It's the luxury-tier boutique fitness trend that’s on the rise. The number one most popular workout in 2024. Popular among soccer moms, dancers, and lithe celebrities…

… but did you know it was developed by a sickly German immigrant in a WWI internment camp?

Pilates studios accounted for 27% of boutiques opened last year, but this type of exercise is far from new.

Pilates Origins

Joseph Hubertus Pilates was determined to improve his ailments — asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever — and wanted to help fellow detainees in England stay fit as well.

During his internment, he created routines that emphasized controlled movements, body alignment, and breathing, and even created equipment by attaching springs to hospital beds, enabling bedridden patients to exercise — a precursor to his later invention of the Pilates apparatus, one which we know now as the Reformer.

Joseph combined his studies of yoga, gymnastics, martial arts, and weightlifting to develop a holistic approach to health and well-being — one that has truly stood the test of time, continues to heal and strengthen all types of bodies, and is exceptionally popular over a century later.

In 1926, he emigrated to the United States. Soon after, he opened a fitness studio in Manhattan with his wife, Clara. They shared a building with dance studios and rehearsal spaces, and the proximity alone attracted many dancers and performers, who found his method invaluable for improving strength, flexibility, and injury recovery (this is also why, to this day, you’ll find many dancers in a Pilates class, no matter where you practice).

Over time his approach, which he called "Contrology," gained popularity, becoming what we now know as Pilates.

Until his death in 1967 at the age of 83, Joseph Pilates continued teaching and refining his method, emphasizing the mind-body connection, core strength, and overall balance — principles that remain central to Pilates today. He famously said, “You are only as young as your spine is flexible.”

This quote reflects one of his core beliefs about health and well-being. He emphasized that maintaining a healthy, mobile spine is key to overall vitality, longevity, and quality of life. His exercise method, with its focus on core strength, alignment, and fluid movement, was designed to promote spinal health and flexibility. This idea remains central to the Pilates philosophy today.

Why Pilates is Having a Comeback

Even among athletes, Pilates has surged in popularity recently and is expected to remain a top fitness trend in 2025 due to several key factors:

1. Low-Impact, Mindful Movement: Pilates aligns with the growing demand for exercises promoting physical and mental well-being post-pandemic. It was the most popular workout of 2024, with an 84% increase in bookings.
2. Rise of the Reformer: The dynamic, resistance-based nature of Reformer Pilates has drawn participants seeking efficient full-body workouts. It rose from #10 in 2024 to #2 in fitness trend rankings for 2025.
3. Social Media Influence: TikTok trends like the "pink Pilates princess" have made Pilates appealing to younger demographics, associating this type of fitness with a luxurious, glamourous lifestyle (many Spotify users were branded Pink Pilates Princess on their Spotify Wrapped, regardless of their musical tastes or exercise preferences).
4. Booming Career Opportunities: Rising demand for Pilates classes has led to a shortage of instructors, with 77% of studios expanding and 67% selling out classes.
5. Inclusivity: Pilates is accessible to all fitness levels, attracting diverse groups, including men, to incorporate it into their routines.

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The Reformer Reigns

Point #2 on the above list might be one of the most significant differentiators; the Reformer (and other apparati) is what makes Pilates particularly unique.

Using a system of springs, pulleys, and a sliding carriage to create resistance, allowing for highly customizable workouts, the Reformer offers dynamic resistance workouts and can be appealing to everyone, from complete beginners to elite athletes.

And unlike traditional mat Pilates, the Reformer intensifies exercises, engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously while maintaining the low-impact nature of Pilates. It’s particularly effective for building strength, improving posture, and enhancing flexibility.

Due to its inherent variety on offer, and the innovation it adds into fitness routines, many who find traditional workouts repetitive are captivated by this approach to exercise. Its ability to target specific areas also makes it popular for injury rehabilitation and athletic training. Similarly, the integration of Pilates into physical therapy practices is also a recognized trend. Several reputable organizations offer specialized Pilates training programs tailored for rehabilitation professionals, including physical therapists.

There’s also the visual factor — albeit superficial — that makes the Reformer a popular choice for influencers and studios to showcase on social media accounts. Its sophisticated, aesthetic appeal helps attract a younger, trend-driven audience.

As such, many studios are investing in Reformer equipment due to its popularity, with dedicated classes and programs driving demand. Some studios even offer hybrid sessions combining mat and Reformer Pilates for a comprehensive experience.

How Fitness Professionals Can Participate in the Pilates Boom

From injured dancers and fitness-focused seniors to training athletes and TikTok trend arbiters, Pilates is touching on virtually every group in our communities. How can you get into this trend yourself?

Get Certified in Pilates: Pursue a recognized Pilates certification, such as Merrithew®, Balanced Body, or BASI®, to add expertise and credibility. Offer classes or integrate Pilates principles into existing fitness programs. Merrithew® specifically (formerly STOTT Pilates) — the “Ivy League” of Pilates teacher training — emphasizes a biomechanically sound approach to Pilates, ensuring that exercises are anatomically safe and effective for a wide range of clients. This program also incorporates modern exercise science and rehabilitation principles, making it adaptable to current fitness and therapy practices.

Diversify Offerings with Reformer Classes: Invest in Reformer equipment or partner with studios to provide dynamic, resistance-based classes that appeal to a broader audience, from beginners to athletes.

Leverage Social Media: Create visually engaging content showcasing Pilates techniques, benefits, and client transformations. Tap into trends like the "pink Pilates princess" aesthetic to attract younger, trend-conscious clients.

Community Testimonial

We’re seeing this Pilates wave in our own community, too. Jill Drummond, Director of Education and Programming for BODYBAR Pilates, shares her experience. She tells us she’s seen a major Pilates transformation in recent years as well. “Gone are the days of rigid, repetitive routines; today's Pilates is dynamic, engaging, and seriously hard.”

This is particularly true for equipment-based group classes, she says. “The group setting fuels the competitive edge that pushes participants to go harder and stay consistent. Plus, our focus on muscular endurance and functional mobility, gives BODYBAR Pilates its superpower, complementing more traditional strength training workouts.”

“This has also led to an incredible shift in those who practice Pilates,” she adds. “Women know the benefits of muscular strength and are drawn to the unique flow and feel of Pilates, which makes it an ideal workout for that demographic. Additionally, men now understand that muscular endurance and functional mobility are just as essential for a well-rounded fit body and are finding Pilates to be the challenge they are seeking. Together this builds the unstoppable community that fuels us at BODYBAR and delivers our fiercely effective workout experience.”

Regardless of how you participate in the “trend” or incorporate Pilates into your own practice, this type of workout—and approach to health and well-being—can truly help any member of your community with their strength, fitness, longevity, alignment, injury prevention, and overall wellness. Though trending right now, Pilates is a tried-and-true, 100-year-old approach to exercise that is truly built to last.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. PerformX Live, February 26-27, 2025, Birmingham, UK
2. DC MANIA®, February 27-March 2, 2025, Herndon, Virginia
3. IWF China Fitness Convention, March 5-7, 2025, Shanghai, China
4. California Mania®, March 20-23, 2025, Burlingame, California
5. FitnessFest Conference & Expo, April 3-6, 2025, Phoenix, Arizona
6. FIBO, April 10-13, 2025, Cologne, Germany

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Upcoming Workshops in February & March:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
3. 20+ workshops from TRX®
4. 15+ workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 7 workshops from CFSC
6. 3 workshops from Athleticum
7. 3 workshops from Exos
8. 2 workshops from Power Plate
9. 2 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
10. 1 workshop from Gray Institute

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Industry News:

• Researchers redefine obesity and downplay BMI.
• New research highlights the Global potential of affordable fitness.
• Therabody unveiled "Therabody, for Her," designed to support women’s unique needs throughout their life stages.
• Crunch Fitness celebrated the 3-million-member mark and launched Crunch 3.0.
• GoSaga acquired the online fitness & wellness community, Tone it Up.
• F45 added GLP-1 medications to its offerings.
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Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

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A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

What if the secret to longevity wasn’t about cutting-edge biohacking, futuristic tech, or AI tracking… but rather getting back to basics?

We’ve talked at length about the concept of longevity — healthy aging — which has proven to be the biggest trend in wellness over the past few years and is showing zero signs of slowing down (how fitting!).

But you don’t have to be installing cryo chambers, infrared saunas, and fancy AI machines into your clubs in order to tap into the longevity trend… unless you want to, and if so, by all means, go ahead!

It doesn’t have to be complicated; many of the activities that you and your clientele are already doing could be enough if they’re emphasized and done consistently.

In this issue, we’ll explore how common fitness practices you’re already a part of — like strength training, aerobic exercise, and even recreational sports — are scientifically proven to increase lifespan. As fitness professionals, you have the unique opportunity to position these activities as powerful tools for healthy aging, reinforcing the life-changing impact of your work.

The Longevity Benefits of Weightlifting and Strength Training

Weightlifting and strength training are very likely a cornerstone of your practice already. And weightlifting alone is linked to a 9% to 22% lower risk of dying, according to a Harvard study.

As for how this directly relates to longevity, this type of fitness builds and preserves muscle mass, which is critical as we age.

Muscle mass plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic health, mobility, and overall physical resilience as we get older. Preserving muscle also helps reduce the risk of falls, fractures, and chronic conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, stronger muscles improve functional independence, which is essential for quality of life in later years. Regular strength training supports these outcomes, making it a key component of healthy aging.

Aerobic Exercise: Cardio for a Longer Life

The other cornerstone of your practice is cardio. And the most important stat to know on this front: moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise lowers the risk of dying by 24% to 34%. Activities like running, cycling, swimming, and even brisk walking — truly, the basics — are already contributing to a healthier, longer life.

As fitness professionals, we fundamentally know this, but reframing the information within the context of a wellness trend can help us educate new groups of individuals on different parts of their health journey.

Combine Cardio & Strength For Best Results

Another stat to reinforce to your communities: Combining aerobic exercise with weightlifting can reduce mortality risk by 41% to 47% (compared to people who do no exercise).

To maximize longevity benefits, develop a functional program that incorporates both modalities.

