Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 3 013 IDEA FITNESS PROGRAMS & EQUIPMENT TRENDS REPORT RESULTS SHOW THERE IS SOMETHING FOR ALMOST EVERYONE WHEN IT COMES TO FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT OFFERINGS ACROSS NORTH By Jan Schroeder, PhD, and Ayla Donlin, MS AMERICA. e 17th IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Trends Report bears out that fitness professionals are becoming more specialized, yet more diverse, as the North American population ages and transforms its demographic markers. is year s survey was distributed to the largest sample pool ever and garnered the largest number of responses in its history (,1). As in recent years, the programming and services offered clearly underscore a robust personal training and group exercise presence. Respondents report that half of their facilities are also offering mind-body activities. Small equipment used innovatively by instructors and trainers to challenge and condition clients remains at the top of equipment trends. Portable and versatile pieces help fitness professionals meet clients training needs in settings ranging from large health clubs to clients homes. Pros are focusing on a multisystem approach, tailoring programs to improve cardiorespiratory, muscular and neuromuscular fitness. ey are engineering their programming using little more than their creativity, clients body weight and key equipment pieces to get the job done. e survey was redesigned this year to combine all data (program directors/managers, personal trainers and group exercise professionals are combined, except where indicated). >> 3 ID EA Fitn e ss Journ al Ju n e 013
Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 3 J u ne 01 3 I D E A F i tn e ss Jou rnal 3
Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 3 HOW TO READ THE NUMBERS The percentage (%) reflects the number of survey respondents who answered yes to a given survey question. All percentages have been rounded up at 0. and down at 0.. Percentages do not necessarily total 100, because of multiple or missing responses. The, or average, is all of the answers added Survey Respondents together and then divided by The demographics of the businesses where the respondents work. the number of respondents. An average can be influenced by extremely high and extremely low numbers. In GEOGRAPHIC REGION South USA 3% high and extremely low Northeast USA 0 responses were eliminated North Central USA to present a more accurate West USA 1 number. Canada some cases, the extremely The is the midpoint, ing that half of the respondents answered above and half answered below. LOCATION OF BUSINESS small city or town 0% METHODOLOGY large city 33 In January 013, three emails suburb were sent to 10, fitness rural area Facility Demographics NUMBER OF MEMBERS/CLIENTS professionals who gave IDEA permission to contact them. Once email bounces and TYPE OF BUSINESS non North American responses personal training in clients homes 1% fitness-only health club 1 were,17 completed question- multipurpose health club naires from the United States personal training gym and Canada, for a.% group exercise studio yoga or Pilates studio were sorted out, the final number of email invitations was 100,7. Respondents linked to a Web-based survey. There response rate. At a % confidence level, the margin of error is ±%. According to industry definitions, multipurpose health clubs have fitness facilities and racquet courts. Fitnessonly health clubs have fitness (group exercise and/or a fitness center with equipment), but no racquet courts. Either type of club may have a swimming pool or a gymnasium. Respondents were % personal trainers, 1% group exercise instructors, 1% owners, 1% hybrid fitness professionals, % fitness directors, 7% mind-body instructors, % group fitness directors/coordinators, 3% general managers and 1% personal training directors.,37 133 under 300 300 1, 1,00 3, 3,00 and above 0% 1 PERCENTAGE OF MEMBERS/CLIENTS WHO STAY WITH THE BUSINESS FOR 1 YEAR OR LONGER 73% 0 personal training in trainer s home parks or recreation program 10 APPROXIMATE SIZE OF FACILITY IN SQUARE FEET corporate fitness center 10 YMCA/YWCA/JCC college/university no facility, satellite classes hospital fitness center under,00,00, 10,000 31, 3,000 and above 1,1,00 1% 3 ID EA Fitn e ss Journ al Ju n e 013
Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 37 Customer Profile EQUIPMENT BUDGET FACTS How fitness professionals describe their clients. Percentages in this section are likely the respondents estimates or observations. Respondents may not have had reference data. Owing to respondents estimations or to rounding, the estimated percentages do not equal 100%. under $,00 $,00, $10,000 3, $3,000 and above GENDER RATIO OF CLIENTS females males % 3 % 1 1 CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS/CLIENTS apparently healthy adults older adults those with special medical needs % 0 (e.g., diabetes, arthritis, obesity) 7 77 7 3 1 those with chronic or temporary injuries amateur athletes those with physical disabilities children and teens aged 1 or younger professional athletes women only % 1 How often do you replace equipment? AVERAGE AGE OF MEMBERS/CLIENTS under 1 years 1 3 3 or older $13,7 $1,000 less than months 7 months 1 year 1 years > years % 0 How often do you purchase new equipment? less than months 7 months 1 year 1 years > years % 3 Equipment Small equipment tops the survey again this year. e equipment most frequently offered by respondents includes resistance tubing or bands (%); stability balls (1%); barbells and dumbbells (%); foam rollers and small balls (%); balance equipment (3%); and medicine balls (%). Small equipment also leads equipment trends. Topping the list are body weight leverage equipment (0%); foam rollers and small balls (1%); balance devices (7%); and kettlebells (7%). Of the different types of large equipment, treadmills (7%), pulley equipment (3%) and elliptical trainers (3%) are the most commonly offered pieces. >> J u ne 01 3 I D E A F i tn e ss Jou rnal 3 7
Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 3 MOST FREQUENTLY OFFERED EQUIPMENT Which of the following types of equipment are provided to your clients? % of all respondents resistance tubing or bands % stability balls 1 barbells and/or dumbbells foam rollers and small balls balance equipment (e.g., BOSU Balance Trainer, disks, wobble boards, balance boards) 3 medicine balls yoga mats and equipment 1 steps and platforms 77 weighted bars 70 treadmills 7 body weight leverage equipment (e.g., body weight only, TRX Suspension Trainer, GTS, climbing ladders, ropes, push-up and pull-up devices) 7 pulley equipment 3 elliptical trainers 3 kettlebells 1 cycles, upright 0 cycles, recumbent strength machines, selectorized (pin-selected) 7 strength machines, plate-loaded body composition analyzers stair climbers 0 rowing machines, indoor 7 blood pressure cuffs/stethoscopes 7 cycles for indoor classes 7 boxing equipment Pilates equipment heart rate monitors 3 body weight leverage equipment water fitness equipment 33 (e.g., body weight only, TRX pedometers Suspension Trainer, GTS, caloric management systems sandbags postural assessment technology computer workout tracking arm ergometers 1 Trainer, disks, wobble boards, nutrition analysis software 1 balance boards) 3 pneumatic machines kettlebells strength machines, computerized 13 online scheduling programs goniometers 1 nutrition analysis software computer training programs, interactive (exergaming) computer workout tracking vibration devices/technology yoga mats and equipment 7 ViPR 7 medicine balls Gyrotonic equipment fitness assessment equipment child-sized machines stability balls TOP 10 EQUIPMENT TRENDS Ranking climbing ladders, ropes, push-up and pull-up devices) 1 foam rollers and small balls balance equipment (e.g., BOSU Balance 10 3 ID EA Fitn e ss Journ al Ju n e 013
Programs Equipment Trends _Layout 1 //13 10: AM Page 3 NUMBER OF PERSONAL TRAINERS How many personal trainers conduct sessions in your facility during an average week? number of personal trainers Personal Training Programs and Activities 1% of facilities offer personal training. e most common modes of training are strength training (100%); stretching and/or flexibility (7%); balance training (%); and functional resistance training (%). Personal training is offered as one-on-one (%); clients share (0%); 3 clients share (71%); youth, aged 1 or younger, one-on-one (%); and youth, aged 1 or younger, group (%). Cardio training is accomplished by interval training (%); circuit training (%); endurance training (1%); and cross training (7%). Body weight leverage training, functional resistance training and senior-specific classes/training rank as the top three personal training exercise trends. >> WEEKLY NUMBER OF PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS IN FACILITIES Counting all the trainers, how many personal training sessions does your facility conduct in an average week? personal training sessions 1 1 sessions 10 1 0 30 0 or more % 1 1 0 PERSONAL TRAINER FACTS As a personal trainer, at how many facilities do you work? personal training facilities As a personal trainer, how many personal training sessions do you conduct in an average week? personal training sessions 10 As a personal trainer, how many personal training clients do you see in an average week? clients As a personal trainer, how much does your client pay per training session? training fee $ $0 On average, how long do you retain your personal training clients? less than 1 year 1% 1 years 31 3 years 1 3 years years > years 1 AVERAGE LENGTH OF SESSIONS How much time do you schedule for these activities? 30 minutes minutes personal training sessions 3% 1% 0 minutes 7% 0 minutes % J u ne 01 3 I D E A F i tn e ss Jou rnal 3