The health and fitness club industry is seeing exponential growth across all areas- from the number of fitness facilities to the revenue generated and consumer growth. In a report published by Statistica, the global health and fitness club industry was worth over $ 87 billion in 2017, up from $67 billion in 2009. Similarly, the number of fitness center memberships will continue rising. This upward trajectory is set to carry on as more consumers place value on their well-being, which means fitness investments will keep booming. However, facilities designed with the user in mind will enjoy a larger market share and client satisfaction and retention.

Investing in a professional design before setting up your fitness facility is one of the most effective ways to ensure high usage and efficient traffic flow. Read ahead to learn exactly how a great design contributes to the success of your fitness facility.

Visualize your project in 2D and 3D

Creating an ideal fitness training space requires you to work with professionals who can turn your vision into reality. It all starts with creating top-down 2D and 3D designs that simulate your complete project. This allows you to visualize how the facility will look like before embarking on the actual construction and equipment ordering. At this stage, you can redesign or make changes to the existing layout until it meets your requirements. With high-quality 2D and 3D designs in place, you’ll have an easier time executing your plan.

Use space efficiently and improve client flow

It is vital for fitness facilities to maintain a clear, well-structured, and organized space. Professional design ensures proper use of space such that users are comfortable and have plenty of room for training. In an ideal design, all unnecessary items such as cupboards are moved to provide more floor space. The available space is then creatively used for essentials such as storage and wipes, water coolers, weight racks, and other vital accessories and equipment.

Good designs also take into account how typical workout routines function. With this in mind, you can arrange training equipment and accessories in a way that facilitates most activities, thus making it easier for users to move through their workout sessions. The bottom line is setting up the facility in a way that feels less cluttered so that users can freely move around while avoiding lines forming at certain equipment.

Determine where to place equipment

Getting the most out of your available space is all about considering how the facility’s design impacts user experience. For this reason, ease of use and accessibility should always be the hallmark when laying out the equipment. A good idea would be categorizing equipment by type – such that specific sections of the facility are dedicated to weightlifting, cardio exercising, group training, mobility/stretching, or any other kind of workout. It makes sense if all cardio machines are placed together or if dumbbells are kept close to the free weight machines. This demonstrates how investing in a professional design for your project can help create the ideal training environment- safe, comfortable, high-performing, and motivating.

Electrical and WiFi needs

Modern fitness facilities have now stepped up their game from the traditional “warehouse feel” to designing for user satisfaction. One such trend is the increased adoption of self-powered training equipment, which is great for the logistics and overall safety of the users. Despite these advancements, electrical needs are still required in most fitness centers. While most gym owners tend to overlook this point in their planning stage, a professional design will take into account all mechanical, electrical, and internetrequirements. This includes planning power outlets for your training equipment, WiFi, visuals, audio, and any other accessories that require power within the facility.

Is your equipment meeting ADA requirements?

A fundamental requirement for all fitness training centers is to remove all barriers that may limit accessibility by people with disabilities. ADA compliance in a fitness facility covers all structural domains like parking, exterior entrances, elevators, doors, bathrooms, locker rooms, customer service desk, accessibility around training equipment, and all building accessories. Professional designs take into account ADA guidelines and standards for fitness facilities pertaining to equipment set-up and installation. Adhering to these regulations is a way of helping safeguarding your facility against future liability.

Summing it up

Investing in a professional design will have much positive impact on your fitness facility.  If people are satisfied with the space they are in, there’s a much better chance for them to stick to their exercise routines. This will lead to the advancement of the facility’s overall status and higher client retention, thus helping your business achieve continuous growth and success.

There’s no denying that the past decade has seen major developments in fitness. But we expect more innovation and new trends in the coming decade.

Rowing Workout

A rowing machine works out multiple muscles improving your overall health. It’s low impact therefore suitable for all fitness levels and ages. It’s a piece of equipment that mimics the motion of a rowing boat, hence giving you a full-body workout.