Sports: Adding Fun and Lifespan Gains

Keeping people on a consistent program is tantamount to success, and one of the ways you can do that is by imbuing fun. The dynamism and social aspect of sports can keep individuals on their routine for longer. Here is some data to back this up: Playing tennis is associated with living about a decade longer.

Despite wellness and fitness being a major trend, with millions of new members signing up for gyms and boutique fitness studios every year, the CDC says only about half of Americans are getting enough exercise.

Incorporating a fun sport — whether it’s a team sport like soccer, an individual sport like swimming, or a social sport like dance — could be the remedy for those who are rather exercise averse.

Coaching individuals through their sports journey allows you to help them improve technique and form, which will enhance physical attributes like strength, speed, agility, and flexibility — all of which can contribute to longevity. Specific sports coaching also involves injury prevention, which is yet another factor in longevity.

Designing Your Workout for Longevity

What’s the best way to structure your workout for longevity? Though there’s not ONE universal answer for this, Dr. Peter Attia, a physician specializing in longevity, recommends a comprehensive exercise routine to promote a long, healthy life. Key components include strength training, Zone 2 training (low-intensity, steady-state aerobic exercises), HIIT, and stability and mobility exercises (to improve balance and flexibility, thus reducing the risk of falls and maintaining joint health).

Dr. Attia emphasizes that the optimal exercise routine varies for each individual, depending on factors like age, fitness level, and health goals. He advises consulting with healthcare professionals to tailor a program that aligns with personal needs and capabilities — which could be an interesting opportunity for your club, too.

Partnering with a medical team with a longevity or gerontological specialty could provide greater depth, credibility, safety, and resources for a tailored program.

Reframing Aging and Longevity

According to Co-Chair of the American Academy of AntiAging Medicine, Jim LaValle, R.Ph. CCN., “Understanding and addressing aging as a multifaceted process influenced by biology, lifestyle, emotional and environmental factors” is the key to not just the messaging, but helping your communities achieve healthy longevity as well.

But the messaging is a crucial factor. One that LaValle would argue can dramatically influence the pace of aging. “Being a supportive and consistent ally to the client is a key role to changing their patterns and behaviors which lead to not just achieving their goals, but to improving longevity and resiliency,” he says. “How do we accomplish that? By becoming educated and understanding the core concepts of what leads to increased health span and resiliency. For the fitness professional, that means being familiar with current longevity strategies that are proven and worthwhile while steering them away from unproven or deleterious advice.”

What do your communities need to get from the messaging? Their choices matter when it comes to healthy aging. “It is important to understand that the pace of aging can be dramatically influenced by lifestyle choices,” says LaValle.

LaValle recommends an emphasis on education around exercise “specific to the client goals,” as well as “recovery and rejuvenation protocols, and proper sleep hygiene to support overall health and longevity. In essence, having a well-rounded knowledge base to the coming trends in longevity and performance health will all enhance the trainer-client relationship.”

Key Takeaways

The trend is new, but the method isn’t. The takeaway? We’re going back to basics, delivering it through a new lens, and educating the community.

What can you do to tap into the trend using the tools you already have?

• Create Longevity-Focused Programs: Develop offerings that combine strength training, aerobic exercise, and sport-specific training tailored to maximize lifespan benefits. Use “longevity” and “healthy aging” in your messaging.
• Educate Clients: Incorporate longevity-focused talking points into consultations, social media content, and marketing materials to emphasize the science-backed benefits of fitness.
• Upskill and Network: Collaborate with other professionals or invest in further education (e.g., longevity science) to enhance expertise and attract clients seeking health-focused, long-term fitness solutions. If you’re considering upskilling in this area, consider the Active Aging program through the Gray Institute, reinforce your cardio specialization with the Cardio Coach specialty at CORE, or add Functional Cable Strength to your repertoire with Freemotion.
• Differentiate Your Offering: Highlight your role as a longevity ally to attract clients who prioritize health and aging well over short-term goals like aesthetics. Consider working with longevity specialists in the medical field to further differentiate your services.

We can’t wait to see where you take this trend next year. 2025 is the year to position yourself as a leader in the longevity trend. Start now by exploring certifications, building partnerships, or launching your own longevity programs.

We’ll also continue to update you on additional resources in the coming year, including events, seminars, and coursework.

Cheers to a happy, healthy new year!

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

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1. The Fit Expo, January 25-26, 2025, Los Angeles, California
2. PerformX Live, February 26-27, 2025, Birmingham, UK
3. Connected Health & Fitness Summit, February 11-13, 2025, Los Angeles, California
4. DC MANIA®, February 27-March 2, 2025, Herndon, Virginia
5. IWF China Fitness Convention, March 5-7, 2025, Shanghai, China
6. California Mania®, March 20-23, 2025, Burlingame, California
7. FitnessFest Conference & Expo, April 3-6, 2025, Phoenix, Arizona

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Upcoming Workshops in November & December:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from TRX®
3. 15 workshops from Spinning®
4. 10 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 4 workshops from CFSC
6. 4 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
7. 2 workshops from U-Jam
8. 1 workshop from Athleticum
9. 1 workshop from Exos
10. 1 workshop from Gray Institute
11. 1 workshop from Power Plate

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Industry News:

• The US House of Representatives passed the EXPLORE Act promoting outdoor recreation.
• ACE adds Mental Wellbeing Certification in partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Association.
• Therabody launched airport vending machines.
• Life Time Fitness reported that strength, saunas, and supplements will lead the way in 2025.
• The European Heart Journal found that moderate wine consumption is linked to heart health.
• The Health & Fitness Association is hosting its first-ever Hall of Fame ceremony at The HFA Show in March.
• HealthFitness acquired Corporate Fitness Works.

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Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Nearly 91% of New Year’s resolutions fail — a statistic you’re likely to recognize, if not from the data itself, then with your own eyes as a fitness professional.

Year after year, billions of people around the world practice the millennia-old tradition of setting a goal for themselves: a resolution for the coming year. We resolve to eat well, lose weight, get in shape, quit a bad habit, achieve a career benchmark, try a new hobby…

Billions of people, thousands of years… but so much failure. Why?

There’s the old adage (often attributed to Albert Einstein): insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. So is it insane to set a New Year’s resolution?

We’d argue that it’s not… in fact, goal setting is incredibly important — both in and out of the gym — when it comes to confidence, psychological health, physical longevity, and overall well-being. And there’s better news yet: there are specific, tangible ways we can play a role in the success of individuals in our communities, the world over.

Why Goal Setting Matters

Don’t let the failure rate discourage you from personally resolving in 2025, nor from helping your clients and communities do so.

Here’s a more encouraging stat: Setting resolutions increases your odds of success tenfold compared to merely wanting a change.

Research indicates that individuals who make New Year's resolutions are ten times more likely to achieve their goals than those who don't explicitly set resolutions. A study by Norcross et al. found that after six months, 46% of resolvers were successful in sustaining their goals, compared to only 4% of non-resolvers.

Goals represent a commitment to improving life and cultivating personal growth — and when set the right way (we’ll get to that!), they can significantly impact an individual’s well-being for the better.

According to many studies, achieving personal goals contributes positively to one's overall happiness and life satisfaction. Even something as simple as maintaining a gratitude journal — a form of goal-oriented activity — improves psychological and physical functioning, including increased optimism and fewer symptoms of physical illness.

Let’s also acknowledge collective impact; an individual’s personal improvement, joy, and confidence can have a positive effect on the rest of their community, and the people around them.

If the data is accurate, and only 9% of the 41% of resolution-setting Americans actually achieve their goal, that still means over 12 million people successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions each year in the U.S. alone.

Let’s expand that scope. If there are eight billion people in the world, half of them are making resolutions, and roughly 10% of them are succeeding, that’s 400 million people who’ve made a small, incremental but positive improvement to their lives.

So, while the overall success rate might seem low, it’s a powerful reminder that resolutions can lead to meaningful accomplishments for millions — and fitness professionals can help boost those numbers even higher.

Why Resolutions Often Fail

There are many reasons why these goals tend to backfire, but here are some common themes:

Ambition Overload: Setting overly ambitious or multiple goals at once is incredibly common, and also overwhelming… This approach leads to near-immediate backfire. This is especially true if there aren’t smaller “sub-goals” to measure incremental change.

Lack of Specificity: Vague goals like “improve my character” and “take better care of my health” lead to unclear paths. There's no benchmark for success and no way to measure progress.

No Plan: Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Setting a resolution with no structured plan means the resolution is unlikely to succeed, and the individual is likely to be very discouraged.

Lack of Support: Goals need resources! Things like time, tools, and accountability (all of which can be supported by a health club, coach, etc.) make the biggest difference in terms of a resolution’s success or failure.

Misaligned Motivation: Setting goals you don’t genuinely want to achieve often leads to failure as well. Do you really want to quit smoking, or are you doing it because you think you should? You all know better than most: intention and motivation make an unbelievable difference. Intrinsic desire is tantamount to success.

How to Help Clients Set Goals They’ll Actually Achieve

So what now? This is actually where you come in — coaching and support could be the make-or-break factor for individuals in your community.

Here’s a toolkit with suggestions on how to set, keep, and achieve your New Year’s resolutions.

Be Specific: Set measurable, actionable goals to track progress. Have you heard of ? Developed in the 1960s, Locke and Latham's research demonstrated that setting specific and challenging goals significantly enhances performance compared to vague or easy goals.

Be Realistic: Choose goals aligned with your capacity and life circumstances. Competing in an IronMan is an incredible resolution… for the right individual at the right stage in their athletic journey. In the same vein, resolutions with too rigid of parameters (meditate every day in 2025, go to the gym three times a week in 2025) leave a LOT of room for failure. Striking the balance between discipline and wiggle room is essential for crafting a realistic and achievable resolution.Locke & Latham’s Goal-Setting Theory

Break It Down & Create a Plan: Start small, build momentum, and add goals incrementally. If there is a big goal (even one that seems a bit lofty), try breaking it down into smaller goals for each season. A great resource for yourself and your clients is the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable, incremental change, with tools on how to get there.

