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Millennials and Gen Z are embracing new fitness trends including being outside.
er since early man moved a small boulder, the world of fitness has been around and yet, it has evolved tremendously. Through the last three decades, we have seen the evolution of fitness move from free weights to machine weights to Peloton and yoga. The shift in how we stay fit has been caused by several trends including health, nutrition, mind-body and the rise of better and preventative health advancements. We now seem to understand we may live longer and since we want a healthy life, people are perhaps more active in different ways.
Some of the trends have been driven by two large population segments that will drive the fitness industry over the next few decades: Millennials and Gen Z. These two population segments in the USA according to Brookings shows that the combined millennial, Gen Z, and younger generations numbered 166 million as of July 2019, or 50.7% of the nation’s population. These two segments are completely different than their processors, Gen X and the baby Boomers. As such, they are driving fundamental change in how the fitness industry delivers products and services based on key trends.
Pay attention to the insights below and perhaps create a fitness industry startup.
Outdoor Fitness. In a RunRepeat study, just over 70% of participants said that outdoor activities and home fitness are the best ways for them to stay fit in 2021. Although outdoor fitness isn’t exactly brand new, lots more people have ventured into the great outdoors to get their exercise in. With strict lockdowns and restrictions throughout the year, the local park or green space has been the go-to spot for many people. Whether it’s an outdoor boot camp or morning yoga class in the park, people are embracing al fresco fitness with open arms.
Remote Personal Training and Wellness Coaching. Remote coaching allows members to work with a personal trainer or well-being coach in a one-on-one setting. The pandemic has forced many businesses to expand their online offering. Often, members use personal trainers and coaches for that extra level of accountability and motivation. Virtual coaching has room to expand in 2021 with it becoming more popular. You have the opportunity to offer virtual coaching in multiple areas of health and fitness and even offer a more holistic and accountable approach to training.
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Specialized Fitness Programs for Risk Groups. The pandemic has created new market niches. All of a sudden, you’re having conversations about people who are at risk or who are recovering from the effects of Covid. This could lead to a fitness trend focusing on specific groups. These could be either individual or small group fitness classes in a controlled environment or a special digital class.
Inclusion of Mind and Body Fitness. According to ClassPass, yoga was the top digital workout of 2020. When talking about fitness, we often think of physical activity and health. But mental health is just as important and fitness goals now extend beyond physical activity alone. With the recent lockdowns across the nation and feelings of isolation rising through multiple age groups, mental health is a big focus, and for a good reason. The line between mind and body is merging with people looking for ways to exercise both at the same time. Mind-body exercises like yoga and Pilates will continue to be huge.
At-Home In-Person and Remote Workouts. It’s no surprise that home fitness is growing, whether due to Covid or just a trend driven by companies like Peloton. The reason? At-home fitness technology and equipment continue to evolve and offers innovative ways for people to exercise from the comfort of their home. While home workouts don’t replace the gym for most people, they do complement their fitness routine. It looks like home fitness will continue to be a growing trend in the years to come.
Paying attention to the customer and observing key trends could provide you with the insights to create a company in the fitness industry.
