by John Schessler NASM-CPT, ET-C

It’s March already and Trainers are starting to see trends being set for 2024 as to what types of equipment are popular, what training types are going to be popular, etc. There are also some things that are changing as well Let’s dive right in!

STRENGTH TRAINING IS EMPHASIZED MORE. As exercise and fitness continues to evolve over time, the fitness community is continuing to recognize and emphasize that strength training is more and important to men’s and women’s overall health. This is nothing new for professionals in the field though as I personally have steered my clients to having a 50/50 split of both cardiovascular exercise and strength training. You really can’t have one without the other and ladies…. you will not end up getting bulky, I promise you! Functional fitness is also here to stay as well like such things as HITT workouts, circuit training and other weight training techniques to make fitness workouts more fun and interesting!

PEOPLE NEED MORE SLEEP. Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans don’t get the appropriate amount of sleep? Any trainer will tell you that good sleep is imperative to good health and how sleep impacts your recovery, overall performance and so much more. The more people learn about how sleep is good for their overall fitness, the more people are equipped to make changes to their workout and personal schedules to allow that to happen. With the aid of technology, smartwatches now have sleep apps that track your sleep patterns, your REM sleep and your wake patterns during the night. This trend is having people take ownership of their sleep is wonderful and it continues to improve as tech evolves.

THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. The more people are introduced to personalized data concerning their health stats and personal fitness demographics, the more people are becoming interested in data-driven research and evidence-based results. Of course, this includes the science behind certain ways trainers use different techniques when training certain muscle groups for certain goals clients may have. This use of data means that people will expect much more data-driven solutions when it comes to tailoring workouts specifically for each person based on their goals, needs and wants.

AI IS COMING IN FOR THE ASSIST. AI is practically everywhere these days, trying to make our lives easier by providing assistance is most areas of life and fitness is included in that. With AI-powered apps and such, gaining access to personalized nutrition and workout programs is becoming easier and more efficient for a majority of people, not to mention faster. What sometimes takes trainers days, can now be done within minutes. Does this mean eventually Personal Trainers will become replaced with AI as well? I highly doubt it IMO. Artificial intelligence is wonderful however, members of gyms tend to prefer a more hands on approach when it comes to learning how to properly lift weights, use proper form and workout effectively. Never fear, us trainers are not going anywhere.

PRICING STRUCTURES WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE. As gyms and clubs continue to introduce new technology, updated equipment and more streamlined services, prices will continue to rise. It’s just simple supply and demand and if you’re a business owner, you depend on that continuous supply and demand to help pay your bills and allow you to make a living. There’s no sense in choosing pricing that’s too high – but there’s no shame in charging adequate pricing for top-notch services to members.

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES ARE MORE COMMON. For more and more people, group fitness classes are gaining momentum among older adults, people who feel more comfortable in a group setting and beginners to gyms. The majority of my new clients often ask about group classes as opposed to 1:1 training sessions only because of the social aspect. Joining a gym is like moving to a new town, only with a lot more support and motivation!

Each year the fitness and health industry are turned upside-down with new trends that change all the time to meet the demands of our evolving society. Trying to educate yourself and keep up with the latest trends seems almost impossible for the rate that they keep changing. If you do allow yourself to read on the aspects of fitness in 2024 that are important to you, you’re more apt to begin or stick with your routine because you’ll be more informed than the average bear! So, get out there and kick some ass!

#fitness #trendingfitness2024 #gymlife #writer #motivationalspeaker #evolvingfitness #pittsburgh #flipyourscriptpt #johnschesslerjr #physicaltherapy #snhu #psychology #exercisetherapy #therapist #counselor #BBC #pediatrics #teampedes #sportsinjury #orthopedics #sleepisimportant #ai #podcastersofinstagram

John J. Schessler, Jr. is a Pittsburgh-Based Personal Trainer, Writer, Motivational Speaker and host of the podcast, “Flip Your Script“, available on all podcast platforms. John also is a Senior in Child and Adolescent Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University, graduating in Fall 2024. Mr. Schessler has been working for the fitness and physical therapy industries for the past 18 years and holds certifications in Sports Injury, Orthopedics, Exercise Therapy, Tactical Conditioning & Pediatric Functional Fitness. His works have been featured on the BBC News Outlet in the UK. For training questions and speaker inquiries, please email him at pghwellnesspt@gmail.com