Then, develop a roadmap, including steps, deadlines, and resources… as coaches and trainers, you’ll have excellent insight into how to do this.

Identify Resources: How much time does this person have to achieve their goal? Do they have the means to get to a health club, or purchase the types of foods necessary? Do they have a support system or accountability partner? Identify and gather the necessary tools, support, and time. Think of it like the ingredient list for a resolution, and the plan/sub-goals are the step-by-step instructions.

Clarify the “Why” and Check Desire: Ultimately, with any goal or project, you have to love the process as much as you love the end result. The realization that “this isn’t fun” or “I don’t like this” is often the nail in the coffin for a resolution. And identifying the inherent desire can come down to identifying why a person is setting a particular goal. The Precision Nutrition “5 Whys” approach can be a useful tool, getting to the root of what the client actually wants.

Do they really want to run a 5K, or do they simply want to feel more confident? Are there other ways of achieving that confidence without running if they end up not enjoying the sport itself?

Ensuring the process aligns with what someone genuinely enjoys also contributes largely to the success of the resolution.

Your 2025 Call to Action

Helping your communities and clients craft better resolutions has a positive effect from an altruistic perspective (improving their lives, happiness, well-being), but also from a business strategy POV. Failed resolutions by February mean a drop in memberships, absenteeism in classes, and a frustrated client base.

By helping them effectively set goals, you’re creating a better 2025 business plan, increasing retention, and giving yourself the opportunity to build deeper client relationships with a happier community.

You can start now with goal-setting workshops, one-on-one consultations, or community challenges as part of your offerings. Starting in January you can start conversations with clients about their New Year’s resolutions, offering guidance early in the year to kick things off on a positive, deliberate, strategic note.

This year, you have the power to turn your clients’ aspirations into achievements. Let’s make 2025 the year of goals that stick… and the year of happier, healthier communities in our clubs.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. Mind Body Fitness 2025, January 8-12, 2025, Palm Springs, California
2. NSCA Coaches Conference, January 08 - 10, 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana
3. The Fit Expo, January 25-26, 2025, Los Angeles, California
4. Connected Health & Fitness Summit, February 11-13, 2025, Los Angeles, California
5. DC MANIA®, February 27-March 2, 2025, Herndon, VA
6. IWF China Fitness Convention, March 5-7, 2025, Shanghai, China

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Upcoming Workshops in November & December:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from TRX®
3. 8 workshops from Spinning®
4. 6 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 2 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
6. 2 workshops from Nordic Flow Academy
7. 2 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
8. 1 workshop from Exos
9. 1 workshop from Gray Institute
10. 1 workshop from Power Plate
11. 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness
12. 1 workshop from U-Jam

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Industry News:

• Bessemer Venture Partners and Exos launch Strive to holistically support entrepreneurs perform their best.
• Sports Innovation Lab released a new way to analyze fitness consumer spending data.
• Life Time Foundation is furthering its support for improved student meals through Green Onion.
• Gold’s Gym SoCal began its build out of a new Beverly Center club.
• Health & Fitness Association released a statement on proposed changes to expand medicare and medicaid coverage for anti-obesity medications.

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Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

When it comes to holiday marketing in the fitness industry, messaging usually centers around burning off calories, eradicating guilt, or undoing the indulgences — implying, not so subtly, that holiday activities are not good for you.

In turn, this season’s indulgences — which are supposed to be celebratory and joyful — are more laden with guilt than they are calories. There’s a tremendous amount of stress and rich, sweet foods woven into holiday activities.

Many individuals experience quite a bit of stress around it; the fear of holiday weight gain is evident in every “sugar-free dairy-free fat-free eggnog” recipe post on Instagram or “Keto Pumpkin Pie” on Pinterest. It’s obvious in every media article headlined “5 Tips for Avoiding Thanksgiving Bloat.”

This isn’t new information to any of you. In the health and wellness industry, we’re able to quite literally capitalize on this come January 1. It’s the Super Bowl for fitness professionals and club owners.

But what if we were able to take a different approach here? What if we could help our clients, members, and community, to simply… lean into it. To enjoy, to indulge, to rest. And to do so mindfully, truly enjoying it, and incorporating it into their health practice, as opposed to having to remediate it later.

The Reality of Holiday Food and Weight Gain

Statistically, holiday weight gain, on average, only amounts to … wait for it … one pound. “Researchers dispelled the colloquial belief that Americans typically gained five pounds during the holidays. Although data from this study did support the existence of the holiday weight gain phenomenon, the amount was closer to 1 pound.”

The stress, the fear, the workarounds, the missed joy and celebration… all over a pound. Let’s let that sink in for a moment.

The toxin here isn’t the sugar cookies or the mashed potatoes — it’s the stress and the cortisol. And it’s a time of year that, again, is supposed to be celebratory, but can come with all sorts of additional stressors outside of the food and weight gain conversation. Fraught family dynamics, hectic travel, and chaotic social calendars (or the opposite — isolation), all play a role in adding a painful strain on many people the world over.

“Nearly nine in 10 [Americans] say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict cause them stress at this time of year, according to the results of a new poll by the American Psychological Association.”

And we know that acute stress leads to health outcomes, from compromised immunity to inflammation. A 2018 study on acute stress found “poor general physical health, increased pain and disability, lower quality of life, and higher risk of all-cause mortality,” to be the result of even short periods of stress.

It’s important to point out, there are some significant negative effects from following the status quo from decades past. When it comes to messaging around food, some interesting data has been published about “food fear” and its link to disordered eating. If we look at disordered eating as a spectrum or even a collection of symptoms, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics includes “using exercise, food restriction, fasting or purging to make up for ‘bad’ foods consumed.”

This is exactly what holiday season “health” messaging has been all about, historically: making up for ‘bad’ food. Industry-wide, this has contributed to disordered eating — Northwestern also published an article about this topic.

Changing the Holiday Season Status Quo

What if our messaging to our clubs and clients wasn’t about a Turkey Burn to melt fat and burn off a big meal, but to burn off stress? To blow off some emotional steam?

Messaging comes down to marketing and communications, how we talk to our communities, how we name certain activities and class offerings, and the types of classes and offerings made available. It also comes to leading by example. Having conversations with members about what you’re doing to celebrate, release stress, and rest could be helpful.

Major change doesn’t happen overnight, but any shift you make will have a cumulative effect on your community, and the fitness industry as a whole; a small shift in messaging could have a profound ripple effect.

Imagine if each of us in this industry took just one step toward helping our clients approach the holidays with more grace and self-compassion. Instead of viewing this season as a gauntlet to be survived, what if we helped people see it as an opportunity to honor their needs — to slow down, savor, and connect with their loved ones?

This kind of supportive, inclusive approach acknowledges that wellness is not just about physical metrics — it’s about mental and emotional resilience, too. By fostering a culture that embraces rest, celebration, and joy as integral to health, we allow our communities to experience the holidays without guilt or shame, but with true vitality instead.

Let’s use this season to build a foundation of that energy: trust, joy, and holistic health — a gift that will carry through far beyond the New Year.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. Athletic Business Show, November 19-22, 2024, New Orleans, Louisiana
2. International Council on Active Aging Conference and Expo, November 19-21, 2024, Raleigh, North Carolina
3. Mind Body Fitness 2025, January 8-12, 2025, Palm Springs, California
4. NSCA Coaches Conference, January 08 - 10, 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana
5. The Fit Expo, January 25-26, 2025, Los Angeles, California
6. Connected Health & Fitness Summit, February 11-13, 2025, Los Angeles, California

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in November & December:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 16 workshops from TRX®
3. 14 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
4. 13 workshops from Spinning®
5. 2 workshops from Power Plate
6. 1 workshop from Mike Boyle's CFSC
7. 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness
8. 1 workshop from U-Jam

—------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• Normatec Elite by Hyperice was named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024.
• Precor announced its partnership to bring Nike Strength to fitness facilities in North America.
• Technogym opened a "comprehensive lifestyle experience" retail boutique in London.
• Noom unveiled body scan technology to combat muscle loss of GLP-1 treatment.
• Two new Crunch Fitness locations are set to open soon in Milwaukee.
• Peloton named Ford exec Peter Stern its new CEO.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Summer might be over, but don’t head inside quite yet. Our focus this month is outdoor fitness.

One of the many ways COVID has impacted our lives — and the fitness industry at large — is the augmented affinity for working out outside. The acute awareness of how much time we spend indoors has left many of us craving a bit more vitamin D and fresh air… and once you feel that “high” of endorphins and soaking up a natural environment, it can be hard to go back inside.

Look at some of the sunnier metropolitan areas for an example of this. There’s a reason why boutique fitness took a bit longer to take off in cities like San Diego… Why cycle indoors when you can cycle along the Pacific Coast Highway? For decades, stand-up paddle boarding, long walks and brisk jogs, rollerblading and skating, cycling, and boot camps in the park have been how many of these individuals break a sweat on a regular basis.

Even cities that aren’t as blessed with a temperate, sunshiny climate can take advantage of the great outdoors, and adapt based on their own unique weather conditions and geography. And you don’t have to be a nature lover to benefit from fresh air and being outside.

Let’s look at some of the collective benefits of working out outside:

• The obvious, vitamin D: Outdoor exercise increases exposure to sunlight, boosting Vitamin D production in the body, thus supporting bone health, immune function, and overall mood stabilization.
• It’s mood-boosting: Exercising outdoors in natural environments has been linked to improved cognitive performance, including better attention and memory. Being in nature engages the senses more fully, helping reduce mental fatigue. Studies have also found that outdoor exercise can significantly reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, compared to indoor exercise. The combination of physical activity and exposure to nature is thought to enhance mood and boost self-esteem more effectively than exercising indoors.
• It’s fun and motivating (scientifically!): Outdoor environments are often associated with higher levels of enjoyment and motivation to exercise. A study found that participants reported more positive emotions and were more likely to feel energized and revitalized after breaking a sweat outside as opposed to inside the gym.
• It “feels easier”: Apparently, some natural surroundings and fresh air can reduce the perception of effort, making exercise feel easier and more enjoyable. This can help individuals work out longer without feeling as fatigued.

