Tapping into personal training trends can be a fantastic way to accelerate your business growth. They provide you with an actionable way to get ahead of the competition and differentiate yourself from the crowd. By identifying which trends are taking off, you can tap into them early and ride their wave from the start.

In this article – we outline current trends in personal training and predict what the future might hold.

Luckily you don’t need a crystal ball… The ACSM surveys fitness professionals from around the world and produces a trends report annually.

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Of the 4000+ people who take the survey, 28% are PTs, so it gives a great indication of personal training trends. Below is a handy infographic on these current fitness trends that summarises the key highlights, along with our suggestions for incorporating them into your business…

Fitness Trends 2021 Infographic

Key Trends in Personal Training

As you can see from the infographic, key trends in personal training are…

  1. Online training
  2. Wearable tech
  3. Bodyweight training
  4. Outdoor activities
  5. HIIT
  6. Virtual training
  7. Exercise if medicine
  8. Freeweight training
  9. Programs for older adults
  10. Personal training

Now let’s look at how you can incorporate these trends into your personal training business.

Online Personal Training

The first takeaway is how online training has catapulted to the #1 position. Given events over the last year, it’s not really surprising. But it does show that fitness professionals need to be adapting their offering in order to remain relevant.

If you don’t offer an online training option for clients, then this should be your top priority. Create a digital fitness program, online course, or membership site to tap into this trend. While many people may return to the gym, there’s no doubt that many others will continue their online fitness regimen. 

It’s also worth noting that personal training itself made #10 on the trends list. This demonstrates its continued importance within the industry and the potential for generating income.

Incorporating Trends Into Training Programs

The next thing was just how many of these trends are easy to incorporate into client programs. HIIT, body weight training, freeweights, and outdoor activities can all be included within a training session.

Certification courses include bodyweight and strength training within the curriculum, so most PTs will have competency in these areas. You may want to think about different types of equipment you can introduce to focus on them, such as using a TRX for body weight.

You could also look into specialist courses that cover HIIT, exercise is medicine, and working with older adults. This will help you learn the best ways to address these trends in your work.

Education & Professional Standards

Educated, certified, and experienced professionals within the industry has never been more important. The rise of fitness influencers and home-based training has plenty of benefits but also means that not everyone providing guidance is fully qualified.

Giving incorrect fitness advice to clients poses a huge risk to their health and exposes coaches to compensation liability. Therefore it’s in everyone’s interest to maintain up-to-date accreditation and deliver the best possible service to clients.

Have you noticed any other trends in personal training? We’d love to hear your thoughts, use the contact form to let us know… Or read more about the latest fitness industry insights and analysis.

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Caroline @ Wellness Creative Co

Qualified personal trainer (BSc Sports Science) & nutritionist (MSc Human Nutrition) with 15+ years of fitness & wellness marketing experience working with global brands.