Apple Watch. Oura. WHOOP. Garmin. Fitbit. Polar. The concept isn’t new — we’ve been using wearable technology for a couple of decades now. But only a few gyms and health clubs have fully tapped into all the ways we can integrate wearables in our health clubs and studios.

Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other wearables not only provide valuable data to better serve clients, but can serve as a powerful link between the individual and their membership or training experience.

So how can fitness professionals leverage these tools to optimize coaching and enhance client results? Let’s get into it.

A Brief Wearable Fitness Tech Overview

The most common devices used in fitness coaching include the aforementioned wearables, which track a number of metrics:

• Activity & Performance: Steps, heart rate, calories burned, VO2 max, HRV.
• Recovery & Readiness: Sleep quality, stress levels, resting heart rate, oxygen saturation.
• Advanced Metrics: ECG, skin temperature, hydration tracking (this one is emerging tech).

Through app connectivity, an individual can look at specific metrics and (sometimes) get synthesized insights. But this doesn’t necessarily translate to something meaningful and actionable for the user. We’ll get to that!

Fitness Wearables and the Trainer-Client Engagement

We dug into the concept of setting resolutions (goals!) — and the power of specificity when it comes to achieving them — in our December edition.

Through this lens, we can see how quantification can be that specificity… the magic ingredient if you will. Quantified data can drive individuals, encourage progress, and more accurately measure targeted goals. These health metrics, like resting HR, sleep quality, and steps, are easy for a user to see and visualize — and decide on specific benchmarks to work toward.

As trainers, we can help clients with personalized goal setting using their real-time data to set realistic and adaptive fitness goals… goals that they can actually achieve and see progress with along the way. Using start points and checkpoints, you can adjust training programs based on metrics like HRV and recovery scores, for example.

Seeing real-time success is a powerful motivator that can strengthen a client’s commitment to their workout program — and their trainer. Especially when that trainer tailors the program to this hyperpersonal data. And it’s a beautiful way to “see” progress that would otherwise be invisible, especially for clients who aren’t trying to bulk up or lose weight.

Additionally, as a fitness professional, you’ll be able to synthesize data and derive insights in a way the average user won’t see on their own — and you can weave in additional insights from knowing clients on a more personal level. In this way, your expertise is an essential part of the puzzle. A client might have a batch of numbers, but what does it truly mean when it comes to the complete picture of their health?

There’s also a strong emotional association between the client’s personal success and the person who helped them get there. By helping clients see tangible progress through measurable data, the data itself can serve as a client-trainer link that strengthens the relationship.

Creating Data-Optimized Workouts

When it comes to using data as part of a group fitness program, Orangetheory is a pioneer. Orangetheory uses heart rate monitors to track participants’ real-time effort during workouts, displaying metrics like heart rate zones, calories burned, and splat points (earned by spending time in the "orange" and "red" zones). This data-driven approach helps clients optimize intensity, measure progress, and stay motivated through gamified elements like leaderboards and performance summaries.

Similarly, F45 uses its “F45 LionHeart” system, a heart rate monitor that tracks real-time effort, heart rate zones, and calories burned during workouts. Data is displayed on screens in the studio, helping participants optimize intensity and compete against themselves or others. Post-workout, clients receive summaries via the F45 app, similar to Orangetheory’s model.

Life Time also uses AI to integrate with client data. Partnering with Microsoft, Life Time introduced L.AI.C, an AI-driven companion within their member app. This feature provides personalized class suggestions, assists with reservations, and offers tailored workout programs based on individual preferences and data from connected devices.

Consider these concepts for data-optimized workouts for personal training:

• Designing a program based on current health data and a specific goal, like a higher sleep score, higher VO2 max, etc.
• Using data in real-time to control the workout, like using HR zones for targeted cardio training.
• Adjusting the program in progress based on data updates. i.e., adapting workouts based on fatigue or recovery levels.

Gamification Wins

We can take a page out of Duolingo’s book to see how successful gamification of anything can be — from language learning to exercising. Badges, streaks, challenges, social sharing, and friendly competition are all tools that fuel even the least competitive among us.

For gamification to work, rewards should feel meaningful, and data should be easy to track. Fitness professionals can integrate challenges through fitness apps, gym software, or social media groups. The goal is to turn fitness into an interactive, rewarding experience — keeping clients engaged, accountable, and excited about progress.