Fun, easy breezy, and motivating… There's a lot to love about working out outside. Currently, popular exercise categories that are taking off include hiking, cycling, jogging, and bootcamp style group fitness classes.

Gymdesk suggests that “in addition to offering morning, midday, and evening Bootcamp classes, gyms should consider adding an outdoor extension, allowing members to train under the sun.” Additionally, they add that “setting up a free-weight circuit with rebounders and cycles” provides a compact area that can withstand a heavy traffic flow; it’s also easy to bring back in at night when you’re closing up for the day.

EōS Fitness created “The Back Yard” outdoor workout area, what they call a “well-established outdoor space,” that is “equipped with diverse equipment, ideal for a variety of workouts,” blending fitness with the natural outdoor environment to meet the growing demand from their members.

A gym in the UK has taken it a step further, bringing CrossFit to the farm for “Farm Fitness”. It features a “blend of modified strongman, functional bodybuilding, calisthenics, and blistering cardio efforts,” with a “rolling countryside backdrop,” attracting rugby players, strongmen, regular folks, and even kids with their youth-adapted program.

For the colder months, if you’re still headed outside, consider shorter classes (think: “mini workouts” under 30 minutes), or low-intensity offerings like a “bundled up” nature walk (or simply a long walk), emphasizing the aspects of mindfulness and reducing cortisol.

You could consider offering a “cozy cool down” after a chilly outdoor session, incorporating both a cool-down stretch and a hot drink inside, like coffee or tea.

Some clients might enjoy a rain-or-shine attitude for a rainy group run, but for those who don’t, a covered pavilion or pop-up tent (if you have one available) could allow for fresh air despite inclement weather.

Do you have some creative ideas for getting your members outside in the fall and winter months? We’d love to hear from you.

—-------------------------------

Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

‍

1. Asia Fitness Conference, October 18-20, 2024, Bangkok, Thailand
2. European Congress Powered by the Health & Fitness, October 21-23, 2024, Barcelona, Spain
3. Boston MANIA, November 1-3, 2024, Boston, Massachusetts
4. Athletic Business Show, November 19-22, 2024, New Orleans, Louisiana
5. International Council on Active Aging Conference and Expo, November 19-21, 2024, Raleigh, North Carolina

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in October & November:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from TRX®
3. 17 workshops from Spinning®
4. 16 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 6 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
6. 6 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
7. 3 workshops from U-Jam
8. 1 workshop from Athleticum Fitness
9. 1 workshop from Power Plate
10. 1 workshop from Gray Institute

—------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• TRX launched their TRX Studio Line for gyms and studios.
• Therabody unveiled their new recovery and sleep innovations.
• 24 Hour Fitness invested millions in gym upgrades.
• The Beachbody Company adjusted its business model from MLM to a single-level affiliate program.
• ABC Fitness released 2024 Fall Report showing that Gen Z is focused on overall wellness, while Boomers are the most active.
• Anne Mahlum and Dave Asprey invested in AI-Driven OxeFit.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Traditionally seen as an "old-school” workout, now people are flocking to boxing in droves on a global scale. According to a 2021 Harris Poll, boxing is currently the 4th most popular sport in the United States.

Luxury clubs like Equinox and Life Time offer coveted boxing and kickboxing group fitness classes from coast to coast. The Rumble boxing franchise is popular across the US and in Australia. Across the pond, Outboxe is one of the most popular gyms in Paris (a city that’s historically been more hushed about exercise).

Whether it’s a boutique studio dedicated to the combat sport, a workout offered at a health club or gym, or an at-home solution like the FightCamp boxing machine, many individuals are experiencing the empowering, transformative magic of boxing.

But why? What’s so special about it?

Ultimately, we know that the best workout for an individual is the one they’ll keep doing consistently. Boxing tends to be that particular workout for many because of its inherently empowering nature — an empowerment that has impressive effects on mental health.

According to former Team USA boxer and FightCamp co-founder Tommy Duquette — who knows personally and professionally how much boxing can improve your health — “Boxing is the end all be all workout.”

Boxing for the Brain

Duquette points to a recent NIH study on boxing for mental health, which found that "[Boxing Fitness] provides significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Non-contact boxing provided a cathartic release of anger and stress, with evidence of improved mood, self-esteem, confidence, concentration, metabolic burden, strength and coordination."

Pretty impressive, right?

Some of this comes down to the mental involvement of the workout itself — this is not the type of exercise where you can mentally check out.

As Grace Gage, MS says, “Not only is it a physical workout, boxing requires a huge amount of mental stamina; I was shocked at how much strategy is involved in sparring. There are ways of setting up or anticipating your opponent's moves that require you to stay completely focused in the moment.”

Duquette echoes this. “Fighters are the most finely tuned, well-trained athletes in the world because they have to be — they are literally preparing themselves for dangerous combat, so there is no margin for error.” In other words, no room to ruminate on stressful thoughts about inflation, politics, or family drama at home. You need to focus on the task at hand!

Many of us can relate to being on a morning run, getting home, and then realizing we don’t even remember the route we took. That's not the case with boxing!

“When you’re focusing on a combination and landing your punches, you forget that you're working out!” says Gage. “You can really lose yourself and after a few rounds, suddenly realize you are drenched in sweat and breathless.”

Additionally, Gage adds, mental health can be boosted by the sense of camaraderie fostered by boxing. “Whether you are a new student or training for a professional fight, it’s awesome to be able to connect with people about a specific skill and use the same equipment to become better athletes.”

Boxing for the Body

The mental and physical benefits are obviously connected; some of the mental benefits of boxing come down to breaking free from mental clutter.

“When I taught kickboxing classes in the past, or any choreography-based class, it was great to see your students get out of their heads and let their bodies do the work,” says Gage, who notes that this is the case for boxing as well. “Anyone can overthink and freeze, but once you tap into the rhythm and flow, it becomes a lot more enjoyable!”

Gage signed up for a boxing membership after one class. She was drawn to the powerful athleticism (“It looked cool!”) and inspired by “the combination of choreography and power. All the movements have a rhythm and timing that is super satisfying when done correctly.”

It’s a type of movement that gives its trainees a beautifully balanced workout. Duquette notes that boxing “encompasses a balance of both strength and conditioning.” It’s a full-body workout that activates every muscle group, while also offering an incredible amount of cardio with a mix of aerobic and anaerobic training.

Steve Rousey, owner of two 9Round 24/7 Kickboxing Fitness Clubs in Corona and Huntington Beach, California, also comments on kickboxing's full body results saying it "takes care of all three phases of fitness simultaneously: cardiovascular, muscle strength and endurance, and range of motion (ROM)." When kickboxing, participants "move with tempo and rhythm (cardio), strike (punch & kick) resistive forces (heavy bags), and move ballistically through time & space with great ROM." He adds "all three can be incorporated into one workout, which saves time in a world of ultra busy people."

And because it focuses so much on coordination and balance, boxing can help with functional movement and longevity (something we talked about at length just a few months ago).

Cardiovascular strength improves, disease risk is lowered, musculature is strengthened, agility improves, stamina increases — and you can do it all in about 45 minutes.

Boxing for Everyone

While it can seem intimidating from the outside, beginner classes have been rising in popularity worldwide; the barrier to entry is low! Rousey says it's for "all ages, fitness levels, and skill levels." And even if members of your clubs have certain physical limitations or disadvantages, boxing could not only be accessible but even help improve their disability (depending on the circumstance, of course).

Consider Rock Steady Boxing, an organization committed to helping individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Their program is not only safe for those diagnosed with the disease, but has led to success stories of improved range of movement and quality of life — all through boxing! “I see people come in with walkers [and] wheelchairs and then see those same people a few weeks or months later, and they aren’t using them anymore,” says one participant. Another says, “Today, I have a new lease on life. I have taken control of this disease; it is not controlling me.”

Whether you’re a beginner, pregnant, a senior, a Parkinson’s fighter, or recovering from injury, there’s a boxing option for you that can provide you with a bevy of physical and mental health benefits.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

‍

1. Mental Health America Conference, September 19-21, 2024, Washington, D.C.
2. Midwest Mania Convention, October 4-6, 2024, Rosemont, Illinois
3. Asia Fitness Conference, October 18-20, 2024, Bangkok, Thailand
4. European Congress Powered by Health & Fitness, October 21-23, 2024, Barcelona, Spain
5. International Council on Active Aging Conference and Expo, November 19-21, 2024, Raleigh, North Carolina

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in September & October:

• 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
• 20+ workshops from Spinning®
• 20+ workshops from TRX®
• 13 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
• 7 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
• 5 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
• 5 workshops from U-Jam
• 4 workshops from Gray Institute
• 2 workshops from Power Plate
• 1 workshop from SparkPro
• 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness

—------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE) is now providing insurance options for exercise professionals and health coaches with Enrollment First, Inc.
• SoulCycle activities can now be shared on Strava.
• Therabody and Sephora have partnered to develop a contrast therapy skincare device.
• A new study has found that low-impact yoga and exercise can help older women manage urinary incontinence.
• Reebok released its new fitness app.
• A recent consumer study found that nearly 50% of U.S. internet households actively use wearable devices.
• Canyon Ranch announced LONGEVITY8™.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

There are traditional hallmarks of femininity when it comes to Western culture, historically speaking. Women have been expected to be dainty, graceful, delicate, and perhaps most of all, youthful. A woman’s value has almost always been rooted in her youth.

Consider the “anti-aging” market geared at women. It’s a nearly 80 Billion dollar industry in the US, quite literally capitalizing on an insecurity women have been conditioned to adopt for centuries.

But recently, there’s been a shift in what is societally “acceptable” regarding femininity and womanhood. We’re finally shedding some remnants of a marriage market era that emphasized youth above almost all else (due to factors including dowries, childbearing, loyalty, and naiveté).

Are women — at long last — allowed to age?

Though we won’t see the undoing of hundreds of years of cultural conditioning overnight, the shift is, in fact, happening. The latest trend? “Pro aging.”

Older women are becoming influencers on social media (sometimes called “Granfluencers,” sharing day-to-day living, wisdom, tips, and simply… well, existing in the public eye.

