Technology is a part of our everyday lives—even at the gym.
People typically have a favorite type of exercise whether it be lifting weights, doing cardio, or participating in a class such as yoga or spin. Despite individual preferences, one thing that gym users have in common is their use of fitness technology.
Fitness technology includes phone applications such as Apple Health, My Fitness Pal, Track My Run, and Under Armour Records. Fitbit, Polar, Jawbone and other wearable devices also fall into this category. Mobile and wearable technologies have changed how people track important variables such as heart rate, calories, and mileage. Now, fitness technology has become an essential in people’s daily exercise routine.
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Why? TECHNOLOGY MOTIVATES.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the number one benefit of fitness technology is that it keeps people motivated. Applications have features that foster healthy peer-to-peer competition and give individuals the tools to track their progress in order to become their own best competitor. The applications make it easy to set and exceed fitness goals.
“The introduction of these technologies reinforce the important idea it is necessary to reflect on ones habits for a healthy lifestyle.” NIRSA: Leaders of Recreation Technology and Wellbeing White Paper.
As the founder of fitness software, upace, I am frequently asked by fitness goers:
CAN MY GYM HELP ME REACH MY FITNESS GOALS?
Prior to developing upace, we did extensive research around this question in order to help gyms better navigate through mobile fitness technology. We found how mobile technology can compliment a gym goer experience and if the gym embraces technology- the power they have to motivate their members.
3 REASONS WHY MOBILE TECHNOLOGY WILL COMPLEMENT YOUR GYM WORKOUT:
1. Motivation
We all know it is difficult to maintain a regular workout routine, life is busy. We found the key to maintaining a weekly routine is to have technology play a bigger role. It is essential to set both long-term and short-term goals, so that you are able to track your progress week to week in order to meet your overarching goals. Mobile technology that reminds you to hit to the gym and pre-schedule workouts will help you make fitness a part of your weekly routine.
2. Communication
It is not only the technology that empowers users, rather it is the continuous communication between the users and the software through push notifications. If your gym uses mobile technology they can provide to you simple information such as gym hours, peak hours of usage, class schedules, and personal trainer instructor sign-ups so that you can have the convenience of checking directly from your phone.
3. Fitness Community
Through utilizing current applications or building mobile technology, you can create a community focused around fitness goals. Leaderboards is just one option to foster healthy competition and build relationships with fellow gym goers. Having a strong gym community is a great incentive to go to the gym regularly.
TO SUM IT UP…
Fitness technology is something you can use individually, or your gym can provide to you. You have the ability to personalize technology in order to best motivate yourself and now your gym can do the same to make fitness more convenient.
I am the founder of upace, an interactive management, monitoring, and scheduling software that allows students to take control of their fitness lifestyle while allowing universities to provide better programming for their students. You will find me covering topics related to fitness and wearable technology!