It’s perfect for muscle building and toning, weight loss, and increasing stamina. This machine works out major muscle groups on your upper and lower body. Using a rowing machine gives you an excellent aerobic workout, which is great for your heart and lungs.

More Virtual Fitness Equipment

The virtual concept is expected to develop and expand in the coming year. Fitness equipment manufacturers are expected to develop more and diverse equipment with in-built virtual training concepts. This includes indoor cycles, x-trainers, and treadmills.

Currently, equipment such as treadmills have incorporated virtual reality immersing users into a virtual running experience by allowing them to run alongside a partner. This avails an assisted approach for those who need more motivation to stay focused.

High Tech Fitness Boutiques

These studios are expected to continue growing in 2020. They offer the luxury of holding sessions for smaller groups. Fitness professionals also specialize in particular exercises, thus increasing the chances of success.

High-tech fitness equipment designed to improve the efficacy of your workouts is widely available in these studios. This may include electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) suits, other machines, and wearables.

Working out in a boutique ensures that you get individual attention. Workouts can be designed depending on your individual needs. You also perform better when you are in a small group.

More Kickboxing

If you hate the monotony of cardio workouts, you may want to consider kickboxing in 2020. This is a more high-energy and motivating routine. This is a workout that combines martial arts techniques and heart-pumping cardio.

Whether you’re fitness geek or newbie, undertaking a kickboxing workout can help you burn calories, reduce stress, improve coordination, boost your energy, and give you better posture.

High-Intensity Low Impact Training (HILIT)

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is still quite popular. However, high-intensity low impact training is expected to gain more popularity in the coming year. It is a variation of HIIT that still gives you an intense workout, but is more gentle to the body.

The benefits of HIIT workouts are well-known and include boosting metabolism, high-calorie burn, and improving heart health. However, HIIT is physically taxing hence not suitable for people at all fitness levels and for those with health problems. HILIT still avails to you the benefits of a HIIT workout, but in a low impact environment that lessens stress on your joints and other body parts.

Customized Fitness Programs and Products

We have different bodies and are at different fitness levels; therefore fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all. You may love boxing, but Pilates may be a more effective option for you. This is why we expect more customization in fitness programs and products in the coming year.

Tailored fitness programs and products may cost you more but are more effective. This is quite beneficial for people with specific fitness needs since it would help them reach their fitness and health goals more easily.

Functional Training Rigs

Growing demand for functional training rigs such as climbing frames will make them more accessible in the coming year. With improved designs and availability in a range of sizes, functional training rigs allow users to have multiple workouts. You can lift weights, stretch, and climb in one space.

 

From fitness routines by the beach to sophisticated gizmos, we have witnessed some interesting trends and changes in the last decade. Join me as we review the last decade of fitness.

The decade started on a high. We saw a shift from the brick and mortar style of fitness as boot camps and workout classes gained popularity. In 2010, people traded their gym memberships for dance therapies. Zumba, Afro-Cuban, Bollywood, and ballroom dances gripped the masses.

We saw fitness instructors seeking training in the “new” trend to deliver the services more efficiently. Gone are the days when hiring a personal trainer was a thing for the rich. Common folk sought the assistance of personal trainers at the dawn of the decade.

The fitness industry had a sudden growth spat between 2011 to 2013. We saw the new gyms and fitness centers popping up indiscriminately in the United States.

The fitness age demographic broadened dramatically. There were fitness programs that target adults and older children. The obesity epidemic drove many parents to seek solutions from fitness experts.

During this period, we saw the incorporation of different strategies. There was a focus on nutrition. Intermittent fasting was a trend between 2011 to 2013. There was also attention to calorie intake. Many people traded their high carbohydrate diets for the gluten-free lifestyle.

We saw the intermarriage of tech and fitness during this period. Through your smartphone, you could measure the intensity of your workout. Some apps could measure the number of calories that you burnt during a particular run.

The technology interest wasn’t only in the software. We saw updates in the hardware with the development of wireless headsets and smartwatches. You could strap your phone on your arm, queue your favorite tracks, and work out. Alternatively, a smartwatch on your wrist was all you needed.