It’s happening in the gym, too, where more and more women are feeling comfortable in these settings; The Wall Street Journal recently reported on this. 98-year-old Johanna Quaas continues to practice gymnastics and is awing audiences globally with her strength and commitment to continuing to do what she loves.

A 64-year-old real-estate agent in Massachusetts told WSJ that “her mother discouraged her from any sort of physical activity because it wasn’t ‘ladylike,’” but when she saw more women her age at gyms, she was inspired to try Olympic lifting.

Representation matters. Seeing yourself in someone else — in an arena you may not yet be comfortable in — is important. Whether that’s in the gym or on an Instagram reel, it’s making a difference.

The American Society on Aging emphasizes the importance of this representation, and the ability to tell stories of older women — but that comes down to older women having the ability to tell their stories. “In Hollywood, the number of women filmmakers and screenwriters is markedly less than men and when you break this down by age the numbers reduce further.” The same can be said for any number of industries, including fitness.

The New Playbook For Aging

WSJ says, “For many women over 50, there is a new playbook for aging.” The playbook’s primary contents? Strength-training workouts: building muscle, bone density, and confidence.

Clubs are seeing the numbers to back this up. More and more of this demographic is signing up for club memberships. ACSM’s 2024 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends predicted that “fitness programs for older adults” are rising.

CrossFit even reported that “11,700 women between ages 50 to 59 signed up to compete in [the CrossFit Open] 2024,” marking a 40% increase in just three years.

Polly McKinstry, who has ranked #1 in the 65+ age category in the CrossFit Games since 2021, credits this form of strength training for preventing the deterioration of her knee and even helping her recover from a knee replacement surgery.

This brings up an important part of “healthy aging” that is often overlooked (especially with what is marketed to women)... it’s not just about expensive creams and cosmetic procedures. Fitness plays a crucial role in longevity, including helping individuals age more comfortably and more easily. It gives us the ability to enjoy life more and more as time goes on, instead of deteriorating with the passage of years.

But when it comes to anti-aging, women are often directed to prevent wrinkles with preventative Botox and collagen serums… and less often told to prevent heart attacks and bone density loss with strength training.

64-year-old Ohioan Teresa Burkett told WSJ: “I used to focus so much on the thought of getting old. I had a lightbulb moment where I thought, it’s not our gray hair and our wrinkles that make us look old. It’s the lack of strength and muscle, and we have some control over that.”

Setting a New Precedent

Seeing older women in these arenas isn’t just inspiring for other individuals in this demographic — it's transformative for future generations as well. Sarah Stevens, a 37-year-old mother of two in Knoxville, TN, tells us she attends regular Jazzercise classes in her area, with classmates who range from 20's to 90's.

Stevens feels “completely inspired in every single class” by seeing the women older than her. “One of my classmates has become a dear friend; she is in her 70s and still shows up in a crop top and dances better than all of us!” She shared that though she’s still struggling with the concept of aging, seeing these women in her workouts has reassured her that there is — and always will be — space for her in her gym, no matter what life stage she’s in.

What does this mean for health clubs and gyms? How can we be involved in this shift?

As we mentioned, representation matters. This shift starts with creating an inviting and comfortable space for older women — because once a few are through the door, they’ll be an inspiration to others.

Design Demographic-Specific Programming

Creating a space that is inviting for women is step one. The concept of female-friendly environments — particularly in the fitness space — is another topic we could get into, but consider elements like communication, staff training, locker rooms, and programming.

Classes and training programs designed for older women ensure that you’re targeting the specific needs of this demographic. Seeing how women have been overlooked in sports medicine and science for a very long time, this attention and anticipation of needs is likely to be especially appreciated by the often neglected aging female population.

"Women over 50 have very specific needs when it comes to health, wellbeing and fitness,” says Lauren Roxburgh, best-selling author and founder of the Aligned Life Studio, a holistic health and wellness platform designed specifically with this age group in mind. “They’re dealing with hormonal issues and major life changes like menopause, yet at the same time, they’re also at the top of their careers, balancing busy family and personal lives and wanting to remain as vital and youthful as possible. And there’s no reason why they can’t do it all. While maintaining strength is obviously important as we age, I’ve found the key is in taking a holistic approach that emphasizes true mind-body connection over beating yourself up doing hard core workouts and counting every calorie. It’s about getting into your correct alignment, reducing stress, eating well, and being kind to yourself. I’ve developed a whole protocol that encompasses workouts and healing sequences, diet, mindfulness practices, and other tips and tools to help women do this without breaking their budget - or themselves!"

Roxburgh has over 10,000 women as members of her Studio, many of who attest to the power of her method, particularly for women over 50. “Her approach has been a game-changer for me and has helped me get out of pain, feel more balanced and lose that stubborn weight I just couldn’t seem to drop,” says Holly Handorf, 53, of Mesa, Arizona. “She taught so much and I find I no longer live just in my head but in my body. Lauren has also helped me let go of a lot of stress and really get my life back - it’s changed my life!”

Brad Thorpe, CEO of Isophit, also talks about understanding the challenges facing these women in order to be part of the solution. “Osteoporosis, strokes, and heart attacks, along with Alzheimer’s disease, are increasingly affecting women over the age of 50,” says Thorpe. “Isometric strength training offers superior results compared to traditional exercise methods in reducing blood pressure and enhancing muscle, bone, and tendon strength. Additionally, studies show that increasing isometric muscle strength can boost longevity rates by 31%, compared to a 14% increase from dynamic muscle strength.”

Thorpe adds that “Through the implementation of a strategically designed whole body isometric strength training program—with niche isometric strength training products like Isophit—women of all ages can significantly impact their physical and mental health, as well as their functional performance. Isometric strength training requires virtually no skill to perform, making it accessible to everyone, and carries an extremely low risk of injury.”

In addition to the training programs themselves, designing facilities with older populations in mind also comes into play. The right equipment and layout can make a significant difference in the success of training programs, safety of clients, and satisfaction of the community. Many factors are important with this fusion of gerontology and architecture, but even if you aren’t designing a facility from the ground up, you can implement certain facets. Think: additional safety features and locks on equipment, visual aids, and floor markings to prevent tripping and falling in any areas with ledges, stairs, etc, HR monitors to borrow during a session, non-slip flooring, seating, and rest areas, and adequate lighting.

Consider how you might be able to create a space in which older women not only feel comfortable but can truly thrive. A space where they feel celebrated and empowered, connected, seen, and understood. We’re excited to see what happens in your clubs and communities.

—----------

Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

‍

1. The Fit Expo, August 17-18, 2024, Anaheim, California
2. Dallas MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, August 23-25, 2024, Dallas, Texas
3. Annual Wellness Summit, August 26-29, 2024, Chicago, Illinois
4. AMTA National Convention, September 12-14, 2024, Tampa, Florida
5. Mental Health America Conference, September 19-21, 2024, Washington, D.C.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in August & September:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
3. 20+ workshops from TRX®
4. 11 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 8 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
6. 3 workshops from Gray Institute
7. 2 workshops from U-Jam
8. 1 workshop from Athleticum
9. 1 workshop from Nordic Flow Academy
10. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness

—------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• Technogym offered personalized training support with its AI-based ecosystem to support Olympians in Paris.
• Student-athletes at the new Clemson University facility now have access to Hydromassage.
• Non-profit organization Kynisca Sports International Ltd. introduced the Kynisca Innovation Hub, created to unlock female athletic potential.
• Zumba Fitness and Samsung Health have announced a partnership to "elevate global fitness and wellbeing."
• Mindbody launched Mindbody Insurance.
• Life Time is raising its full-year revenue guidance to between $2.56 and $2.59 billion following strong second-quarter performance.
• BODi launches a content partnership with the American Diabetes Association.
• Popular European gym chain, McFit puts strength training and female-only fitness at its core.
• Fitness International acquired XSport Fitness.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Just turn on the news and it can feel like we’re living through perpetual crisis. This takes a massive toll on our health and well-being.

This is a virtually universal experience, and there’s only so much the human brain can take. As such, many have taken a rather interesting approach to imbuing levity into their lives. Enter: Delightful Distractions. This concept (and consumer trend) is helping individuals around the world find a daily dose of joy in an otherwise trying time. And we think that this community of health and fitness professionals can learn a lot from it.

Delightful Distractions are quite literally the opposite of doom and gloom. Let’s take a closer look.

Marie Kondo introduced the phrase “spark joy” into the collective vocabulary, and Delightful Distractions certainly follows suit. By finding the things (items and experiences) that “spark joy” — think: exciting, heartwarming, playful, funny — we’re able to release tension and de-stress (even if that destressing is only temporary).

What does this look like? The younger generation is “romanticizing routine” by documenting otherwise mundane daily tasks with an optimistic lens. "Dopamine dressing" is a trend where one overhauls their daily style to focus on colors and styles that make them happy; things that (again) spark joy. Pops of color, playful messaging, silliness, and catering to one’s inner child all can fall under the “Delightful Distractions” category.

Brands across different sectors are following suit. Fiat ditched grey cars in favor of brighter hues. Immersive brand experiences allow for an hour or so of escapism (no shopping required). Take the Dior Museum in Paris, for example: an interactive, immersive dive into a world of fashion, design, opulence, and art… a far cry from the experience one feels when scanning the morning news.

How Fitness Professionals and Health Clubs Can Provide Delightful Distractions

So where do we, as fitness professionals, come into play here? Consumers — and in this case, your club members, clients, and community — are seeking an escape from strife, and looking for an infusion of fun.

Access Your Inner Child

One of the most direct ways to impart more fun is through playful programming. We love a weightlifting session or traditional Pilates class as much as the next person, but those types of workouts don’t necessarily scream “inner child.”

So what will bring out a participant's fun side? Think: trampoline fitness, accessible/beginner dance classes, roller skating classes, aerial fitness, drumming-inspired workouts, and other unique types of exercise.

You could add a class to your offering focused on stress relief (you could even call it something like “Blow Off Steam”) and center the exercises on stress-release. The benefit here is that any type of exercise can be stress-relieving; you can get creative, tap into resources you already have, and market them thoughtfully toward being a positive distraction from a stressful world.

