do you remember when Barry’s Bootcamp launched a virtual 26.2 miles marathon open to everyone to join from home in 2020? That same year we also saw the first edition of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. Let’s not forget that we celebrated UK’s National Fitness Day with a variety of activities available both in local gyms and online.

We all love belonging to a place or purpose. That’s why we join the gym and why we take part in challenges. By striving to do better, especially in the companion of like-minded individuals, we can go far.

What better time to introduce your own virtual community event or fitness challenge than at the start of the year? Keep the New Year’s resolutions hype until your members actually achieve them. 

5. High Tech Equipment At Home

Every year fitness technology gets more advanced and more affordable. While the gyms were closed last year, we witnessed an increase in fitness equipment purchases. Fitness equipment sales grew by 170% during the first coronavirus lockdown in the UK, according to researchandmarkets.com. There was a similar rise in the fitness equipment rentals.

The demand for home fitness equipment — from kettlebells and yoga mats to smart mirrors and connected treadmills — will continue to rise. We expect exercisers to be looking for more tech-savvy home solutions. The smarter the gear, the better the results, right?

Exercisers are willing to spend more money on their health if it gives them a more flexible and effective lifestyle. You can support your gym members train at home by offering some of your equipment on loan. While there are some risks, the benefits outweigh them. Just make sure to have a liability insurance in place to protect your business. 

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Food for thought before you go…