From 2013 to 2016, we saw the rise of functional and movement-based workout. We saw the traditional gym equipment share their space with battle ropes, monster truck tires, and kettlebells.

We saw a crucial moment in the evolution of fitness centers. The gym that immersed a large number of people into a program that incorporates aerobics with high-intensity strength activities.

By 2016, gym instruction and personal training had caught on. More clients were looking for one-on-one engagements with personal trainers. Trends such as cross-fit and functional training lured more and more people.

We also saw the introduction and growth of 24/7 gym chains. Busy schedules and crowded gyms was no longer an excuse to skip leg day. You can swing by the gym before the break of dawn or in the middle of the night.

In the mid-2010s, we saw the evolution of fitness technology. Fitness trackers and apps could offer more. Fitness apps could give you information on your heart rate in real-time. Your phone could hand you a report on your sleep patterns.

Gym equipment also got smarter. Treadmills came with social media capabilities, and your stationary bike could connect you to a personal trainer.

Moving forward to the 2020s, we are looking forward to what the decade has instore for us. Will we see a resurgence of some old trends with a new twist? For now, only time will tell.

We could witness a focus on client wellness, along with traditional health and fitness activities. We may see an interest in the mental and social wellbeing of the client.

Dynamic injury rehabilitation, the provision of wellness interventions, and functional movement could be a trend in 2020 and beyond. I look forward to seeing what the next decade will bring.

For more information on fitness centers, contact your local Opti-fit representative in California and Nevada.

 

Personal training is always evolving, and a recent survey indicates that in-person personal training is declining. On the other hand, virtual training is rising rapidly. In fact, by the year 2022, the virtual fitness market is expected to reach $329 billion.

Virtual fitness is a blend of exercise with technology, and these workouts are just the same workouts that you know or love. However, they are designed for convenience to suit your schedule. Typically, these workouts are played on big screens in the gym. Some clubs have prescheduled these workouts, which enable members to engage in these activities whenever they want.

In the 90’s the fitness industry mainly involved one-on-one personal training, mainly because it meant that you were an important person. However, just like all other trends, this fitness trend changed. Over the last decade, there has been a boom in the fitness industry. Today, there are new technologies, fitness apps, and disruptive services, which can be customized to fit the commercial markets. Therefore, members can do the same workouts they enjoy at the club. Additionally, they can get access to classes that they cannot find online. The live-streamed classes allow them to interact with others.

The Future of Virtual Fitness

The Trip

This is an immersive workout that combines a cycling workout and a journey through a digitally-created world. This creates a cinema-like experience. Trip helps motivate and take the energy output to the next level.

This workout enables the commercial market to provide consumers with something unique and memorable. Additionally, most millennials and Gen Z members are always looking for such experiences in the club, not just working out. The Trip can also help members new to fitness to see results much faster without feeling like they’re overexerting their bodies.

Sprint

This is a 30-minutes workout using an indoor bike. This high-intensity workout is an effective way for club members to workout and see results. Each sprint workout uses the latest music and fitness training techniques to push members to workout hard. It also combines bursts of intensity with short breaks to rest and prepare for the next effort.

Spending 30 minutes doing a sprint workout will drive the body to burn calories. While it’s a challenging workout, it pays off eventually. This type of workout is ideal for those who enjoy RPM but seek a new challenge.

RPM

This world-leading cardio cycle workout simulates climbs and sprints to improve cardio fitness and also burn calories. In fact, this workout can burn nearly 700 calories in a session. There’s great music to pump the members, and they can spin as one. This helps one to reach their cardio peak and keep pace with the pack.

Bottom Line

There’s enough proof that the sensory experience brought along by modern technology can help. Through modern technology, commercial markets can deliver a world-class experience regardless of whether the client is in person.

For more information on virtual workouts in the your commercial facility contact Opti-fit.

