Welcome To The Future Of Fitness: Trends You Need To Know

Fitness has come a long way since Olivia Newton John urged us all to get physical (physical) and vibrating fat belts seemed like a good idea. No longer relegated to a room of sinister-looking machines, gyms and fitness services are catering to niche demographics by offering something for everyone, from CrossFit to Prancercise.
We’re prepared to pay for the privilege of a healthy heart rate too, with Australians spending an estimated $8.5 billion on gym memberships each year. But with the gym market expected to reach saturation in five years, niche providers are already tapping into unique, technology-driven ways to keep ahead.
We look at what you can expect – activewear aside – from the fitness of the future.

Everyone will be able to access it

Technology has already made fitness far more accessible with the rise of the budget 24/7 gym, but the growth of collaborative apps will make finding your next class, gym or workout Uberishly easy.
Fitness Australia’s Andrew McCallum says the access revolution is already happening in Australia, with the rise of online training programs as well as apps that help you find, book and pay for classes, facilities and training sessions in your area.

You’ll be able to track your health to a ridic degree

You can already track your sleep, exercise, food, weight and activity, but what about tracking your stress levels, UV consumption, sleep apnea and blood pressure?
These are things that Fitbit, Microsoft and Apple are already looking into. The Apple Watch already reminds you to stand up when you’ve been sitting too long, and the possibilities for these apps to provoke you into acting like a model human is enough to make any parent proud.

Your gym won’t just get you fit, but living longer than ever

While the growth of Australia’s fitness industry is so spectacular, it’s still a baby in industry terms, emerging only in the last 20 to 30 years.
Andrew says the boom is due in part to a movement away from organised sport to activities that focus on winning at health, not just at your ball sport of choice. He adds that we’re also working longer and more irregular hours, and simply don’t have time to hit the courts once a week with Sheryl and Gazza.
“While my father, in my younger years, used to go and play tennis two nights a week, people don’t have time for that [now] – they’re working longer hours or they’re working more variable hours, so they don’t have time for that regular sporting interaction. So the fitness industry has in many ways replaced that.”
Baby boomers approaching or entering retirement are also investing more in their health than ever before. Andrew says this is a niche demographic that will continue to grow. “People are living longer than they were… so they want to be active throughout their retirement: they want to travel, chase their grandchildren around.”