The fitness industry is always growing and changing. As we start a new year, it is safe to suppose that 2024 won't be missed. It seems reasonable to evaluate the state of the fitness sector in January. To be very honest, a lot has happened in the previous five years about the history of fitness. Like many other businesses, technology is often at the center of innovation. With the advent of watches, gadgets, virtual personal training, and fitness streaming services, technology has completely changed the way we exercise. This blog explores the growth and potential of the fitness industry.
An Overview of the Fitness Industry's History
In the early days of human civilization, humans had to survive. They used their agility, throwing, crawling, climbing, and sprinting to accomplish this. People needed to be healthy and powerful to live and carry out everyday tasks.
When you travel back in time, you will encounter the ancient Greeks and Romans. Once more, it was believed that physical fitness was necessary for daily survival and to fight off predators. Boys and men were expected to undergo rigorous physical training, including lifting, throwing, sprinting, and weapons training, throughout the Greek and Roman empires. They needed to be more fit than their competitors.
When the Industrial Revolution struck, several vocations became obsolete due to technological advancements. We no longer needed to relocate as frequently to live. Individuals were consuming more food than before yet weren't using as much energy. Food became less of a survival need, and conditions like diabetes and obesity began to rise.
To avoid sickness, President Theodore Roosevelt started to encourage physical activity. Health club chains began to appear in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1975 Gold's Gym opened its doors, ushering in the era of big-box gyms. It made fitness accessible to everybody.
Fitness Trends Throughout Time
The 1970s
The word "aerobics" was first used by Kenneth Cooper in the late 1960s to refer to a program he developed to stop coronary artery disease. Aerobic means "with oxygen." When referring to exercise, it means physical activities that raise heart rate and respiration, such as cycling, walking, and running.
All aerobics programs, including dance, step, and even water-based sessions, started with aerobics. Just before 2000 began, Judi Sheppard Missett brought jazz dance, kickboxing, ballet, Pilates, and yoga into one cohesive form called Jazzercise. The movement was wildly popular and featured choreography and music.
The 1980s
Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons, who embodied fitness during the 1980s, were made famous by Jazzercise. At the same time, the notion of working out at a gym gained traction due to the rise in popularity of corporate gym chains and Nautilus variable-resistance training equipment. Furthermore, strength training was added to the routines that individuals had already become accustomed to performing at home with the introduction of home exercise equipment to the market.
Additionally, the fitness sector started to use certifying bodies to become more "professional" throughout this decade. The American Council on Exercise, which I work with, was one of the first fitness organizations to certify exercise professionals. It was established in 1985. As the need for qualified fitness professionals increased throughout this decade, more certification bodies joined the market. Thirty-five years later, over 90,000 active, certified fitness professionals are members of ACE worldwide.
The 1990s
The most popular late-night infomercial during this decade was probably Billy Blanks' Tae Bo, which combined hip-hop, martial arts, and intense aerobic exercises. Meanwhile, in the mid-1990s, spinning gave rise to a cycling revolution that is still going strong today.
The decade of the 2000s
The intense rivalry and community of Crossfit and the Latin dance routines of Zumba dominated the new millennium.
The Decades of 2010 and Later
The aforementioned trends may have caught your attention because they all center around two fundamental concepts: making workouts, both strength and cardio, as convenient and time-efficient as possible (whether at home or in the gym), and fun and exciting aerobic workouts that get the blood pumping and foster a sense of community and camaraderie.
All of these now in-vogue methods and equipment seek to optimize the effects of the exercises themselves as well as the amount of time spent by the user exercising.
COVID-19's Age
The fitness sector has altered significantly as a result of COVID-19. Restrictions and lockdowns have significantly changed how individuals exercise. For several months, people have been socially withdrawing, and in-person group exercise practically seems like a thing of the past. However, one good thing that has come out of the COVID-19 situation is the increased focus on the need for exercise. Everyday movement is being promoted as a means of maintaining health and preventing illness.
We've seen a sharp rise in both digital and at-home fitness as people embrace new training routines. The need for internet material is rising dramatically at the moment. Virtual personal training, on-demand fitness, and streaming platforms are becoming more popular. To raise their heart rates, a lot of people go for regular walks, runs, or cycles outside.
You no longer arrive home after work to spend time with your family. It's your gym, your office, and maybe even your school. Many people may now work from home and access digital fitness information thanks to technology. Fitness companies may provide customers with even more individualized at-home exercise options as they make use of technological progress. using the use of smart home gym equipment, customers can introduce smart boutique fitness into their homes using Mirror, Tempo, and FightCamp.
The Way Technology is Upending the Fitness Sector
Technology continues to disrupt every sector. It frequently sits at the core of transformation. It's included in exercise, health, and education, naturally. Over time, the way customers exercise is being altered by technology has a significant effect on the fitness business. Wearables, for instance, are not only for dedicated gym goers but also for everyday people who wish to increase their daily physical activity. The public's knowledge of health and fitness is rapidly expanding, and technology provides access to a wealth of information. This raises the need for a fully customized approach to health and fitness.
Technology related to personal fitness is not the only thing transforming the market. These days, gyms and fitness facilities provide entirely technologically driven solutions. The fitness experience is fueled by technology, which also enables companies to compete in such a congested industry.
Technologies like wearables, smartphone applications, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things will continue to disrupt the fitness business. The increasing importance of the user experience is expected to drive demand for fitness technologies.
Although the fitness business is based on trends, its core is the search for enjoyable, efficient, and quick workouts that enhance people's function, health, fitness, and performance. And that's going to remain in style forever.
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