2005 IDEA survey: fitness equipment trends.

For the 10th consecutive year, IDEA Health & Fitness Association--the leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals worldwide, with nearly 20,000 members in 80 countries--has released the results of its annual Fitness Programs & Equipment Survey. For club managers looking to breathe new life into their fitness center programming, the 2005 edition survey identifies a few key trends; namely, the continued adoption of diversified personal training programs and the increased popularity of small equipment pieces such as stability balls, balance boards, and foam rollers.

The survey polled a wide cross-section of the health and fitness industry, including 300 IDEA members and fitness program directors from large and small health clubs, personal training gyms, specialty studios, college campuses, corporate and hospital fitness centers, as well as park and recreation programs. Including data on more than 64 fitness programs and activities as well as 26 categories of equipment, the survey responses showed a continuing upward trend in a variety of programs tailored for beginner, intermediate, and advanced clientele. The most prominent trend in fitness programming is in developing a range of offerings that appeal to different segments of users--kids, seniors, active, and inactive people.

For club managers looking to stimulate enhanced fitness center use, it pays to take a closer look at some of these programs. "Over the years, we have watched the industry broaden and expand to accommodate many different fitness levels and age groups, so now there truly is something for everyone," said Kathie Davis, executive director and co-founder of IDEA Health & Fitness Association. "People of all ages can customize their fitness activities to their individual interests and potential."

Personal training maintains its status as the number one program, with 88 percent of respondents to the survey offering all types of personal training programs. Nine years ago, in 1996, only 66 percent of the survey respondents offered personal training, and only about 25 percent of their clients participated in personal training programs. Group strength training is also gaining popularity, and is an excellent way to promote more social interaction and support among users in the fitness facility.

Pilates continues to rank high in user popularity, and is now being combined with yoga or strength training to created enhanced mind-body programs. More than half of those surveyed (60 percent) are merging yoga and Pilates with one another or with a traditional exercise format. Yoga has enjoyed consistent appeal over the last decade, with 31 percent of the 1996 respondents including a yoga class on their weekly program rosters. Today, however, 66 percent of the survey respondents hold regular yoga classes.

Nutrition assessments are increasingly being used in fitness centers offering some form of evaluation. Interestingly, though, overall lifestyle coaching--most notably in the areas of stress management, weight management, and smoking cessation--has declined steadily since IDEA started following this category in 1998. These types of programs are now most likely found at corporate and hospital facilities.

For the hard charging, type A personalities out there who love to work and play hard, boot camp exercise programs are continuing to carve out its own niche in fitness center programming. The resurgence of interest in biking is also reflected in a seven point increase, to 45 percent, of the facilities that offer indoor cycling. Boxing and kickboxing programs have moved up six points over last year to a total of 48 percent.

Equipment Trends

On the equipment side of the fitness industry, a variety of interesting trends have emerged, including:

* Tools for core conditioning, such as stability balls, are used in almost all fitness settings. In fact, stability-ball classes are held by 58 percent of the survey respondents.

* Treadmills, elliptical trainers, and free weights are the three most essential pieces of equipment identified most often by respondents.

* The use of cable machines continues to gain traction in most fitness settings.

* Elliptical trainers, which are used by 74 percent of the respondents, have overtaken stair climbers, still widely available by 64 percent of IDEA members, and treadmills are still going strong at 76 percent of the facilities.

* The use of stability and balance equipment, which was surveyed for the second time, is growing at a fast pace with various forms of balance boards.

* Borrowed from sports conditioning and rehabilitation programs, balance equipment (70 percent) and foam rollers/small balls (64 percent) rapidly are gaining popularity.

For more information visit www.ideafit.com.