Personal Training Trends for 2024

PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF FITNESS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING

PERSONAL TRAINING CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG TREND, COMING IN AT #6 IN THE TOP 10 OVERALL HEALTH & FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2024, AS THE PROFESSION BECOMES EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE ONLINE, IN HEALTH CLUBS, IN THE HOME, AND ON WORK SITES.

In this era, personal training continues to lean into the foundations and time efficient workouts but also transcends the conventional boundaries by embracing holistic health approaches and a deep understanding of individualized needs. As we navigate the fitness landscape of 2024, functional fitness, express workouts, and a holistic integration of physical and mental well-being take the top three spots. The role of personal trainers extends beyond the gym, encompassing online platforms, group dynamics, and innovative methodologies to inspire and guide clients toward their unique fitness goals. Join us to find out what industry leaders have to say about the most sought-after areas of focus for clients, and exciting opportunities for personal trainers, as the industry continues to push boundaries and redefine the future of fitness.

Paula Bartis, VP Product Led Growth for ABC Trainerize at ABC Fitness, discusses how thrilled she is to see personal training continue to grow in popularity as individuals seek more personalized and targeted solutions to their goals. Bartis says this demonstrates the versatility of trainers who deliver programming, analyze the data, and track progress, but they also offer the motivation and accountability that most clients need to keep at it. Additionally, online personal training is just that much more accessible, affordable, and most importantly, engaging now more than ever.

ABC Trainerize is proud to support canfitpro fitness professionals with an app to provide personal training and member engagement services so they can continue to support their clients.

1. Functional Fitness

Fitness is functional. This trend has not changed over the last eight years, remaining in the top five from 2016-2023. The continued dominance of functional fitness lies in its highly effective workouts that are low tech, use small tools, free weights, and bodyweight training to improve essential balance, coordination, muscular strength, and endurance to improve activities of daily life.

Peter Twist, Director of Education at Twist University, says that as an educator he will double down on the functional fitness focus by opening a Fascial Lines cert course and a Functional Physique cert course, to help more trainers reach a premium ability level in the art of their craft.

Funk Roberts, CEO and Founder of Funk Roberts Fitness Inc, shares that functional fitness is key for him, especially with men over 40. The workouts and programming he develops will be geared to the foundational movement patterns that will be important for transferring into everyday life activities, building muscle and strength, decreasing chances of injuries and overall physical wellbeing.

Gabriel Hardy, Executive Director of FIC, says he is excited to announce that his organization signed up to become the first HYROX training center in Quebec province, aligning with the rapidly growing global trend in functional fitness. To cater to this new development, he explains how they are adapting their programming and classes to incorporate a stronger ‘Cardio’ element into their CrossFit sessions, responding to current trends that emphasize more bodyweight exercises, core strengthening, and primal movements.

2. Express Workouts

Express workouts encourage participants to perform multiple exercises at a fast pace to generate maximum results. This is an effective approach for people on a tight schedule – perfect for midday or after work. Providing the ultimate convenience, an express workout typically lasts anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

Erin Phelan, Owner of Erin Phelan FITFAM, Director of Communications for FIC and Marketing and Communications Specialist for Matrix Fitness Canada, discusses how she tapped into this trend with the launch of her Exercise Snacks and Express Workouts in June 2023. Phelan finds her clients like the 15–20-minute workouts, and she is planning programming for this year where her clients can stack together various short programs into longer workouts.

Kim Lavender, Vice President of Group Experience, GoodLife Fitness, agrees that a shorter, more intense workout can be just as effective as a longer one. She says you can use heavier weights and fewer reps, target multiple muscle groups with each movement or try a Tabata workout to push yourself a bit harder when time is limited.

3. Mental Health & Stress Management Programs

The focus on mental health and stress resiliency in fitness industry trends emerged in 2021 after a year of the pandemic took its toll on the well-being of Canadians with an increased sedentary lifestyle that aggravated mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and substance abuse. It changed our long-term understanding of what exercise is for - it is not just about weight loss and physical fitness anymore. The John W. Brick Foundation has provided incredible research that provides a body of evidence that shows physical activity can help mental health.

Jessie Thomas, 2023 Women Who Influence Sharon Mann Inspiration Award winner, Owner of Farmgirl Fitness, comments that her mental health support and mindfulness classes such as forest bathing and outdoor stretch classes have really taken off this past year. In her fitness business she plans to lean into these even more in 2024.

Peter Twist, Director of Education at Twist University, says that for his clients he will be combining the top 10 trends by taking them into the rainforest and mountain trails, combining walk and talk therapy for mental health and champion mindset, along with sets of functional physical drills.

Lynne Brick, President of Brick Bodies Fitness and Co-founder of John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation says mental well-being is top of mind. She shares that according to Euromonitor’s report the number one reason people of all ages and stages of life join a gym is for their mental well-being. As an example of how she is using this trend in her business, Brick discusses how Brick Bodies offers Meditation and Breathwork classes to reduce stress and anxiety and recently opened their Recover Lounge which includes Therabody anti-gravity chairs with vibration and meditation, cryo-massage loungers, hydromassage loungers, and infrared sauna suites with Vitamin C infused showers.

Lisa Greenbaum, Founder of Sangha Yoga Collective, advocates for continuing to emphasize the need to build in meditation and recovery, and to educate on the importance of stress resiliency and nervous system regulation for our overall health and wellness.

Greenbaum says that while all her workshops and trainings are based under this lens, it is Yoga for Wellness, her 45-hour certification that highlights this most closely, including using our yoga practice to manage our mental well-being and chronic pain. Greenbaum is excited to announce that this coming March will be its follow up three-day training module, Therapeutic Yoga in Practice.

Blake MacDonald, President of Orangetheory Fitness Canada, shares that Orangetheory Fitness will continue to strategically emphasize the importance of communicating holistic fitness. MacDonald is of the opinion that recognizing that well-being extends beyond physical exercise, the marketing approach will highlight the ripple effect that adopting a holistic approach to fitness can have on individuals’ lives.

In 2024, the fitness landscape will continue to evolve with a blend of traditional practices and innovative approaches. Group Personal Training emerges as a dominant trend, combining the camaraderie of group dynamics with personalized coaching, allowing individuals to achieve their fitness goals in a supportive, social environment. Following closely behind this, Nutrition Coaching gains traction, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between exercise and dietary habits, providing tailored nutritional guidance for optimal health outcomes (check out the Nutrition trends for 2024 in this issue). Concurrently, there is a growing emphasis on Mindful Exercise and Meditation, recognizing the profound impact of mental wellbeing on physical performance. This holistic approach integrates mindfulness techniques into exercise programming, promoting inner peace, awareness, and focus. Furthermore, Recovery and Regeneration techniques such as foam rolling, stretching, massage, and cryotherapy become indispensable components, aiding in muscle recovery, injury prevention, and overall rejuvenation.

The Hybrid Training Model is here to stay, offering flexibility by melding in-person and virtual training sessions, catering to diverse schedules and preferences. Sport-Specific Training Workouts also flourish, catering to athletes and enthusiasts seeking specialized routines tailored to particular disciplines, hobbies, and goals. Lastly, Outdoor Workouts come back around in popularity, harnessing nature’s backdrop to invigorate fitness regimes, emphasizing fresh air, natural terrain challenges, and a revitalizing connection with the environment.

Collectively, these trends underscore a comprehensive, integrated approach to fitness in 2024, catering to individual needs, preferences, and holistic well-being. They also provide personal trainers and coaches with a fresh perspective on what they can learn, adopt, and implement to fuel their passion and succeed in transforming lives.