In this future podcast Matthew Griffin explores the future of sports and gyms and examines the impact that new exponential technologies will have on them both.
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About this podcast
Firstly, thanks to Craig at Membr, the world’s largest gym focused software company that helps many of the gyms I’ve worked at and trained at, and thousands more, run, for asking me to join him on a podcast to discuss the future of health, wellness, and of course gyms, all topics that I know enough to be dangerous about because not only am I a health fanatic, but also because I am a fully certified FTA3 Personal Trainer. And not a lot of people know that …
It's also these experiences, of being both a regular gym goer as well as a PT, that helped set the tone for the session because while I’ve seen lots of well run gyms I’ve also seen many more around the world that are an insult to the industry and their customers. And you know who you are.
Anyways, with health and wellness being the top of many people’s priorities after the pandemic, a time when over half the world’s population was in prolonged periods of lockdowns and couldn’t get out to exercise or socialise, gyms and their teams now have a more crucial role to play in helping society recuperate and rejuvenate than ever before.
As a result we discussed all the top gym, health, and sports trends and technologies, from AI coaches and trainers to wearables that increasingly know you better than you know yourself as we head into the future of the Quantified Self, and all manner of other topics, so pull up a flat bench and a protein shake and enjoy the session.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Gyms carry a bigger social role.
Health and wellness rose up people's priorities after the pandemic, when over half the world's population faced prolonged lockdowns. Gyms are now expected to help people recuperate and rejuvenate. Leaders should treat that as a core purpose, not a side benefit.
Wearables shift the relationship.
The session points to wearables that increasingly know you better than you know yourself. Quantified Self is a trend to act on now, as smart rings, watches and sensors turn tracking into continuous monitoring. Members will arrive with their own data and expect a gym to use it.
Coaching is becoming on demand.
Artificial intelligence coaches are expected to give people personal, on-demand guidance in health among other areas. Augmented Training shows wearables, motion capture and artificial intelligence already reshaping how athletes train, recover and avoid injury. Human trainers will need a clear role beside these tools.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
What member data do we collect today, and how could we use it better?
Which coaching tasks could a digital tool support beside our trainers?
How will we show members our gym helps them recover and rejuvenate?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
What does this session mean for organisations in fitness and health?
Wellness is a higher priority for customers, and gyms have a more crucial role in helping people recover. Organisations that pair human trainers with wearables and digital coaching will be better placed to meet that need.
How does Quantified Self relate to the future of gyms?
Quantified Self describes smart rings, watches and sensors moving personal health tracking to continuous monitoring. The session notes wearables that know people better than they know themselves, so gyms must plan for members who bring their own health data.
How do artificial intelligence coaches relate to gym teams?
This trend covers coaches that give personal, on-demand guidance in areas including health. The session names artificial intelligence coaches and trainers as a top topic, so gym leaders should decide where they support human trainers.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
Through a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Hundreds of emerging technologies, mapped for industry.
The codex explores hundreds of emerging technologies and their implications for global culture, industry and society, the long-range view that any 2080 infrastructure strategy depends on.
