Personal training is an enormous industry these days, but it’s certainly not a new idea. Think of those ancient armies, warriors and gladiators undergoing rigorous, specialised (not to mention brutal and violent) instruction to prepare their bodies for battle. But it wasn’t until well into the 20th century that personal training began to evolve into what we see today. And over the last 20 years or so, we’ve witnessed the greatest changes in the world of personal fitness yet. Gone are the days of one-size-fits all programmes. In the 2020s, it’s all about truly personalised, holistic experiences that are designed to cater to the specific and unique needs of each individual.
1970s: The Rise and Rise of Gym Culture
The decade that fashion forgot was a pivotal time for fitness! The years following World War II saw a huge increase in the popularity of recreational sports. Soldiers returned home in excellent physical shape, while post-war economic growth and work-life reforms created the money and time for people to focus on their fitness and health. In time this developed into the concept of fitness as a lifestyle choice. Towards the end of the 60s, the very concept of fitness began to change, fuelled by trailblazers such as Kenneth Cooper. His seminal 1968 book “Aerobics” emphasised the importance of cardiovascular health and aerobic exercise to promote fitness, health and overall wellbeing.
The idea of fitness as a lifestyle choice and an aspiration allowed icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons to bring strength training, aerobic group fitness and fun to the masses in the 1970s. Gym memberships rocketed upwards through the 70s, and it was then that personal training began to emerge as a profession.
The Spandex Years: Fitness in the 80s
Fast forward to the 1980s, and the fitness industry was booming. 1982 saw the video release of Jane Fonda’s Workout, which introduced millions of people to exercise routines they could do at home. It encouraged people to take charge of their own fitness and helped to promote the idea of exercise being an essential part of daily life. And it inspired a boom in the popularity of group aerobics classes in gyms and fitness centres, led by dedicated trainers. Bodybuilding was enormous in the 1980s – no longer a niche movement in dimly-lit, hardcore gyms, it became far more visible, accessible and aspirational. The culture that emerged was a major driver of the concept of personal training as the demand grew for trainers who could offer specialised guidance on strength, nutrition and injury prevention.
1990s – The Turning Point
This decade was the time when all these developments began to come together in a more formalised way. As health consciousness continued to develop and grow, fitness centres began to really respond to the individualised fitness programmes people were increasingly looking for. Major gym groups started to offer personalised training sessions as part of their customer packages and began to employ personal trainers to fulfil the demand. As the sector expanded, ensuring that personal trainers were equipped with the knowledge to provide safe and effective plans became more and more important. The role of the personal trainer became professionalised, and personal training certification was established. Accredited courses began to appear across a variety of fitness and health disciplines.
2000 and Beyond
While working out alone and group classes remain very popular, the last 20 years have seen the way people approach their fitness fundamentally change again. No longer all about purely physical exercise, people now demand unique and holistic solutions that not only focus on how we look but also mental and emotional well-being. Much like Schwarzenegger and Fonda back in the day, influencers have played a major role in getting this thinking into the zeitgeist. Jillian Michaels gained fame as a trainer on the reality TV show The Biggest Loser, where she combined intense physical training with emotional mindset coaching to allow contestants to reach their goals. In the UK, Joe Wicks has been a notable advocate of fitness to improve mental as well as physical health, with an additional focus on nutrition. There are many more!
Technology has also been a major factor in the rise of personalised fitness. Fitness apps, wearable devices (Fitbit for example) and online coaching platforms offering customised workouts are now firmly part of the fitness landscape. Like Jane Fonda allowed people to get fit at home back in 1982, today we can access tailored fitness and health programmes, often with a real, certified personal trainer.
Knowledge & Understanding
Behind the trends and tech, the underlying reason behind the move to personalised training is better understanding that our bodies are all different. There are so many variables at play; lifestyle, stress levels, age, personal history and good old genetics all determine what health regimen is best for an individual. This realisation is why the old one-size-fits-all solutions of the past are being superseded by specialised, personalised solutions.
The Future
In the coming years, personal training will continue to evolve at lightning speed. With artificial intelligence developing by the day, it’s likely that personal trainers will be able to offer even more deeply personalised programmes, driven by data. Virtual and augmented reality could usher in a new era of immersive workouts, all from the comfort of our own homes. I wonder what Jane Fonda would have made of that back in 1982! Developments in genetic testing will allow trainers to create regimens that are designed to fit an individual’s genetic makeup.
Whatever happens, the fitness industry will continue to open up new career opportunities as more people look for personalised fitness plans. But as the demands for personal trainers grow, certification will become even more important. Enrolling on great personal training courses will allow trainers to demonstrate that they have the skills and credibility to deliver the best programmes and experiences in a rapidly changing environment.