A Healthy Thanksgiving Menu

What are you grateful for in 2019? Is it family, love, or life? How about health? This thanksgiving, you can demonstrate the appreciation of health by eating healthy.

“How?” you may ask, “A boring meal is the last thing that I want for Thanksgiving.”

Planning a healthy Thanksgiving menu does not mean that the food has to be boring or bland. My mission today is to prove to you that you can have a delicious but healthy meal this November.

I have created a healthy Thanksgiving menu that will keep your mouth watering, your belly full, and your waistline in check.

a. Nutritious Thanksgiving Appetizers

Appetizers should be light and delicious. Not to delicious to tempt your guests to fill their bellies before the main meal. Here are some ideas

i. Boiled Shrimp Dipped in Buttermilk Rémoulade

Rémoulade is a tangy French Mayonnaise-based sauce that complements fresh seafood. Mayo can be high in fat. For a healthier option, I suggest using fat-free buttermilk, Greek Yoghurt, and canola mayo as the base of your Rémoulade.

ii. Caramelized Leek and Spinach Dip

The classic spinach and cheese dip packs a tonne of calories. Instead of cheese, we use caramelized leek for flavor. For a creamy texture, you can supplement this appetizer with the protein-rich Greek yogurt.

For the greatest appeal, serve with carrots, radishes, and endive leaves. Homemade pita chips also work well.

Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing

Yes, Thanksgiving stuffing can be healthy. Here are some ideas

i. The Classic Herb Stuffing

You will need some bread, carrots, celery, garlic, and onions. The whole bread ups the fiber while the veggies inject some flavor and nutrients to the stuffing.

ii. Pear, Sage, and Golden Rising Stuffing

For this stuffing, you will require some sourdough bread cubes, some pears, thick-cut bacon, fresh sage, and tart golden raisins. This aromatic stuffing is quite sophisticated.

Healthy Turkey Recipes

These recipes feature flavor inducing tips like brining, spatchcocking, and curing.

i. Honey-Bourbon Spatchcocked Turkey

Brine the turkey before roasting it to ensure that the meat is juicy and full of flavor. After the honey-bourbon brine, you spatchcock the turkey to remove its backbone. Roasting the turkey flat in the oven allows it to cook evenly while developing a crisp golden skin.

ii. Grill-Smoked Turkey

Here is another exciting alternative to spatchcocking a turkey. Cure your turkey in a spicy mixture of cummin and fresh sage. Lastly, let the bird soak in the smoke of a charcoal grill.

Finger Licking Thanksgiving Desserts

Conclude your thanksgiving dinner with these mind-blowing desserts.

i. White Chocolate-Raspberry Tart

Your guests will love this refreshing raspberry tart. The secret to its richness in flavor is the clever use of ingredients. With a shortcake-like crust, the freeze-dried raspberries and crackers blend well with creamy white chocolate and yogurt topping.

ii. Matcha Chocolate Crackle Cookies

Matcha powder is gluten-free and packed with antioxidants. Like regular cookies, match chocolate cookies are delicious. Unlike regular cookies, they are nutritious. Bake a batch for your guests and witness the magic.

Be Thankful for Health this Thanksgiving

You have prepared a delicious and healthy meal for your family and friends. You have enough food for the day, and you can feast on the leftovers on the days to come.

Remember that eating healthy doesn’t mean having a flavorless meal. With the clever use of ingredients, you can transform any meal into culinary excellence.

Influence someone to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Happy Thanksgiving

 

In days of yore, possibly around the early 2000s, hotel fitness centers weren’t much of a step up from what you might have found in your parents basement. There might be a treadmill, and probably a stationary bike along with a set of dumbbells and maybe a bench. Sure, the hotel listed “Fitness Center” amongst its amenities, but it certainly felt like an afterthought.

The Evolution of the Fitness Room

As a new age of fitness has dawned, however, so has the rebirth of the hotel fitness center. These days, a full 53 percent of hotel guests get their workout in while they are on the road, with 52 percent of those respondents stating that they rely on the hotel fitness center to get their workout in. With such a high percentage of potential customers now taking an interest in the quality of their facilities, the hotel industry has responded.

