IHRSA Announces Annual List of Health Club Trends for 2012

By working with its global membership base of over 10,000 club and fitness businesses, examining industry research, and monitoring consumer fitness behaviors, IHRSA has identified the most significant trends health club goers will see over the next 12 months.

A quick listing of the trends is below or read the complete explanation of each trend. 

#1: More People Working Out in Clubs

Club membership has increased more than 10% over the past three years despite the poor economy…

#2: Specific Programming and Certifications for Baby Boomers

As people age, strength, balance and functional training become even more important…

#3: Youth Programming

Health club members under the age of 18 grew from 3.8 million in 2007 to 6.1 million in 2010…

#4: Social Exercise

People want to have fun, experience great music, share the group “high”…

#5: Small Group Personal Training

Over 91% of the IHRSA clubs surveyed offer personal training, however the growth in training has not come from one-on-one training…

#6: Technology

Whether you want to track your mileage, speed, number of workouts, calorie burn, or strength level, there is an app for that… 

#7: Convenient Fitness Options

A gym visit is not the only to-do on most people’s calendars…

#8: Corporate Wellness Benefits

Employers are increasingly aware that a fitness benefit creates a happier, more productive work force, reduces employee health care expenses… 

#9: Body Weight Exercise

Body-weight leverage equipment has become a must-have in many gyms…

#10: Physician Prescribed Exercise

Physicians are just beginning to prescribe the real wonder drug…