In January, we reported at length how Millennials and Gen Z are working out to boost their mental well-being — but anyone at any age can reap the clear benefits of movement on our overall mental and physical health. This is a particularly important topic given the rise of mental health challenges that doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
While 50% of adults will experience a mental illness episode at some point in their lives, 100% of us are navigating stress and challenges that put a strain on our mental health at any given point.
In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, in this issue we're reviewing a “state of the union” when it comes to mental wellness and fitness, going into different facets of healthy living and how they play a role in mental health, and then will provide you with ways you can help be part of a global solution.
Mental Well-Being and Fitness: State of the Union
More awareness around mental health has put a spotlight on fitness and healthy living. According to a Mintel study, 78% of people are now exercising primarily for their mental/emotional well-being. 94% of personal training clients talk to their trainer about nutrition, stress, sleep, and injury. And 89% of peer-reviewed research found a positive, statistically significant relationship between exercise/physical activity and mental health.
Some fast facts on mental health in America right now:
- 57.8 million adults live with some form of mental illness
- Nearly 20% of adults have had an anxiety disorder event within the last year
- In 2021, 21 million adults reported having at least one episode of major depression
- Nearly 70% of kids 12 to 17 said they experienced a major depressive episode during the first year of the pandemic
Fitness is a substantial, evidence-based solution that can help with this. All of this. We can be a part of the solution to the mental health epidemic. The stage is set. The evidence is there. What we do as an industry can have a significant impact on the lives of virtually every person who sets foot through our doors.
Importance of Exercise for Mental Well-being
About 60% of individuals struggling with mental illness get no treatment — this makes exercise even more important. Due to logistical and financial hurdles, mental healthcare options like therapy and psychiatry can be inaccessible, and cultural stigma continues to linger. Physical movement doesn’t tend to have the same barriers to entry. Movement as simple as walking can help with mental wellness challenges — 34 out of 39 studies on walking and depression showed significant positive associations.
There’s an exceptional body of research proving that physical fitness benefits mental health — in various types of exercises and protocols. A recent meta-analysis of 1,444 studies showed that 89% of all published peer-reviewed research on the subject between 1990 and 2022 found a positive, statistically significant relationship between exercise/physical activity and mental health. From low impact, low intensity activities like walking and yoga to more rigorous cardio-aerobic fitness and resistance exercises, research has shown again and again that these types of movement have a significant clinical impact.
Nutrition, Connection, and Mindfulness
Beyond fitness, there are other crucial facets of a healthy lifestyle that play a role in mental well-being — and these are facets we can help with as fitness professionals.
The three primary categories are nutrition, connection, and mindfulness.
Nutrition is an incredibly nuanced subject, and diets are far from universally prescriptive. With that in mind, most Americans aren’t eating well, nor are they drinking enough water — both of which can have negative mental health implications. In general, what you eat affects your mind. Given that 90% of Americans aren’t eating enough produce every day, the bar is low — and we can help.
And when it comes to social connection? Perhaps the most famously cited study is the 100-year Harvard study on happiness, which concluded that human connection and relationships were tantamount to healthy aging, a long life, and better mental wellbeing.
What this means for us: your facility isn’t just a place for clients to build muscle — it’s a place to build relationships. Fostering community within your client base can play a pivotal role in their overall well-being and mental health.
It probably comes as no surprise that mindfulness also plays a huge role in improved mental health. An empirical study review from 2011 reported that “Mindfulness brings about various positive psychological effects, including increased subjective well-being, reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation.”
And the Cambridge University Press reported in 2020, via the International Journal of Psychological Medicine, that “Systematic reviews of [mindfulness and meditation] practices have shown improvements in measures of anxiety, depression and pain scores.”
This Groundbreaking Certification is Helping to Solve the Problem
With so many individuals coming to the facility with their mental health as the focus, it only makes sense that we as coaches and trainers should have mental health in focus as well.
That’s exactly what industry-leaders Victor and Lynne Brick set out to do. Seeing the need for mental health and well-being support, and with a desire to be a part of the solution to this crisis, they created the Mental Wellbeing Association (an initiative of their not-for-profit foundation, the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation).
This is the world's first mental well-being certification, specifically designed for fitness professionals, grounded in evidence-based research, self-care practices, and a psychological perspective on exercise, nutrition, connection and mindfulness.
With experts from both fields — mental health and fitness — the Mental Wellbeing Association now offers an online, 20-hour groundbreaking Mental Wellbeing Certification for Fitness Professionals. The certification explores effective coaching practices for nurturing client relationships, defining the role of fitness professionals in managing mental well-being concerns, and explaining the protocols for appropriate referrals.
"We started the Mental Wellbeing Association, a not-for-profit initiative of the John W. Brick Foundation, to be at the forefront of the mental well-being renaissance that is underway today," said Victor and Lynne Brick. "We've spent over 35 years working in the fitness industry and have seen first-hand the need for a certification to give fitness professionals the education and tools to integrate mental well-being practices into the lives of their clients, members, staff, and themselves. With the launch of the Mental Well-Being Certification for Fitness Professionals, a positive shift is underway for the future of mental well-being and fitness.”
This comprehensive, self-paced program encompasses self care practices, exercise, nutrition, connection, and mindfulness — all from a psychological perspective. In 20 hours, you can take your business to the next level.
The call to action is obvious, in our humble opinion. There’s a real problem and a clear pathway toward a solution. We all have the power to effect change in the fitness industry and beyond, which is a unique privilege and responsibility. And with that, the future looks brighter than ever.
—----------------------------------------------------
Industry Happenings:
Upcoming Events:
- Sibec Americas, May 19-22, 2024, Pasadena, California
- Perform Better Functional Training Summit, May 30-June 1, 2024, Orlando, Florida
- Miami Fit Expo, June 1, 2024, Miami, Florida
- The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference, June 7-9, 2024, San Diego, California
- Beyond Activ World, June 11-13, 2024, Raffles City, Singapore
- Atlanta MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, July 19-21, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia
Upcoming Workshops in May and June:
- 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
- 20+ workshops from Spinning®
- 16 workshops from TRX®
- 14 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
- 12 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
- 4 workshops from FMT
- 4 workshops from U-Jam
- 3 workshops from Stick Mobility
- 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
- 1 workshop from StriveLife
—----------------------------------------------------
Industry News:
- Longtime health and fitness executive Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM, was announced as the new CEO of The American Council on Exercise (ACE).
- Garmin reported a 40% increase in revenue in its fitness category during Q1 of 2024.
- Equinox launches $40,000 membership to help you live longer.
- F45 launched FS8, a Pilates-Yoga hybrid as they expand globally.
- Life Time opens New York City's largest indoor pickleball destination.
- Peloton reveals its spring wellness trends.
- The Congressional Physical Activity Challenge, organized by the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) and Myzone is underway.
—----------------------------------------------------
Thanks for Reading!
This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.
—----------------------------------------------------
A Note from Peter & Kathie
The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.
Keep Inspiring,
Peter & Kathie Davis
Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.