Use Music

Do you want to infuse some playfulness into what you’ve already got going on? Make it a music driven class. Peloton and SoulCycle are great examples of this being an effective tool. Themed rides based on certain artists, eras, and genres draw in massive numbers (and wait lists in the case of SoulCycle). Time it with the release of a new album to make the workout even more exciting for your clients.

Crack Jokes

Get goofy and show more of your personality. Certain senses of humor will naturally resonate with different groups — see what works for your community. When the right fitness professional finds the right audience, each workout or training session will become part fitness, part comedic relief. Again, Peloton is another example of this working with the success of trainer Cody Rigsby.

Get Competitive

In the same vein of accessing your fun side, consider a bit of friendly, lighthearted competition. Crossfit gyms have this element built into their model. Consider adding some competitive activities into your programming, which will encourage teamwork and cheering one another on. Relay races would also be a great way to incorporate good-natured competition.

Those who are motivated by a leaderboard or prizes might enjoy working toward the prospect of winning a class pack, some fitness gear, or another type of healthy prize. Maybe the prize itself is silly, which could tie back into the inner child theme.

Theme Your Workouts

Like the music concept, try leaning into color, clothing, and decor. Your class could be a theme party, but for a workout. Examples include eras (the 2000s, the 90s), fandoms (Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars, or a recently released movie), recently released TV series (Bridgerton, Stranger Things), and holidays (4th of July, winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Halloween). Find the themes that work for your club and your community, and make it a Delightful Distraction.

Treat Your Community

Partner with a local food vendor or restaurant to have a treat at the end of certain classes or workouts (healthy or indulgent!) — this serves as a great cross-promotional opportunity with another local business, while providing a Delightful Distraction for club members and clients.

Depending on the nature of your community, you could take it a step further and organize a weekly post-workout brunch with a restaurant partner or another local business.

What Will Your Delightful Distraction Look Like?

The exciting part about all of the ideas mentioned above is just how easy and accessible it is for any gym, club, or trainer to incorporate this concept into their already existing programming. This playful levity not only provides a bit of much needed escapism from the strife of today’s news cycle (not to mention the challenges in anyone’s personal life), but is fun and engaging no matter what the current circumstances may be.

We’re looking forward to seeing how you inject more fun, play, and joy into your offerings. Send us an email with your own Delightful Distraction.

Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. Atlanta MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, July 19-21, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia
2. Perform Better 3-Day Functional Training Summit, August 1-3, 2024, Los Angeles, California
3. canfitpro Global Conference & Trade Show, August 7-10, 2024, Toronto, Canada
4. The Fit Expo, August 17-18, 2024, Anaheim, California
5. Dallas MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, August 23-25, 2024, Dallas, Texas
6. Annual Wellness Summit, August 26-29, 2024, Chicago, Illinois

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in July & August:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
3. 20+ workshops from TRX®
4. 7 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 5 workshops from U-Jam
6. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
7. 1 workshop from Gray Institute
8. 1 workshop from Mike Boyle's CFSC
9. 1 workshop from SparkPro
10. 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness

—------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• New study finds that nearly 1.8 billion people did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022.
• SoulCycle hosted its inaugural Wellness Weekend pairing their indoor cycling workout with next-gen recovery experiences.
• Nike and Hyperice have teamed up to create wearable technology to help athletes perform at their best.
• Dozens of health and wellness companies are joining together to end chronic disease by incentivizing root cause medicine.
• Talkspace and FitOn team up to promote mental fitness and launch first-ever mental health education sessions in-app.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

As days stretch on toward the Summer Solstice this month (in the Northern Hemisphere!), it can be harder to regulate our circadian rhythms when the sun beckons us outdoors for longer. And though it’s an inherently seasonless topic, the seasonal shift in daylight hours brings sleep hygiene to the forefront of our minds. How can we prioritize sleep (for ourselves and our clients), and what tools and protocols are available to us?

Sleep is the foundation of health — and this probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard those words (the sentiment is echoed across journals, mental health, and medical health publications). There’s a strong likelihood you’ve even emphasized this to your clients and communities yourself.

Virtually every aspect of health improves with healthy sleep (and the inverse is true as well, obviously): brain function, mood and mental health, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and immune function, to name a few. It also reduces injury and accident risk. The same can be said for physical performance, exercise, and better dietary choices; good sleep is positively correlated with weight loss and weight management. And the even better news is that these things can snowball into better results — better sleep leads to better workouts; better workouts can lead to better sleep.

But why do so many people struggle with getting good sleep? According to the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research, “50 to 70 million Americans chronically suffer from a disorder of sleep and wakefulness.” The CDC reported in 2022 that about 70 million Americans are chronically sleep-deprived.

One common root cause? The conventional nine-to-five workweek structure contrasted against socially active weekends (ie, varying sleep and wake times). Sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, told CNN that with a varied weekday versus weekend schedule, “it’s like you’re living in a state of jet lag during the work week,” and that this can lead to insomnia and a disrupted circadian rhythm.

But impacted sleep can arise from a variety of factors: structural and physiological (apnea, for example), environmental (room temperature, light, etc), and habitual (altered sleep and wake times, alcohol or caffeine consumption, exercise habits).

Poor sleep is a common, pervasive issue facing a huge swath of the population — so where do we fit into the solution? To be clear: there’s no easy fix for sleep issues (and if there were, this wouldn’t be an ongoing topic). But there are many tools and protocols available for us to look into — and implement — in our clubs and practices. Here are some highlights we’ve found that you’ll want to know about.

How to Solve Sleep Deprivation & Support Sleep Hygiene

With many underlying causes, there can be many possible solutions. Let’s review.

Sleep Tracking Devices

The first step in sorting out your sleep health is taking inventory. One of the most beloved tools in sleep tracking is the Finnish device, Oura Ring. It uses a sleep algorithm rooted in biometrics like movement, body temperature, heart rate and HRV, oxygen levels, and respiration rate to give you a sleep score and target problems that may be impacting your sleep. It also offers suggested bedtimes based on your tracking to optimize when you nod off each night. The activity tracker (for fitness and movement) also plays a role in its recommendations. The Whoop strap, Apple Watch, and certain Fitbit and Garmin devices also function as sleep trackers.

Mattress Technology

Smart mattresses have made serious improvements in recent years. If physical barriers are preventing sound sleep (temperature, elevation, etc), Eight Sleep might be able to help. The Pod 3 mattress cover uses water to cool or heat the mattress based on optimal body temperature. Their latest innovation (Pod 4 Ultra) also combines a base that can adjust your sleep incline to reduce snoring. The Sleep Number i8 smart bed adjusts firmness based on your movement, thermoregulates, and also delivers a sleep score to your phone.

Huberman Protocol

Popular podcaster and associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford, Andrew Huberman, shares a 12-step protocol for sleep hygiene that comprises numerous medically recommended tips for a healthy circadian rhythm and sleep schedule. Get the full summary on his site here, but in brief:

• Get sunlight within 30-60 minutes of waking
• Keep a consistent wake schedule; go to bed when you’re sleepy
• Avoid caffeine 8-10 hours before bedtime (10pm bedtime = 12pm caffeine cut-off)
• Try the Reveri app for sleep hypnosis
• Avoid bright light between 10pm and 4am
• Limit naps or don’t nap at all
• Try NSDR protocol for night-waking
• Consider certain sleep supplements, like magnesium
• Expect alertness 1 hour before bedtime
• Keep your room cool and dark
• Avoid alcohol and sleep medications if you can
• Adjust your protocol over time depending on your needs

Brecka Protocol (10-3-2-1-0 Rule)

Gary Brecka’s protocol echoes many of the tips from the Huberman protocol (and many sleep protocols across the board). He also emphasizes not working from bed, so as to psychologically designate the bed as a place for rest and rejuvenation.

• 10 hours before bed: stop consuming caffeine
• 3 hours before bed: stop eating and drinking (specifically alcohol)
• 2 hours before bed: stop working
• 1 hour before bed: stop screen time; shut off phone, TV, computer
• 0: the number of times you hit the snooze button

Unlearn the “Sleepless Elite” Mindset

Similar to the other coaches and experts, Certified Sleep Science Coach Chris Brantner suggests unplugging, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and regulating work hours — but he raises an excellent point when it comes to your mindset around sleep.

“Many high-powered types—CEOs, entrepreneurs—claim to thrive on five or fewer hours a night,” he writes. But “the idea of a ‘sleepless elite’ is bogus … In fact, very few people can get by on short sleep.” Citing one of the world’s leading sleep experts, Dr. Matthew Walker, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Berkeley, shares that “Less than 1 percent of the population can survive on six hours or less. In fact, recent research out of Penn State University’s behavioral health department suggests eight hours may not be enough.”

Some of your clients may live by the idea that getting by on little sleep gives you a badge of honor — this is where you can help.

Some facts you can borrow for your next chat with any clients skimping on sleep time: "Quality sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal mental health and well-being,” says Ana Marie from Sleep Me. “During sleep, the brain processes and consolidates information, helping to improve memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Lack of sufficient sleep can lead to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Studies have shown that individuals who experience chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to develop mental health disorders. Therefore, prioritizing adequate sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy mind and body."

How Will You Incorporate Sleep Health?

We’re excited to see how sleep will continue to play a role in your clubs and practices. It can be anything from conversations in your day-to-day coaching, all the way through to luxury-tier packages, like Equinox’s new $40,000 membership aimed at longevity.

Optimize by Equinox is a personalized, tailored-to-you bespoke health program comprising nutrition, massage therapy, personal training, and — you guessed it — sleep coaching. Their partnership with Function Health will allow them to test members of this top-shelf program for 100 different biomarkers in addition to Equinox’s own tests (like VO2 max, strength tests, mobility, and movement). A plan is derived from the test results, and executed by the nutritionist, trainer, massage therapist, and sleep coach.

