now , so that they can deliver them to their current clients . Plus , these are topics that they are interested in soon presenting to their customers . 74 % of these respondents are Group Ex Instructors , 60 % are Personal Trainers and 25 % are Owners , Managers and Directors .
A list of these topics is noted below with the percentage of attendee interest :
1 . Active Aging ( 61.1 %) 2 . Functional Training ( 54.0 %) 3 . Nutrition ( 53.6 %) 4 . Strength Training ( 48.5 %) 5 . Core Training ( 45.9 %) 6 . High Intensity Interval Training ( HIIT ) ( 38.6 %) 7 . Personal Training ( 34.0 %) 8 . Exercise Science ( 33.6 %) 9 . Yoga ( 30.4 %) 10 . Group Cardio ( 29.9 %) many of the programing options will change as well . Interestingly , we have also seen many Fitness Professionals advertising specialty classes that are very popular with their clients and at the Live Stream MANIA ® Conferences .
Club Owners and Managers will also need to pivot now , and into the near future , to ensure the sustainability and success of their facilities . Success will be strongly correlated to those Frontline Fitness Professionals who will become more important than ever in the hierarchy of the gym . The following are some recommendations for Club Owners and Managers , which they will need to consider as organizational leaders :
1 . Connect immediately with your Front-Line Fitness Professionals if you have not done so already . You need to engage them and welcome them “ home ” as part of the family .
4 . Do not require your Group Ex Instructors and Personal Trainers to sign or follow exclusivity ultimatums . You should allow them to work at your facility and continue their own teaching and training . Fitness professionals have determined how to survive during the pandemic without clubs being open . Often , your club members will have loyalty to those Frontline Fitness Professionals , and with reduced incomes , they may look for more affordable options such as working with Personal Trainers at home to avoid paying membership dues . With many clubs permanently closing , including YMCAs and boutique studios , a Personal Trainer or Group Ex Instructor may be able to determine a way to take over the studio and take your members with them .
It is exciting to see how fitness has survived and even thrived during these times and will continue to get the message to the masses “ Fitness is the Greatest Medicine of All ”. However , it is only through our Frontline Workers that we can continue to make a difference to advance and protect the health of all Americans .
SCW has seen an increase in Active Aging with a decrease in HIIT . For all of 2019 , we have seen this trend and this gap has expanded during the pandemic . Functional Training was in SCW ’ s # 1 spot for many , many years and now is # 2 , followed closely by Nutrition which has always been a leader . All Nutrition programming has been strongly regarded throughout the past five years but seems to have recently elevated even more in status . Core Training has always been beloved and remains a favorite . Although not hitting the top 10 , Aqua Exercise has increased in awareness and appreciation . According to the CDC ( Center for Decease Control ) pool chemicals have 6 times the strength to kill the coronavirus . Aquatic exercise participation has increased and will continue to do so as our population ages and we search for safe environments in which to exercise .
The attendances in sessions is also quite eye-opening as a predictor of club and studio trends . Classes that focus on body parts such as abs , glutes , legs , and arms receive a great amount of attention . Specialty training for women is also a winner .
Consequently , not only will the way that Fitness Professionals deliver their services change , but
2 . Do not ignore the value of your Front-Line Fitness Professionals . They are the individuals who service your members and create satisfied customers . The main point of differentiation in any club or facility is customer service . Many owners build clubs with the latest and greatest equipment and fail with poor customer service when another gym with the same latest and greatest equipment opens across the street .
3 . Pivot now and determine how you can best provide programming and specials to retain your members and maintain your staff . While SCW has provided valuable national recommendation , create your own surveys and get your own answers regarding their preferences of programming .
This article was written by Sara Kooperman , JD , CEO and Owner of SCW Fitness Education .
It is choked with valuable statistics on industry trends while simultaneously addressing and analyzing the roles of our Group Ex Instructors and Personal Trainers and the position they play in our recovery . These Fitness Frontline Workers are the heart and soul of our clubs , boutique studios and wellness centers . The members and clients look to them for advice , willpower and comradery . In planning for our recovery from this pandemic , this insightful article reviews the risk of losing these loyal bands of workers to the entrepreneurial edge of independent virtual workouts and sessions . This comprehensive review of what has happened during this difficult time and how we must plan for our future is a must-read for every Fitness Owner , Manager , Director and Professional .
SCW is an internationally recognized educational organization that provides hands-on certifications and continuing education courses and conventions to fitness professionals in multiple disciplines nationwide . For the past 35 years , Personal Trainers , Group Exercise Instructors , Small Group Training Leaders , Aquatic Exercise Professionals , Cycling Instructors , Mind-Body Experts , Sport-Specific Training Educators , and many more have obtained their certification through SCW . This outstanding Family of Leaders also supports Managers , Directors , and Owners of clubs and facilities nationwide with our Business Leadership Summit and sessions . As the largest conference leader in the world , MANIA ® offers eight Professional Training Conventions annually in Washington , D . C ., California ( San Francisco ), Florida ( Orlando ), Atlanta , Dallas , Midwest ( Chicago ), and Boston — and now , online too ! SCW serves over 8,000 health and wellness professionals at our events , and we reach more than 300,000 virtually through our SCW OnDemand program , Online Certifications and Continuing Education Credit ( CEC ) programming options . Watch for our FREE Webinars that continue to drive the business of fitness forward .
SCW Fitness Education has been in business for 35 years and is the largest provider of continuing education conferences in the world focusing on Group Fitness and Personal Training with an emphasis on execution , leadership and management .