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World Beat Trends Report Log
In 2005, this author took time away from the spa business at Puerto Rico’s Golden Door during a busy hurricane season in order to check out the state of fitness in a few international countries. Following is a collection of a few trends from countries where he spent time. A common emerging trend from international countries quite far from each other with no internal collaboration continues to be large event with an “expo” feel with fitness sessions for both fitness professionals and consumers. At such events, special fitness sessions are for instructors to attend with their regular class participants.
Country: Puerto Rico
News Note: The number of Curves clubs on the island continues to grow (currently over 20 establishments on an island 100 miles long), while the Lady of America chains announced that in 2006 they will open their doors to men for the first time in that chain’s existence. The number of certified group fitness professionals increased by 23% (ACE, AFAA, NSCA), and fitness events for continuing education continue to take place. In January, the first Fitness Expo of its kind was held in the capital of San Juan, introducing consumers and instructors alike to new trends like Gliding, fusion, and BOSU.
Hot Top Trends:
- Gliding
- Cardio Dance and Strip-Dance
- Stability Balls, including cardiovascular workouts with the spheres
- Fusion Fitness grows, especially in the arena of mind-body, such as yoga with T’ai Chi (“Yo-Chi”® )and yoga fusions with Pilates.
Country: Greece
News Note: IDEA Presenter Dimitris Kandris tells us that the Olympics brought lots of tourism in 2005, and many sports enthusiasts requested premium gym services. As a result, many Greek clubs updated class schedules, equipment, and even standards. Athens hosted the first AFAA Primary Certification in August after the Olympics with 2004 IDEA Instructor of the Year Lawrence Biscontini. Greece has also formed a college called International Aerobics Fitness Association with Kandris to raise the country’s fitness standards. Among the Greek islands, fitness continues to evolve amidst existing gyms. In Mykonos, Greece, the island’s only gym, BodyWork, offers self-defense classes to women, yoga, Gliding, and Pilates-Yoga fusions.
Hot Top Trends:
- Sports Expo “Marathons” are popular for both consumers and fitness professionals to increase education
- Ethnic Cardio Dance fuses Asian and Indian belly dancing with non-stop low impact for baby boomer crowd.
- Yoga, especially new yoga classes for kids.
- Pilates
- Mind Body Fusion classes
- Gliding programs
- Teen Fitness classes with themes such as “RnB” and “Reggaetown”
Country: Taiwan
News Note: Cillia Chiang, Secretary General, Aerobic Fitness & Health Association of Republic of China, tell us that fitness organizations now hold 2000 professional members. The Taipei Fitness Industry Association was formed in 2005 and helps standardize safety in the industry as well as help organize events for both fitness enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Hot Top Trends:
- Yoga (3 studios with over 36,000 square feet each opened in January 2006)
- Studio Cycling is currently the latest craze for weight loss.
Country: Russia
News Note: Slava Chichvarin, International Relations Manager of World Class Fitness Clubs and Executive Director for Les Mills in Russia, tells us that currently there are over 50,000 members. To date, there are 18 World Class clubs in Russia, and this number is growing out of
Hot Top Trends:
- Group and machine classes are the hot ticket these days, with more and more instructors seeking certification.
- Les Mills Body Training Systems are becoming ubiquitous at most of the health club chains with a huge popularity among the Russian fitness consumers
- Yoga classes continued to grow at a higher rate in 2005 than any year before.
- Cardiovascular classes that are dance-based (especially jazz, belly, and modern) are more popular than other types of cardio training.
Country: Philippines
News Note: The Association of Fitness Professionals of the Philippines, under the direction of President Shirley Quejada, tells us that the Philippines has begun the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, with a ten-year action plan to promote exercise and wellness. The goal is increasing awareness about the benefits of exercise.
Hot Top Trends:
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Studio Cycling is growing as more clubs find purchasing cycles affordable.
- Cardio Kickboxing is popular among the younger crowd.
- Fitness Events for both instructors AND consumers to raise awareness. Some sessions are for both groups and other sessions are either for the educators or the consumers.
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