What used to be a small room that had just enough equipment to qualify as a “gym” have been replaced by fully furnished workout rooms. In 2012, over 84 percent of hotels had a fitness center up 63 percent from 2004. As a new decade begins to dawn, some hotel chains are offering in-room fitness equipment and workout gear to guests. At the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, the entire 47th floor is a workout facility.

The Present and Future of Hotel Fitness Center

As top-end hotel chains shift their fitness focus, the rest of the industry won’t be far behind. When Hilton decided to ask their customers what they wanted in terms of workout options, they relied on a study that stated while 46 percent of hotel guests were drawn in by the availability of a fitness center, only 22 percent actually utilized it. This lead Hilton to change their focus away from modern fitness centers instead to in-room options, which they call Five Feet to Fitness. For the fitness-minded individual, Hilton offers rooms that include upscale stationary bikes, Gym Rax stations, and a fitness kiosk that puts 200 fitness classes and tutorials at the guests finger tips. All without having to leave their room.

As the burgeoning fitness industry just continues to grow upwards of $600 billion a year, expect the trend of fitness-focused hotels to continue.

Hotel chains that are serious about catering to their customers have not just looked at investing in high-end workout equipment, they’ve also put dietitians on staff and looked at the room service offerings for their more fitness-minded guests. Some of the big players in the fitness industry, like Soul Cycle and Equinox, are even eying their own plays in the accommodations industry. Soul Cycle has opened a 2,600 square-foot facility in 1 Hotel South Beach. Equinox is set to make an even bigger play, debuting their own luxury hotel chain that will, of course, feature a state-of-the-art workout facility as the centerpiece.

For road warriors that seek out the path less traveled, the days of the afterthought hotel fitness facility has become a thing of the past.

For more information about hotel fitness centers in California and Nevada, contact Opti-fit fitness professionals at 888-601-4350.

In days of yore, all you needed to amp up your fitness was a wooly mammoth to run away from. Exercise was a part of daily life for hunters and gatherers, so hominids didn’t need kettlebells to carve out their abs. Nor did the Ancient Greeks—they acquired their biceps in the military centuries before the first book about physical pursuits was written by Cristobel Mendez. The fitness industry as we know it today began when a muscle-bound guru named Macfadden invented the first wall-mounted “muscle developers.” In the disco era, jogging and jazzercise were trends du jour.  If the burgeoning gym sector could make exercise fun, surely the entire world would join the dance party. Exercise trends are wont to pass, so as the Nineties dawned in all their pleather splendor, fitness centers were revolutionized yet again.

Training in the Eighties

Stair masters, elliptical cross trainers, and exercise bikes targeted muscle groups with razor-like precision. In those days, aerobic fitness and strength training were divided by a giant fitness center wall, and ne’er the two could meet. The approach was as inefficient as it was time-consuming, and gym brands only muddied the waters by designing increasingly complicated machines. If an exercise machine could play movies, count burned calories, and butter your morning toast, the industry sold it.

With time comes education. The more scientific understanding the fitness industry has gained, the better it’s become at toning wobbly bodies. Before 2010 dawned, centers focused on five areas:

These approaches were supposed to be a shortcut to larger muscles, but as the years progressed, scientists discovered that short, intense bouts of movement could target both long and short-term endurance. Fitness fiends could cut their workouts in half without suffering any negative effects. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) revolutionized the modern-day fitness center. Even Olympic athletes were doing it. Studies show that high intensity bursts increased power output by almost 10% while improving movement efficiency.

As HIIT entered public consciousness, the industry sought out inventive ways to pack power into their workouts. Wearable technology was an obvious solution. Tabata training followed closely behind, so pylo boxes became a requisite inclusion in every athletic training center.  Pylo power caught on fast, giving trainers the variety they needed to tone their bodies holistically. Add body weights, box jumps, and split squats, and you’re well on your way to fitness freedom. Pylometric boxes turn the body into a weight, allowing trainers to combine aerobic and strength training in a higher intensity workout. The higher the equipment, the harsher the training. The simplicity of it is elegant, but you can’t achieve stability with a pylo box alone.