While your clients might not be the right fit for a full state-of-the-art longevity program, they may benefit from some education around supplements and sleep-supportive micronutrients — or an evening Yin Yoga or Yoga Nidra class offering at your club that could help prepare members of your club for sleep after a stressful day. Let us know how you’ll incorporate sleep health into your practice! Send us an email to share your club’s story, and your plans to help your community get some shut eye.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

‍

1. Atlanta MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, July 19-21, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia
2. Perform Better 3-Day Functional Training Summit, August 1-3, 2024, Los Angeles, California
3. canfitpro Global Conference & Trade Show, August 7-10, 2024, Toronto, Canada
4. The Fit Expo, August 17-18, 2024, Anaheim, California
5. Dallas MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, August 23-25, 2024, Dallas, Texas
6. Annual Wellness Summit, August 26-29, 2024, Chicago, Illinois

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in June and July:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
3. 8 workshops from TRX®
4. 7 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 5 workshops from U-Jam
6. 4 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
7. 2 workshops from Gray Institute
8. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
9. 1 workshop from SparkPro
10. 1 workshop from StriveLife

—----------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• Eight Sleep Appoints Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Matthew Walker, and Dr. Peter Attia to Its Scientific Advisory Board.
• Total U.K. gym memberships are at 10.7 million, up 4% from 2021.
• Hyatt and Peloton have partnered to reward loyalty members for wellbeing.
• Alo Moves created an immersive experience with a new set of mixed-reality, volumetric 3D classes.
• 24 Hour Fitness and SH1FT announce two new fitness programs.
• Hydrow and PBS have teamed up to create a docuseries starring Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart, and more.
• WHOOP announced their global partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

In January, we reported at length how Millennials and Gen Z are working out to boost their mental well-being — but anyone at any age can reap the clear benefits of movement on our overall mental and physical health. This is a particularly important topic given the rise of mental health challenges that doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

While 50% of adults will experience a mental illness episode at some point in their lives, 100% of us are navigating stress and challenges that put a strain on our mental health at any given point.

In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, in this issue we're reviewing a “state of the union” when it comes to mental wellness and fitness, going into different facets of healthy living and how they play a role in mental health, and then will provide you with ways you can help be part of a global solution.

Mental Well-Being and Fitness: State of the Union

More awareness around mental health has put a spotlight on fitness and healthy living. According to a Mintel study, 78% of people are now exercising primarily for their mental/emotional well-being. 94% of personal training clients talk to their trainer about nutrition, stress, sleep, and injury. And 89% of peer-reviewed research found a positive, statistically significant relationship between exercise/physical activity and mental health.

Some fast facts on mental health in America right now:

• 57.8 million adults live with some form of mental illness
• Nearly 20% of adults have had an anxiety disorder event within the last year
• In 2021, 21 million adults reported having at least one episode of major depression
• Nearly 70% of kids 12 to 17 said they experienced a major depressive episode during the first year of the pandemic

Fitness is a substantial, evidence-based solution that can help with this. All of this. We can be a part of the solution to the mental health epidemic. The stage is set. The evidence is there. What we do as an industry can have a significant impact on the lives of virtually every person who sets foot through our doors.

Importance of Exercise for Mental Well-being

About 60% of individuals struggling with mental illness get no treatment — this makes exercise even more important. Due to logistical and financial hurdles, mental healthcare options like therapy and psychiatry can be inaccessible, and cultural stigma continues to linger. Physical movement doesn’t tend to have the same barriers to entry. Movement as simple as walking can help with mental wellness challenges — 34 out of 39 studies on walking and depression showed significant positive associations.

There’s an exceptional body of research proving that physical fitness benefits mental health — in various types of exercises and protocols. A recent meta-analysis of 1,444 studies showed that 89% of all published peer-reviewed research on the subject between 1990 and 2022 found a positive, statistically significant relationship between exercise/physical activity and mental health. From low impact, low intensity activities like walking and yoga to more rigorous cardio-aerobic fitness and resistance exercises, research has shown again and again that these types of movement have a significant clinical impact.

Nutrition, Connection, and Mindfulness

Beyond fitness, there are other crucial facets of a healthy lifestyle that play a role in mental well-being — and these are facets we can help with as fitness professionals.

The three primary categories are nutrition, connection, and mindfulness.

Nutrition is an incredibly nuanced subject, and diets are far from universally prescriptive. With that in mind, most Americans aren’t eating well, nor are they drinking enough water — both of which can have negative mental health implications. In general, what you eat affects your mind. Given that 90% of Americans aren’t eating enough produce every day, the bar is low — and we can help.

And when it comes to social connection? Perhaps the most famously cited study is the 100-year Harvard study on happiness, which concluded that human connection and relationships were tantamount to healthy aging, a long life, and better mental wellbeing.

What this means for us: your facility isn’t just a place for clients to build muscle — it’s a place to build relationships. Fostering community within your client base can play a pivotal role in their overall well-being and mental health.

It probably comes as no surprise that mindfulness also plays a huge role in improved mental health. An empirical study review from 2011 reported that “Mindfulness brings about various positive psychological effects, including increased subjective well-being, reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation.”

And the Cambridge University Press reported in 2020, via the International Journal of Psychological Medicine, that “Systematic reviews of [mindfulness and meditation] practices have shown improvements in measures of anxiety, depression and pain scores.”

This Groundbreaking Certification is Helping to Solve the Problem

With so many individuals coming to the facility with their mental health as the focus, it only makes sense that we as coaches and trainers should have mental health in focus as well.

That’s exactly what industry-leaders Victor and Lynne Brick set out to do. Seeing the need for mental health and well-being support, and with a desire to be a part of the solution to this crisis, they created the Mental Wellbeing Association (an initiative of their not-for-profit foundation, the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation).

This is the world's first mental well-being certification, specifically designed for fitness professionals, grounded in evidence-based research, self-care practices, and a psychological perspective on exercise, nutrition, connection and mindfulness.

With experts from both fields — mental health and fitness — the Mental Wellbeing Association now offers an online, 20-hour groundbreaking Mental Wellbeing Certification for Fitness Professionals. The certification explores effective coaching practices for nurturing client relationships, defining the role of fitness professionals in managing mental well-being concerns, and explaining the protocols for appropriate referrals.

"We started the Mental Wellbeing Association, a not-for-profit initiative of the John W. Brick Foundation, to be at the forefront of the mental well-being renaissance that is underway today," said Victor and Lynne Brick. "We've spent over 35 years working in the fitness industry and have seen first-hand the need for a certification to give fitness professionals the education and tools to integrate mental well-being practices into the lives of their clients, members, staff, and themselves. With the launch of the Mental Well-Being Certification for Fitness Professionals, a positive shift is underway for the future of mental well-being and fitness.”

This comprehensive, self-paced program encompasses self care practices, exercise, nutrition, connection, and mindfulness — all from a psychological perspective. In 20 hours, you can take your business to the next level.

The call to action is obvious, in our humble opinion. There’s a real problem and a clear pathway toward a solution. We all have the power to effect change in the fitness industry and beyond, which is a unique privilege and responsibility. And with that, the future looks brighter than ever.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

‍

1. Sibec Americas, May 19-22, 2024, Pasadena, California
2. Perform Better Functional Training Summit, May 30-June 1, 2024, Orlando, Florida
3. Miami Fit Expo, June 1, 2024, Miami, Florida
4. The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference, June 7-9, 2024, San Diego, California
5. Beyond Activ World, June 11-13, 2024, Raffles City, Singapore
6. Atlanta MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, July 19-21, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia

—----------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in May and June:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
3. 16 workshops from TRX®
4. 14 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
5. 12 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
6. 4 workshops from FMT
7. 4 workshops from U-Jam
8. 3 workshops from Stick Mobility
9. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
10. 1 workshop from StriveLife

—----------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• Longtime health and fitness executive Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM, was announced as the new CEO of The American Council on Exercise (ACE).
• Garmin reported a 40% increase in revenue in its fitness category during Q1 of 2024.
• Equinox launches $40,000 membership to help you live longer.
• F45 launched FS8, a Pilates-Yoga hybrid as they expand globally.
• Life Time opens New York City's largest indoor pickleball destination.
• Peloton reveals its spring wellness trends.
• The Congressional Physical Activity Challenge, organized by the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) and Myzone is underway.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Unless you haven’t had any internet access for the past year, you've likely noticed the massive uptick in Ozempic’s popularity — in headlines, on social media, and in the fitness community and culture. This is particularly true in the United States.

At first glance, this could seem like an antidote to the obesity epidemic facing the United States. Medications like Ozempic (a class of drugs called GLP-1) can aid in managing diabetes and also offer significant benefits in weight-loss.

However, as with any medication, there are risks and dangers associated — even deadly dangers. For instance, a new study shows Ozempic or Wegovy users undergoing GI procedures like endoscopies face a 33% higher risk of aspiration pneumonia, a condition where food or liquids get inhaled into the lungs, potentially leading to death. Some other commonly reported side effects have been loss of muscle mass, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

Problems can be compounded if pharmaceuticals are used outside of medical necessity (i.e., for vanity purposes, or as a shortcut in lieu of traditional weight management like lifestyle modifications and healthy habits). While some individuals have legitimate medical needs for these types of pharmacological interventions, others are looking for a shortcut in place of diet and exercise.

With the rising demand for weight-loss medication, there's a risk of overlooking individual variations in response to such medications, leading to overprescription and adverse effects. Misuse and overprescription can also cause problems for individuals who need the drug to manage type 2 diabetes, thanks to global shortages.

Regardless of the risks, millions of people are still getting prescriptions for Ozempic and similar weight-loss medications. “JPMorgan researchers estimate that 30 million people may be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030,” reports CNN — around 9% of American adults. Given that over 10% of the American population has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and roughly 42% of the population is estimated to be obese, there could be some fundamental benefits to this type of pharmacological intervention.

Gyms are also getting in on the trend, with Life Time acquiring weight loss clinics with doctors who can prescribe weight loss drugs, according to CNN. WeightWatchers now has a membership plan with access to doctors who can prescribe GLP-1 drugs. And Equinox is designing exercise programs specifically for people taking the medications. The apps FitOn and obé have developed programs to combat muscle loss.

In the case of Equinox, a coach recently told People that some of the thinking behind this new program is that exercise is a fundamental complement to the drug, saying “Weight loss interventions should always be done with a training program to get the best results." The magazine reports that “Part of the plan is creating targeted conditioning programs to combat adverse side effects, like losing too much muscle mass.”

