I recently gave a speech in Las Vegas at the Franchise Finance Conference hosted by Franchise Times Magazine. There were a few other fitness brands that gave presentations in the large ballroom at the Mirage that was full of bankers, investors and private equity companies.
One thing that I noticed in common with our brand HOTWORX and the other fitness franchises was that we all are experiencing a rise in the number of members who now maintain multiple fitness club memberships.
I am reminded of a phrase that comes from William Cowper's poem, “The Task” (1785):
Variety is the spice of life!
Variety and diversity make life interesting. In fitness, people demand variety and diversity with their workouts to keep from being bored with a training program. Cross-training involves several different forms of exercise and it is a very important practice.
HOTWORX is now pilot testing two new workouts: Hot Bands and Hot Flex, which will be added to the lineup of 10 different workout types for all studios later this year.
The layout above provides incredible workout variety, …unprecedented for a 2300 square foot fitness studio. In that layout there are actually over 1700 workout time slots each day for users to take advantage of all of the different workouts, which is also an unprecedented level of workout capacity made available on a 24/7 basis. The cross-training possibilities with this concept are second to none. That is why many people who join HOTWORX find that they don’t need the multiple fitness center memberships any longer.
Even so, we continue to encourage multiple fitness center memberships. For myself, if I need the heavy weights, then I use my Anytime Fitness membership. I am a multiple center member too. However, if a member can obtain enough variety under one roof, then perhaps that one membership is best for them.
Variety, diversification, cross-training… Call it what you like. Relief from boredom is important for motivation. Motivation is key to fitness results, but so is science.
Why is workout variety important from a biology standpoint?
“Varying your exercise routine can also help you stay physically challenged. Many of the body's physiological systems (e.g., the muscular system) adapt to an exercise program within approximately six to eight weeks. If you do not modify your exercise routine, you reach a plateau because your body has adapted to the repetitive training stimulus.” ¹
Let me be clear about one thing, though! Variety is supremely important, but not at the expense of measurement. For each workout type that you practice, you should always have at least one solid posture or exercise that can provide to you a point of performance reference. For example, in yoga it might be how far you can stretch without losing form to reach your toes with one particular posture. In resistance training it might be how many good form push ups you can perform with your feet elevated by a bench.
Never allow a trainer to change your workout completely each time without providing a proper way to measure progress and performance.
While knowing that workout variation is important you should always measure your performance improvements.
Variety shocks muscles into new development and can help to push your body beyond a workout plateau. Adding different workout types to your routine forces muscles to respond and adapt to new stimulus.
Now is the time to elevate your routine with fitness multiplicity.
Steve