The Emergence of the Athletic Training

Unlike Jazzercise, HIIT couldn’t be limited to one room at the back of the gym. It required too much space and had too many enthusiasts for that, so the fitness center of yesteryear transformed into an athletic training center replete with high-tech flooring and every pylo box design you could dream up. The sheer intensity of HIIT demanded a new approach to turf. Non-slip surfaces aren’t enough because the design of the surface determines the kind of strength and endurance achieved. Pylometric training on a firm surface reduces muscle soreness and even damage, but accidents must be reduced as well. Today’s centers must improve explosive power via the most effective surface, and a gym mat simply won’t do anymore. Opti-Fit approaches HIIT as an artform, carrying fitness into a distant future years ahead of its time.

For more information on designing todays fitness centers, contact one of Opti-Fit’s fitness professionals.

What more can I say about Peloton? It is “the Netflix of fitness” according to one market analyst. Peloton Spin Machines are “the best cardio machines in the world,” according to Men’s Health.
For years Peloton’s business thrived from supplying fitness equipment to community workout rooms. Apartment communities would offer Peloton bikes at a fair membership fee ($20 to $40 a month).
“The 2019 amenity survey by Multifamily Design+Construction yielded interesting findings. 19% of the survey’s participants installed Peloton bikes at least once in the past years.”
Today, the company is gearing up for a significant transition. Before going public in late September 2019, Peloton had an important major announcement. They would stop the sales of commercial products to focus on personal gear.
About two years ago, Peloton shook the industry with its futuristic bikes. These bikes came with programmable software, social media connectivity, and touchscreens. Peloton bikes had everything attractive to Millenials.

Changing Lanes

What do apartment operators think of Peloton’s latest business decision?
A perplexed Chad Christian, the Regional Manager (Avenue5), had this to say, “These bikes are greatly popular among our residents. My fitness centers have a bike or two, and I get constant requests to add more.”
“When we acquired one (Peloton bike), one resident fell in love with the equipment,” Julie Rossini, Property Manager, says. “When the others noticed, the bike began to get more use.”
Sarah Greenough thinks that Peloton’s decision is a move to make more money on sales.
“An apartment building has about 200 households,” Greenough says. “Those are 200 potential customers. Not a few commercial bikes in a fitness center.”

Responding to the Terrain

Clay Hicks, the President of TDC Management, inquired about Peloton’s commercial sales. He received this response fro Peloton’s Sales Representatives.
“The commercial sales team commits to placing our bikes in areas where our clients work and travel. We partner with multi-tenant office developments, corporate wellness facilities, country clubs, and hotels. Our members can stay committed to their workout routines while away from home.
Our showroom employees, commercial team, and web store no longer sell equipment to multi-family housing developments. Our decision returns the focus on our initial model, bringing top-shelf, instructor-led fitness solutions into the homes of our members. The best Peloton experience begins when our members purchase and exercise on a personal bike.”

Pedaling on

A month before apartment community sales ended, Cristian purchased for his Avenue5 fitness room two bikes. He spent $2,750 and $2,499 on the bikes plus a monthly subscription of $55 on a commercial membership — commercial models of the bike feature a multi-user interface and a dual pedal system.
“They ‘promised’ to still service the bikes, but I learned otherwise,” Christian says. “Constantly told, ‘we no longer service multi-family bikes. Not to say that Peloton bikes are problematic, but we have to call for service at least once every month.”

