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.
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).
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.