Here’s what this could look like:

• Individual Challenges – Clients have personal objectives (like 10K daily steps for a week), with a prize for completing the challenge.
• Workout Streak Rewards – Keeping any streak alive — whether it’s the aforementioned step challenge or completing 10 daily workouts in a row — can unlock rewards such as a free personal training session or class, scaling up as the streak continues. Personal tracker data can be used to confirm the streak.
• Community Leaderboards – For more competitive clients who are comfortable with sharing some of their data, leaderboards can be encouraging and fun. Burned calories, minutes of exercise, number of steps, and daily streaks. There are a ton of options here.
• Team Challenges – Teamwork can also be highly motivating due to its inherent social nature; small groups can compete to collectively reach certain milestones with their data, whether that’s a percent of progress, a quantity of something completed, or another metric that combines data for a point system.
• Bingo Style Challenge – For an interactive and dynamic approach, consider “Bingo,” where clients can check off specific tasks like “Improve X metric by X” or “Get X hours of sleep X times,” with prizes for completed cards.

Best Practices for Integrating Wearable Tech in Coaching

As we venture into this intimate territory with our client’s health data, it’s important to ensure each member understands the implications of data collection and usage. Clearly explain what data is being collected (weight, heart rate, steps, sleep, calories, etc.) and how it will be used. Ensure clients understand who has access to their data — whether it’s just the coach or if it’s shared with third parties (e.g., app providers, health platforms).

Prioritizing transparency, consent, and responsible data handling are all essential to maintaining client trust. Always obtain explicit consent before tracking or analyzing a client’s wearable data, and reinforce that clients own their data and can choose how much they share. Remember, this is opt-in participation for data-driven coaching; not all clients want their biometric data monitored.

Use secure platforms that comply with HIPAA (in the U.S.) or GDPR (in Europe) if your club is storing health-related data. Avoid storing sensitive data on personal devices or unsecured platforms.

And finally, be mindful that too much tracking can create unnecessary stress or anxiety for some clients. Encourage a balanced approach—wearables should enhance coaching, not create pressure or feelings of judgment. This is where the human part of coaching is so crucial: understanding the nuances of your clients and their needs. Plus, your qualitative coaching insights alongside data are what will keep workouts enjoyable, sustainable, and meaningful.

How Will You Use Personal Fitness Data?

Wearable tech presents an incredible opportunity to enhance coaching, optimize workouts, design new types of workouts, and strengthen client engagement — but its success depends on thoughtful integration.

By using data to personalize training, gamify fitness, and track progress responsibly, trainers can create more effective and enjoyable experiences. Whether it’s implementing small challenges, leveraging AI-driven insights, or simply using recovery metrics to tailor programs, the key is to use data as a tool — not a crutch — to support and empower clients on their fitness journeys.

Now, it’s your turn. Whether it’s testing a simple challenge, introducing a leaderboard, or using recovery data to fine-tune workouts — pick one way to incorporate wearables this month and see how your clients respond. The future of coaching is here — let’s make it work for you.

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Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. California Mania®, March 20-23, 2025, Burlingame, California
2. IWF China Fitness Convention, March 5-7, 2025, Shanghai, China
3. FitnessFest Conference & Expo, April 3-6, 2025, Phoenix, Arizona
4. FIBO, April 10-13, 2025, Cologne, Germany
5. Sibec Americas, May 12-15, 2025, Orlando, Florida
6. Miami Fit Expo, May 24, 2025, Miami, Florida
7. Beyond Activ World, June 4-5, 2025, Raffles City, Singapore

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Upcoming Workshops in March & April:

1. 20+ workshops from Oxygen Advantage
2. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
3. 20+ workshops from Spinning®
4. 20+ workshops from TRX®
5. 10 workshops from Exos
6. 7 workshops from CFSC
7. 3 workshops from Gray Institute
8. 2 workshops from Athleticum
9. 2 workshops from Eleiko
10. 2 workshops from U-Jam Fitness
11. 1 workshop from Power Plate
12. 1 workshop from SoulBody Fitness
13. 1 workshop from Strive Life Fitness

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Industry News:

• Apple launched the Apple Health Study, which aims to further understand how technology can play a role in improving physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing.
• Eleiko has been awarded a five-year U.S. Navy education contract.
• Aescape announced their U.S. expansion with Equinox and secured $83M in funding.
• Lululemon is working with 78-year-old fitness influencer Joan MacDonald for their new campaign.
• UFC GYM announced that it will be opening 45 locations worldwide in 2025.
• International Luxury Hotel Association partnered with Matrix Fitness to elevate wellness in luxury hospitality.

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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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