What Others are Peddling

The tech industry is a dynamic and competitive battlefield. Expresso, Technogym, and Hydrorider are all competitors within the virtual cycling space. These players and the membership-based FitterClub and viable alternatives to property managers.
“At the end of the day, our industry will be fine,” Greenough says. “Technology is always evolving. Products come and go. There are many options for on-demand streaming fitness. We liked the prestige and prominence that Peloton’s brand offered, but we have to move on.
Now, residents can experience on-demand virtual fitness programs in many ways. Synchronized phone apps, virtual fitness kiosks, and commercial display panels can deliver countless hours of self-selected training sessions. These are viable alternatives to the dynamic fitness industry.
For more information about commercial indoor cycling alternatives, contact your local Opti-Fit Fitness Professional, 888-601-4350.

Power racks and rigs are part of the growing trend of functional fitness — a type of workout that is popular for extreme sports, Crossfit and athletic training. It’s not enough to be tone and lean, your body has to work like a machine with strong muscle groups able to move together to complete a task.

Traditional weight lifting approaches fitness in an isolated way by focusing on individual muscle groups. Functional fitness utilizes exercises that combine the groups for more efficient movement. The emergence of power racks and rigs in gym equipment plays a role in this evolution.

What is a Rig?

Rigs are versatile tools that you can tailor-fit to your training style and use to create different stations. That flexibility is what makes them a standard in most weight lifting rooms. Rigs can be any shape, so they create whatever station you need and they come in different sizes, too. Take the Atlantis Rig System RS-4. Gyms can customize it to fit in and empty corner space and provide more workout options. The Atlantis Rig Rig System RS-10 is bigger to accommodate more uses.

When not using the rig for lifts, it can work as a station for:

It becomes as many stations as you need. It can serve as a spacer between activities going on at one time, too.

What are Power Racks?

power rackA power rack, sometimes called a power cage, is safety equipment that serves as a spotter for free weight barbells. It also works as a station for different exercises such as:

Power racks are not new to the market. They have been around since the 1960s, but brands like Matrix Fitness are improving on them all the time. The Matrix Magnum Series Mega Power Rack is fully enclosed with a design that changes quickly and uses retractable bands. The Matrix Magnum Series Power Rack MG-A47 has integrated foldaway spotter stands.

Power racks are must-have equipment for weight rooms, especially for athletes. They allow for:

Both rigs and power racks are practical choices for CrossFit gyms and athletic training centers. They take you further and get you there faster than other forms of commercial weight lifting equipment.

Contact Opti-Fit for more information on power racks and customizing rigs for your fitness facility.

Just 10 years ago, the gym at an apartment complex consisted of free weights and a treadmill. The industry is changing to meet the needs of potential renters and that means bigger and better fitness centers with even more perks.

The New Fitness Centers

Today’s potential renter demands a better standard of living that includes connectivity and flexibility. Millennials, which are the bread and butter of rental communities, are looking for complexes that offer resort-like fitness amenities. They are non-traditional and tech-savvy and driven by engagement. To accommodate them, what was once a closet with some free weights is now the onsite fitness center. The fitness center is a large space with training areas with both cardio and strength equipment. There may be a seperate space for everything from fitness classes to yoga to meditation. As multi-family complexes have to compete more and more, they are finding ways to engage potential renters and a functional fitness center gives them an edge.

The Demand for High Tech

Many fitness centers focus on integrating technology into the fitness environment because of modern renters:

Adding high tech features takes fitness centers up a notch but what’s next?

The Wellness Center

The next step in multi-family housing is the wellness center. A survey conducted by the National Multifamily Housing Council found that 40 percent of respondents didn’t use the onsite fitness center because they wanted to work with a trainer. Management companies can look to bring in concierge trainers who are there on demand for residents. Respondents in the survey stated they also wanted virtual/on-demand classes and classes with instructors like yoga and high-intensity training.  Wellness centers are not fitness centers, though. They move beyond exercise to wellness amenities:

Related Midwest’s One Bennet Park tower in Chicago features:

The real estate industry is taking wellness by the horns to create luxury amenities for renters to the tune of 134 billion dollars. It’s not just a gym anymore. Today, multi-family rental communities are integrating wellness into their fitness centers to stay competitive.

For more information on multi-family fitness centers contact Opti-fit, 888-601-4350