Revisiting 2020 Fitness Predictions | COVID-19 Edition
At the beginning of each year, I make predictions about fitness trends that I see coming.
In my previous post, predicting 2020 fitness trends, there were three trends I highlighted; A massive rise in online training, an emergence in large group training, and a surge in gym membership competition.
Since Covid-19 is causing a f*cking sh*t storm, I would like to revisit those trends in this post and share with you a few changes that are coming to the fitness industry post-COVID-19.
Revisiting 2020 Trends
1. A Massive Rise in Online Training – At the beginning of 2020, I predicted that there was going to be a rise in online training.
Well.
Here we are in the middle of a pandemic, and every personal trainer is online.
I’ll admit, I didn’t see this amount of growth. But, when you get a nasty coronavirus spreading and forcing all gyms to close, it accelerates the rate at which a trend may occur.
As far as online training goes for the future, I believe this will become a standard practice in every gym business. Online training is here to stay as it will now be a security blanket for businesses if a lockdown situation happens again.
What a virtual home workout looks like. Band Bicep Curls all the way, baby!!!!
2. What happens to large group training? At the beginning of 2020, I was in the camp that large group training was going to be a major hit. With the rise of Orangetheory, F-45 and other unique large group training studios, it’s a no-brainer.
However.
All it takes is a pandemic to disrupt the industry.
Social distancing measures will continue to be in place for quite some time, and this is going to make it difficult for large group training models to adapt. Margins are going to be challenging to hit as fewer people in a class means less revenue. Perhaps more classes need to be run, meaning that trainers have to put in more time – creating extra cost.
Overall, I don’t think large group training is gone; I believe it will take one to two years for it to recover.
3. What happens to the competition? In 2019 there was a significant rise in small boutique training facilities and low-cost big box gyms.
And in 2020 the competition was only increasing.
Yet, the coronavirus pandemic forced gyms to close their doors.
Most temporarily.
But.
Some permanently.
The permanent closure of gyms will lower the competition.
The rise in gyms saturated the market, and the coronavirus will serve as a correction. Gyms that were barely surviving or just opened are the ones that will be the first to close their doors.
Here are a Few New Trends & Predictions Post Coronavirus
Wearable Technology – Wearable technology is one area that I’ve been studying since the Covid-19 shutdown. I’ll admit, I’ve never been someone that’s taken an interest in the technology sector. But, my first introduction to wearable technology was with the Toronto Raptors using the Catapult tracking system, which tracks metrics to predict injuries and enhance performance.
It’s very COOL.
But what sparked my interest in wearable technology is what companies such as Apple and Huawei are doing with their watches and fitness bands. Heart rates, atrial fibrillation, sleep, and MVo2 are all performance tracking variables you can track with these devices, and the validity is improving each year with a new series.
The future seems to be going towards wearable technology as you can personalize and improve the clients’ experience. Note: I think Orangetheory is onto something.
Technology is an evolving trend that I would be keeping my eyes on.
Smartwatches are going to be a virtual doctor on your wrist one day! Mark my words 😉 COOL THOUGHT: A standard MVo2 test involves high-tech and expensive equipment making it difficult for personal trainers to implement. It would be CRAZY if you could get an accurate MVo2 with a fitness band.
Personalized gym experience – For gyms to be successful and survive, they’re going to have to niche down. Mark Fisher Fitness, Cressey sports performance, and Orangetheory are all examples of personalized gym experiences. Long gone are the days of gyms selling a standard membership for access. The competition is too strong, and gyms need to differentiate themselves to stand out.
Personal branding – I first heard Pete Dupuis, co-owner of Cress Sports Performance, mention that every personal trainer is going to have to have a personal brand to succeed today. I couldn’t agree more with his statement. You just never know when a gym is going to shut down, and if you lose all your revenue, you’re f*cked. Creating a personal brand can allow a personal trainer who is often an independent contractor, an additional source of income to survive.
To Wrap it Up,
Covid-19 is rapidly disrupting the fitness industry and accelerating the implementation of technology.
Online training and wearable technology are the most prominent trends to emerge in the future.
It’ll be interesting to see how everything plays out, and we will revisit this post in early 2021.
