David Cano.
For many of us, the gym is a sanctuary of holistic health and a place to connect. As many Americans deal with physical and mental health goals, the search for connection and personal betterment is significantly offered through physical fitness. Another important distinction people are realizing is physical training is serious life saving stuff. It is not just an effort to look good in the mirror. Whereby certain social and cultural perceptions towards the fitness industry were marginalized as vanity in motion, that perception has deteriorated due to real medical outcomes.
The modern American fitness center has significantly evolved in the last 30 years. Generational waves of fitness enthusiasts started with the 70’s and 80’s when bodybuilding icons like Arnold Schwarzenager and Sylvester Stallone electrified movie audiences with their action films. Americans saw how good muscle looked in motion and the 80’s decade of excess ran with it. The fitness and entertainment industry intertwined and made people believe that if you exercised, you could become more attractive and successful. The marketing factor was in place and in some cases overshadowed the real health enhancing effect of physical training.
Today, the fitness industry is a cultural phenomenon consisting of advanced knowledge regarding nutrition, biological recovery methods, supplements, advertising, and social media usage. For most Americans that hit the gym, either resistance training or cardio are the typical workout of choice. Training evolutions such as cross-fit, spin classes, high intensity training, and other types of hybrid workouts combining cardio and strength training are largely available. At the gym, there is a mixture of athletes in their prime who may be getting some strength training during their sports off-season, as well as a non-athlete who is trying to manage their weight or simply be healthier. For many busy Americans, the visit to the gym is an opportunity to balance the day by unloading some stress from work or personal life. Many fitness centers have customized their business model and service features to accommodate the working adult by scheduling certain classes at opportune times. Examples include generating feedback from patrons to see when these fitness classes best fit their busy schedules.
An extended dynamic of today’s gym is the amount and types of amenities. Certain low to mid-price franchises ranging from Planet-fitness, LA Fitness and Gold’s include tanning beds, massage services, and degrees of bathing and hygiene spaces. Other high-end places such as Lifetime Fitness include hydrotherapies, spas, and even cafes. In the last decade, several entrepreneurs have opened their own customized fitness centers presenting a unique niche and array of equipment. The cross-fit explosion of the late 2000’s allowed entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to use warehouse-like and commercial units for their training. Along with cross-fit, and adding to old school boxing gyms, the rising popularity of mixed martial arts has propelled many training studios. Many of these spaces have added an awareness and capacity for strength training and cardio alongside the conventional training regimen that comes with learning the combat craft of choice. In San Antonio TX, Josh Garcia, a young entrepreneur and family man recently opened a 20,000 square foot premier performance gym called Elysian Strength. This facility incorporates an incredible array of strength training and athletic performance improvement features. Other features include an MMA camp, performance recovery stations, and an outdoor workout scene with sand volleyball courts. Combining an impressive fitness background and a sharp business acumen, Garcia overcome great odds during and after the pandemic to establish his facility.
Aside from the immense variety of training options and equipment features that different gyms have, another factor is the growing social connection that is gaining momentum. Following the pandemic, the hunger to reconnect, particularly with young people has culturally transformed the gym into a new nightclub or social gathering, only a more holistically healthy one. Several statistical studies highlight the decrease in alcohol and tobacco use from many Americans and the cool factor that the gym offers. But even more importantly, a collective physical training environment is a commonsense way for people to practice healthy habits. Along with the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, Garcia’s Elysian also has a once-a-week bible study and fellowship night where members are invited to grow and encourage each other in their Christian faith. Even the walls inside Elysian are filled with biblical scriptures and inspirational quotes. With a variety of new ideas intended to increase human connection, a fitness environment serves as the perfect platform.
According to the Center for Disease Control, compared to most industrialized nations, Americans are continually affected by obesity, drug abuse, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health issues. Many of these problems are caused by lack of proper self-care such as a poor diet, excessive screen time, little sleep, and lack of physical activity. Environments intended to improve overall well-being such as churches, community gatherings, and recreational activities are necessary, but the gym is a uniquely situated place where physical and mental health improvement occurs simultaneously. The release of stress-controlling and feel-good chemicals that are released from sports, exercise, and weight training can literally add time to one’s life. The gym is also now becoming a popular date destination for many couples. It is a perfect place to combine Endorphins, connection, and health benefits all at once.