This part is crucial: If these drugs are prescribed in conjunction with a prescriptive exercise regimen, the fitness industry stands to benefit, and the individuals stand to benefit well beyond their pharmaceutical experience. Fitt Insider reported that “With 42% of GLP-1 users upping activity levels, the industry stands to benefit. An on-ramp to exercise, gyms could welcome entirely new clientele.”

Perhaps GLP-1 drugs could be a catalyst to get more individuals interested in fitness; the jumping-off point that helps create an overall lifestyle change. The opportunity for clubs lies in the ability to connect with new clients, build new relationships, and provide education about the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. This will also be the key to maintaining the loss achieved with the help of medication.

When Ravi Sharma, VP of Partnerships at Inspire360, posed the question "What impact will GLP-1 have on health clubs?," Oliver Patrick, co-founder of Future Practice, had an optimistic lens on this trend, calling it “the opportunity of a lifetime” for health clubs.

He writes “The health club industry must see these intelligent — and effective — weight loss medications as the best client acquisition tool in a generation,” he says. “The GLP-1 rise has given opportunity to a mass debate on the topic of generic weight loss versus body fat loss, with unequivocal data showing lean tissue will be lost as a part of any GLP-1 induced weight reduction.”

That point in particular is crucial to emphasize: “This discussion over body composition, above and beyond simple mass loss, places consumers firmly at the door of resistance training facilities.” In other words, your door.

“Health clubs must be quick to grasp the opportunities this loss of lean tissue presents; some have already made intelligent moves,” Patrick adds. “Whilst GLP-1 faces scarcity issues, its price and market remain more of a premium offering. Considering this premium placement, some top-tier operators are right to embed GLP-1 prescribing medical practices into their spaces and control the weight management journey A-Z.”

But it won’t be a premium-tier offering forever, he points out: “As GLP-1 prices drop, and the product democratizes, we should expect all tiers of facilities to aggressively communicate about the holistic benefits of retained muscle mass to new audiences,” Patrick says. “A rising discussion on lean tissue and longevity, disease mitigation, avoidance of frailty, and more must be driven by the fitness community.” This is where the GLP-1 acts more as a catalyst versus the end-all, be-all.

“We must make our own market,” advises Patrick. “Beyond marketing, gyms must embed consistent body composition measurements, to prove effectiveness beyond inactive weight loss. Two clients losing 20 pounds can only be distinguished if we know which tissues have been lost and which remains. Health clubs can seize an invigorated global weight loss audience if they market with new messaging, create technical capability to receive new audiences, create assessments to evaluate success, and are brave enough to align with a product many will initially deem to be a competitor. GLP-1 and its cheaper derivatives will win weight loss, we must get on the train or run the risk of being left behind in the weight management space.”

As you can see, there are significant risks that come with taking GLP-1's, but with its growing popularity, there are also opportunities for you to work with this trend to help both your clients and your business if you choose to.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. FitnessFest, April 25-28, 2024, Phoenix, Arizona
2. Florida Mania®, May 3-5, 2024, Orlando, Florida
3. Sibec Americas, May 19-22, 2024, Pasadena, California
4. Perform Better Functional Training Summit, May 30-June 1, 2024, Orlando, Florida
5. Miami Fit Expo, June 1, 2024, Miami, Florida
6. The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference, June 7-9, 2024, San Diego, California
7. Beyond Activ World, June 11-13, 2024, Raffles City, Singapore

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Upcoming Workshops in April:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 15 workshops from TRX®
3. 11 workshops from Spinning®
4. 6 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 3 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
6. 3 workshops from U-Jam
7. 2 workshops from FMT
8. 2 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
9. 1 workshop from Stick Mobility (May Workshop)
10. 1 workshop from Tigertail

—----------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• IHRSA changes its name to the Health & Fitness Association.
• TRX opened a functional fitness gym in South Florida HQ.
• The recent Private Sector Benchmarking report revealed that private fitness operators have seen 10.2% growth in memberships since 2022.
• Aescape is set to launch 10 AI-powered massage tables at Equinox locations in New York City this spring.
• MZ-Open allows gym members to access the Myzone ecosystem from their Apple or Android smartwatch.
• WHOOP is now the official wearable of barre3.
• EGYM has acquired Hussle, a leading player in the UK’s corporate fitness market.
• Technogym launches Checkup, an assessment station with AI personalization.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

‍

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

‍

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.

Trends are becoming more and more practical across the board. For the past several years, sneakers have taken the place of dressier shoes (even taking the place of high heels for women), calling for comfort and practicality. And consider the “clean” makeup trends that call for a more minimal look versus a done-up full face.

The same goes for fitness. One of the more practical, no frills trends that’s caught our attention has been functional fitness — a type of exercise that continues to surge as a dominant trend in 2024. A global consumer trends report out of Europe says that consumers are looking for “optimal health without hassles,” in 2024 and refers to the wellness consumer these days as “Wellness Pragmatists.”

“Proven efficacy should be a priority,” the report says. And that’s exactly what functional fitness brings to the table. With its focus on practical movements mimicking daily activities, this holistic approach not only builds strength and endurance, but also enhances overall health, making it a “trend” with exceptional staying power.

What Is Functional Fitness?

First, a brief review of the concept of functional fitness.

Functional fitness — sometimes called functional training — is an approach to exercise that focuses on preparing the body for activities performed in daily life. As such, it emphasizes movements that mimic real-life actions. Think: bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling.

The goal is to improve overall strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and endurance, ultimately enhancing one's ability to perform everyday tasks safely and efficiently. As such, it’s an incredible option for every type of body and age range, but especially for older adults aiming to mitigate the effects of sarcopenia (age related muscle loss).

It’s not just for the older crowd, though. Functional fitness has taken on popularity across all demographics. Let’s take a deeper look.

Functional Training is Trending Upward

The popularity of F45, CrossFit, OrangeTheory, and TRX have proven that functional fitness can touch on multiple demographics in different regions globally. Part of that could be due to functional training being a particularly empowering type of exercise — the effects are felt in multiple areas of an individual’s everyday life, providing confidence in unexpected ways.

The Australian Institute of Fitness reported that functional training was trending upward at the end of last year — it’s something that improves the performance of athletes, benefits an aging population, rehabilitates injured individuals, and can strengthen any person at any age, regardless of their fitness goals.

And given that healthy aging is trending in general, there’s an emphasis on ‘getting ahead of it.’ Younger populations are considering the latent effects of habits they form now. Consider the topic of one of our recent newsletters: the popularity of Blue Zones. They’re particularly en vogue because they zone in on (no pun intended) habits that contribute to a longer life. Then you’ve got the popularity of goop, and Gwenyth Paltrow’s (somewhat) recent assessment of her biological age.

The biggest data, however, comes from McKinsey & Company’s report: The trends defining the $1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024. On that list? “Demand for products and services that support healthy aging and longevity.”

The report finds that this trend has been “propelled by a shift toward preventive medicine, the growth of health technology (such as telemedicine and digital-health monitoring), and advances in research on anti-aging products,” and that “70 percent of consumers in the United Kingdom and the United States and 85 percent in China indicated that they have purchased more in this category in the past year than in prior years.”

Functional fitness plays a major role in preventative wellness and medicine — the tie-in to the global wellness trend makes perfect sense. And as Fortune recently reported, “longevity has longevity.” (i.e., they’re endorsing this as a long-term trend as well). “The growing interest in longevity will continue, both those willing to try expensive, experimental treatments aimed at living longer and others who recognize they can play a role in aging through simple things like diet, exercise, sleep, and stress reduction.”

Introducing Your Community to the Power of Functional Fitness

You don’t have to have a dedicated functional training gym in order to incorporate these powerful principles into your programming. In fact, these can be woven into personal training, group fitness classes, and a variety of other offerings at your club or wellness center.

McKinsey & Company recommends a “holistic approach to healthy-aging solutions, which includes considerations about mental health and social factors.” When it comes to communication, education is important. Emphasis on how this type of training helps play a role in preventative medicine, healthy aging, injury prevention, and even mental health (not to mention confidence) is crucial. They also recommend using the word longevity in lieu of aging.

Between the timeless health benefits and the collective desire for practical, effective, balanced approaches toward a longer, healthier life, there’s no reason to skip out on this ‘trend’ (if you can call it that). So tell us: how are you bringing functional fitness to your communities? We’re excited to see how you develop this concept in the coming months.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. PerformX Live, March 21-22, 2024, Tobacco Dock, London
2. California Mania®, March 22-24, 2024, San Francisco, California
3. FIBO Global Fitness, April 11-14, 2024, Cologne, Germany
4. FitnessFest, April 25-28, 2024, Phoenix, Arizona
5. Florida Mania®, May 3-5, 2024, Orlando, Florida
6. Sibec Americas, May 19-22, 2024, Pasadena, California
7. Perform Better Functional Training Summit, May 30-June 1, 2024, Orlando, Florida
8. Miami Fit Expo, June 1, 2024, Miami, Florida
9. The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference, June 7-9, 2024, San Diego, California
10. Beyond Activ World, June 11-13, 2024, Raffles City, Singapore

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Upcoming Workshops in March:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 6 workshops from Spinning®
3. 4 workshops from TRX®
4. 4 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
5. 4 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
6. 3 workshops from Gray Institute
7. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
8. 1 workshop from U-Jam

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Industry News:

• ACE and YogaRenew have joined forces to offer a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training & Certification.
• Precor launched a new functional strength training line powered by BeaverFit.
• Zumba announced the launch of their first-ever consumer app.
• Precision Nutrition and Change Maker Academy completed a massive industry-wide survey revealing the 5 personality characteristics linked to success in the health and fitness industry.
• Lynne and Victor Brick spoke about the launch of their mental well-being certification for fitness professionals on the Wellness Paradox Podcast.
• A new study found that dancing has profound mental health benefits.
• Planet Fitness is planning to open 300 locations in Spain.
• Aktiv Solutions and Freemotion Fitness have forged a strategic alliance.

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Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

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A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

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Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

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