THE FUTURE OF PT IN
A TECH-CENTRIC WORLD
Personal trainers who work with new technology rather than viewing it as a
threat to their existence will benefit both their clients and their businesses,
writes personal trainer Todd Brodie.
rom the increase in fitness wearables such as Garmins,
Fitbits and Apple Watches, to remote diet and exercise
consultations, there are now numerous ways that people
can use technology to help them achieve their fitness goals that don’t
necessitate seeing a personal trainer face-to-face or even attending
a gym. This doesn’t mean, however, that they need to train alone.
With this evolution comes a change in the way people seek
assistance from fitness professionals. In a technology-heavy world,
we’re seeing a shift away from traditional forms of consultation and
an embracing of new, more flexible options.
It is important to adapt to the changing pace, embrace what is
now available and be aware of where it’s headed in the near future,
without losing connection in this highly connected world.
Here are my reflections on how things are changing, and how
fitness professionals fit into this changing landscape.
F
1. The demand for small group training (SGT) will
continue to grow
Travelling Australia and internationally through my work with
Technogym in recent years, I have seen a global shift towards small
group, functional and bootcamp-style training.
Secondary to this growth has been the explosion of single
discipline workouts where entertainment is just as important as the
exercise content. These cleverly use technology to gamify exercise
and engage users throughout the entire session. Think running or
rowing classes combined with strength training, under lights and
music, with real-time feedback on screens and devices.
Personal trainers can continue to thrive in this climate as long
as they expand their skill sets to engage and entertain these small
groups, as opposed to sticking to one-on-one sessions.
Hybrid training models are becoming increasingly popular
because they offer the best of both worlds. By delivering a mix of
semi-private, one-on-one and SGT options,
you can diversify your PT business, making
it more interesting for you, and increasing
your reach.
2. Clients will drive the demand
for flexibility, increasing the
amount of online classes
Personal training apps and streamed classes
have made it possible to exercise from home
or work spaces while retaining elements of
the connection and guidance previously
only available in face-to-face situations.
Users that haven’t attended fitness facilities
in recent times, or who haven’t found a
connection within those places, can now
choose their own journey (one-on-one or
group), at a time, and in a place, that suits
them. Training with a PT face-to-face is no
longer the only option.
The fitness industry is in a position
to replicate the convenience and instant
gratification currently offered by food
delivery and streaming entertainment
services. Trainers now have the ability to
coach and engage clients online, and can
reach way beyond their local geographic
confines. They can also create and deliver
shorter, convenient workouts tailored to fill
the gaps in users’ training regimes, rather
than being restricted to standard training
session durations.
NETWORK SPRING 2019 | 57