How Your Studio Should Stay Up-To-Date On the Latest Fitness Trends

Have you ever heard of the “Trim & Twist?” If you were a fitness buff in the ‘60’s, this fitness trend is probably instantly familiar. But for most of you, it likely doesn’t ring a bell. This exercise board prompted users to literally twist back and forth to get in their workout for the day. It was a fitness trend that took the nation by storm in the ‘60’s. But, like with most trends, it eventually faded away.

Why are you reading about Trim & Twists, you might be asking yourself? Because Trim & Twists are a prime example of the fast-changing trends in the fitness industry. Every year, new workout equipment or classes become popular in the wellness industry, and then a few years later, it’s like that trend never existed. For a studio owner, that can be challenging. How do you know when you should jump on the bandwagon and when you should wait it out?

Thanks to WellnessLiving, adapting your class schedule or promoting a new addition to your studio is easy. But, make sure you’re promoting the right stuff. Before adapting to any fitness trend in your studio, you should ask yourself the following questions…

1 – Who Are We?

No, this isn’t meant to be an existential question. Asking yourself “who are we?” when it comes to your studio forces you to define the mission and purpose of your business. Is your method focused around short, high-intensity workouts in a fun and supportive atmosphere? Are you well-versed in the mechanics of one-on-one resistance training?

If any fitness trend doesn’t align with who your studio is, skip it. When you’re trying to be “trendy” just for the sake of being trendy, your loyal members will know it. If a trend doesn’t align with your business’s core beliefs on exercise and healthy living, it’s not worth adapting.

2 – Who’s Our Target Demographic?

And more than that, who’s the average person that’s adapting this fitness trend? Having a clear idea of your average studio member and who you want to appeal to makes it easy to decide which trends your studio could benefit from. A software like WellnessLiving makes it easy to access this member data, with customizable client reports that allow you to quickly pull key data to understand your member base.

Once you’ve got a good idea of who your studio appeals to, do some research on the fitness trend you’re considering trying out in your studio. Take wearable fitness technology, for example. While the trend first emerged within the younger age groups who are technologically savvy, it’s actually expanded rapidly into older age groups as well — with 17% of people over the age of 65 using wearable technology. Spending a little time researching who started a trend and who’s following it can help you decide if it’s right for you.

3 – How Long Has This Been Trendy?

When something becomes trendy, one of two things will happen: It will eventually become mainstream, or it will eventually fade away. Aerobic exercise is a great example. Aerobics emerged as a trendy method of exercise in the 1960’s. In the ‘80’s, more and more businesses and studio owners organized aerobics classes. And though not many of us are still working out to Jane Fonda’s aerobic VHS tape or rocking the neon one-piece workout attire, aerobics are definitely considered mainstream in today’s workout culture — with HIIT, Zumba, and really any type of cardio class borrowing the fundamentals of that workout style.

When looking to bring new fitness trends into your studio, you want to look for the ones that are lasting. Unless a trend is something you and your members are exceptionally excited and passionate about, try to bring on trendy workouts or equipment after they’ve been around for about two years. This will give that new fitness craze time to gain momentum and followers that will hopefully flock to your studio, and also see if this trend can stand the test of time.

Some Trends We’d Recommend

You may have an idea now of which trends you should kick to the curb, but how about ideas for popular movements in the fitness industry that you should seriously consider implementing? We’ve put together a list of some trends to consider:

• Fitness Technology: In a society that’s getting more technologically advanced every day, this is a trend that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Consider adding a class with heart-rate monitors that allow members to track their calories burned. (You can even allow members to rent heart-rate monitors from your studio with our asset booking functionality.)

• Studio App & Online Booking: As many as 60% of business owners have branded apps. With smartphones growing only more popular every year, investing in an app for your studio is crucial. An app allows members to book their spot, stay in touch, and have your studio top-of-mind every time they’re on their phone.

(Not already a WellnessLiving subscriber? Our custom-branded Achieve PRO Client App is a simple, affordable option that’s integrated with our client management software. Book a demo today to learn more.)

Beyond an app, make sure members can reserve their spot in class on your website as well. Plus, if you’re a WellnessLiving subscriber, your clients can book their spot in class directly through a Google search of your business thanks to our partnership with Reserve with Google.

•  Group Training: Fitness enthusiasts nowadays are leaning towards workouts as a social activity. For several years, group fitness classes have been successful at all types of gyms. So if your studio doesn’t already offer them, we’d recommend trying some out.

• Outcome Measurements: Weight loss is always an important metric to keep tabs on, but that’s not enough for many fitness-goers these days. People want a more in-depth analysis of their progress — inches lost, total body fat percentage, and more. If your studio is able to invest in body composition testing equipment (or even just a measuring tape!), members will be able to track their progress on a more holistic scale. Plus, you can easily keep track of their progress in their WellnessLiving client profile.

 

Whatever new type of workout or fitness trend your studio’s looking to adapt, WellnessLiving is here to help you every step of the way. Our affordable, adaptable technology can make it easy to organize and fill up all types of classes. To learn more about how our software can help your business, book your demo today.