Why are there more women in group exercise?

With 48 percent of club members male, one would think that participation in group exercise classes would also be split down the middle.

Surprisingly, according to the latest IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report, only 38% of group exercise participants are men. And, seeing options like yoga and spinning can often see numbers closer to a 50-50 split, other options like Zumba, P90X, Tabata and others have 3-to-1 or even 4-to-1 women-to-men ratios.

So, why the discrepancy? And, does it really even matter?

Read on to see what club managers think, and their suggestions.

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Family to educate about fitness on 50-week, around-the-world trip

Paul Brown knows how to get a point across. After all, he was named the 2014 Presenter of the Year by the Australian Fitness Network.

It is safe to say that his latest endeavor will be heard by many and most likely taken to heart by the majority. We’re talking possibly tens of millions of people. That is his hope anyway.

Paul and his wife, Jacqui, are huge promoters of fighting the battle against childhood obesity, sedentary behavior and type 2 diabetes, especially among youth.

So the two industry veterans, along with their 9-year-old son, Ben, are hitting the road for almost a year to promote sports and healthy lifestyles to children and families alike.

But this isn’t a venture that will see them on a stage with a PowerPoint presentation on a giant screen behind them with a couple hundred people with laptops and notebooks jotting down key points. 

The Browns are putting on 50 Sports in 50 Weeks, a globe-trotting adventure that will take them from their home in Australia to Siberia, the United States, Europe, back to Australia, and many, many destinations in between. At each spot they will learn the intricacies and fundamentals from a well-known athlete in the sport, often in an iconic spot or stadium. In some cases they will watch a championship event, taking in the sport as a spectator.

Read on to see where they are going, who they are learning from, and more.

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Are 30-minute personal training sessions the new trend?

Remember in the late-1980s movie “There’s Something About Mary” when Ben Stiller’s character picks up a hitchhiker who says he has a better idea than the then-popular “8 Minute Abs” video by trimming a minute and finishing it in seven minutes?

That is not the premise behind 30-minute personal training sessions that are gaining momentum across the country. There is much more behind the 30-minute options than just under-cutting the traditional hour-long segment.

That isn’t to say that everyone is a promoter of cutting a session in half. Of course, there are pros and cons on both sides.

Read on to see what personal trainers, managers and a professor of exercise science have to say on the 30-minute vs. 60-minute personal training sessions subject.

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Do handing out guest passes result in good ROI?

Offering something of value is a great marketing tool. For health and fitness clubs, often it is a guest pass. Issuing one results in very little financial commitment by the club, while the long-term benefits are boundless –memberships, non-dues revenue classes and even referrals.

But some club managers and owners may see handing them out as either a way to lose money or devaluing memberships. For more upscale clubs, it is a free ticket into an exclusive place where their members pay a premium.

Read on to see what a few industry veterans feel about them, and what they employ at their facilities.

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Find creative ways to employ staff during down times

Image courtesy of iosphere/FreeDigitalPhotos.netSummer is one of those times during the year that there is a need to change staffing. In some areas of the world the summer sees an influx of members, club visits and events and happenings at a club. Other places around the globe see a slowdown due to alternative options outside during nice weather.

With changes in needs it is important for a club to think ahead so they aren’t caught off-guard. Last-minute decisions can result in some areas seeing responsibilities slip through the cracks - lack of coverage, confusion on new schedules and messy areas among them – all due to poor planning.

For the most part, unless the heat is oppressive and a place with air conditioning is the best place to burn off calories and get the endorphins going, a health club slows down from June through September.

Read on to see how some health clubs rearrange staff during slower times.

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