(Newswire.net — November 30, 2015) — Pay a visit to any fitness club in the UK and you’ll find it chock-full of different body shapes and sizes, all lifting, pulling, running, rowing and cycling in an attempt to lose weight, get fit or add to their already hulking frame.
Indeed, the 2015 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report has revealed the health and fitness industry in Blighty is absolutely thriving, with more clubs, more members and a greater market value than ever before.
In fact, one in every eight people in the UK are members of a gym.
The strongest growth indicator, however, is the total industry membership, which is up 5.8 per cent to 8.8 million over the last year, with 191 new public and private facilities opening their doors in the last 12 months.
Innovative Thinking
David Minton, Director of The Leisure Database Company has said: “The results are great news for the industry and finally we have some innovation and fresh thinking coming through; the consumer obviously appreciates the new experiences, as shown by the sharp increase in member numbers.”
However, for every person happy to hit the gym solo, there’s an apprehensive and trembling newbie – the one who wouldn’t know a protein shake from a McFlurry – awash with fear and loathing as they attempt to negotiate the often baffling series of machines.
But this is an area where qualified personal trainers are helping to ease the trepidation.
While it’s easy to imagine these fitness professionals as torturous drill sergeants with an unending lust for pain and a desire to see their clients suffer, the reality is actually very different – they’re the ones shaping the new experiences David Minton refers to above.
Accredited Professionals
In a bid to attract and retain clients, though, the modern personal trainer must make sure they’re equipped with much more than a pair of thighs that could crack walnuts – they must possess the appropriate credentials from a recognised training provider. This can be achieved by taking a personal training course, did you know? on average personal trainers earn anywhere from $25 an hour, all the way up to a $100.
After all, while a physique Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of is undoubtedly impressive, without the supplementary academic background and knowledge of the nuances governing the industry, they’re unlikely to make any real headway.
Consequently, the range of available fitness courses is furnishing personal trainers with the requisite skills they need to support their clients to achieve their health and fitness goals – and make the gym a less daunting place.
So what’s next for the fitness industry?
Well, if the current trend continues, gym memberships will continue to rise (especially after the excesses of the festive season), with many more fitness establishments and personal trainers keen to carve out their own piece of this undeniably lucrative and rewarding industry.