Inspire360

Inviting Delightful Distractions into the Fitness Space

Issue #17 - July 2024

Published On

07.16.2024

Just turn on the news and it can feel like we’re living through perpetual crisis. This takes a massive toll on our health and well-being.


This is a virtually universal experience, and there’s only so much the human brain can take. As such, many have taken a rather interesting approach to imbuing levity into their lives. Enter: Delightful Distractions. This concept (and consumer trend) is helping individuals around the world find a daily dose of joy in an otherwise trying time. And we think that this community of health and fitness professionals can learn a lot from it.


Delightful Distractions are quite literally the opposite of doom and gloom. Let’s take a closer look.


Marie Kondo introduced the phrase “spark joy” into the collective vocabulary, and Delightful Distractions certainly follows suit. By finding the things (items and experiences) that “spark joy” — think: exciting, heartwarming, playful, funny — we’re able to release tension and de-stress (even if that destressing is only temporary).


What does this look like? The younger generation is “romanticizing routine” by documenting otherwise mundane daily tasks with an optimistic lens. "Dopamine dressing" is a trend where one overhauls their daily style to focus on colors and styles that make them happy; things that (again) spark joy. Pops of color, playful messaging, silliness, and catering to one’s inner child all can fall under the “Delightful Distractions” category.


Brands across different sectors are following suit. Fiat ditched grey cars in favor of brighter hues. Immersive brand experiences allow for an hour or so of escapism (no shopping required). Take the Dior Museum in Paris, for example: an interactive, immersive dive into a world of fashion, design, opulence, and art… a far cry from the experience one feels when scanning the morning news.


How Fitness Professionals and Health Clubs Can Provide Delightful Distractions

So where do we, as fitness professionals, come into play here? Consumers — and in this case, your club members, clients, and community — are seeking an escape from strife, and looking for an infusion of fun.


Access Your Inner Child

One of the most direct ways to impart more fun is through playful programming. We love a weightlifting session or traditional Pilates class as much as the next person, but those types of workouts don’t necessarily scream “inner child.”


So what will bring out a participant's fun side? Think: trampoline fitness, accessible/beginner dance classes, roller skating classes, aerial fitness, drumming-inspired workouts, and other unique types of exercise.


You could add a class to your offering focused on stress relief (you could even call it something like “Blow Off Steam”) and center the exercises on stress-release. The benefit here is that any type of exercise can be stress-relieving; you can get creative, tap into resources you already have, and market them thoughtfully toward being a positive distraction from a stressful world.


Use Music

Do you want to infuse some playfulness into what you’ve already got going on? Make it a music driven class. Peloton and SoulCycle are great examples of this being an effective tool. Themed rides based on certain artists, eras, and genres draw in massive numbers (and wait lists in the case of SoulCycle). Time it with the release of a new album to make the workout even more exciting for your clients.


Crack Jokes

Get goofy and show more of your personality. Certain senses of humor will naturally resonate with different groups — see what works for your community. When the right fitness professional finds the right audience, each workout or training session will become part fitness, part comedic relief. Again, Peloton is another example of this working with the success of trainer Cody Rigsby.


Get Competitive

In the same vein of accessing your fun side, consider a bit of friendly, lighthearted competition. Crossfit gyms have this element built into their model. Consider adding some competitive activities into your programming, which will encourage teamwork and cheering one another on. Relay races would also be a great way to incorporate good-natured competition.


Those who are motivated by a leaderboard or prizes might enjoy working toward the prospect of winning a class pack, some fitness gear, or another type of healthy prize. Maybe the prize itself is silly, which could tie back into the inner child theme.


Theme Your Workouts

Like the music concept, try leaning into color, clothing, and decor. Your class could be a theme party, but for a workout. Examples include eras (the 2000s, the 90s), fandoms (Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars, or a recently released movie), recently released TV series (Bridgerton, Stranger Things), and holidays (4th of July, winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Halloween). Find the themes that work for your club and your community, and make it a Delightful Distraction.


Treat Your Community

Partner with a local food vendor or restaurant to have a treat at the end of certain classes or workouts (healthy or indulgent!) — this serves as a great cross-promotional opportunity with another local business, while providing a Delightful Distraction for club members and clients.


Depending on the nature of your community, you could take it a step further and organize a weekly post-workout brunch with a restaurant partner or another local business.


What Will Your Delightful Distraction Look Like?

The exciting part about all of the ideas mentioned above is just how easy and accessible it is for any gym, club, or trainer to incorporate this concept into their already existing programming. This playful levity not only provides a bit of much needed escapism from the strife of today’s news cycle (not to mention the challenges in anyone’s personal life), but is fun and engaging no matter what the current circumstances may be.


We’re looking forward to seeing how you inject more fun, play, and joy into your offerings. Send us an email with your own Delightful Distraction.


Industry Happenings:


Upcoming Events:


  1. Atlanta MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, July 19-21, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia
  2. Perform Better 3-Day Functional Training Summit, August 1-3, 2024, Los Angeles, California
  3. canfitpro Global Conference & Trade Show, August 7-10, 2024, Toronto, Canada
  4. The Fit Expo, August 17-18, 2024, Anaheim, California
  5. Dallas MANIA® Fitness Pro Convention, August 23-25, 2024, Dallas, Texas
  6. Annual Wellness Summit, August 26-29, 2024, Chicago, Illinois

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Upcoming Workshops in July & August:


  1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
  2. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
  3. 20+ workshops from TRX®
  4. 7 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
  5. 5 workshops from U-Jam
  6. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
  7. 1 workshop from Gray Institute
  8. 1 workshop from Mike Boyle's CFSC
  9. 1 workshop from SparkPro
  10. 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness

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Industry News:



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Thanks for Reading!


This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.


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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


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