FILEX 2015
PRESENTER
PECTIVE
REFLECTIONS OF INDUSTRY LEADERS
A respected figure in the world
of fitness reflects on recent
industry developments.
WORDS: REECE ZONDAG
fter a lifetime working on the
operational side of fitness
businesses, I have spent the past
year consulting with clubs and, essentially,
becoming a student of the industry. I’m
talking with people, helping my clients,
watching what’s going on, and forming some
opinions along the way – some of which I’ll
share now, if you’ll indulge me.
Firstly, virtual group exercise classes
have caught my eye. I think there’s definitely
a future for this service. The two keys are
the delivery method (how enticing the
physical space is) and the content. The best
I have seen is the Les Mills material – their
experience shines through. My view is that
you should only do it if you can do it well
– and perhaps wait until the technological
costs come down.
Next
up,
functional
training.
In
mainstream gyms personal trainers are
largely driving this growth. While it’s popular
with PT’s and their clients, it requires a lot
of instruction to get great results and I’m
not convinced the consumer is ready to see
A
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large empty spaces in commercial gyms.
They still expect to see a row of treadmills
and some pin-loaded gear – rightly or
wrongly. In my opinion, you should offer
functional training in your commercial club,
but only allocate resources commensurate
with the demand from consumers. In other
words ۸