iFIT is using artificial intelligence and more to help take users to new places and offer new modalities
As the modern fitness age begins to take form, gyms and fitness studios are reaching out by the many to offer new modalities, benefits and methods of application. Few, if any, are going further than iFIT, the global fitness technology company.
iFIT, Inc., with support from its commercial equipment division Freemotion Fitness, has an extensive history of making versatile digital fitness options available to a wide audience, most recently with its AI Coach and new suite of smart machines. In doing so, iFIT has solidified itself as a leading facilitator of hybrid fitness.
Hybrid fitness is the concept of working out in different environments whether you are at home, at a gym, or on the go, integrating both in-person and digital elements. This approach allows individuals to participate in a range of activities — such as strength training, cardio, and yoga—through live classes, on-demand videos or virtual sessions. By leveraging technology for personalized fitness plans, hybrid fitness fosters community and accessibility, making it easier for people to maintain an active lifestyle.
“Hybrid fitness” is also about more than your environment, it represents the different ways you can tackle your wellbeing. iFIT intentionally goes beyond standard fitness with its content, touching on an abundance of factors like mental health, general fitness education and more.
Addressing Mental Health
More than one in every five adults in the United States lives with some sort of mental illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It would be a miss not to address the connective tissue between the body and mind. As a sector that looks to improve population health, the fitness industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to play a vital role in this growing issue.
As well as providing safe and supportive spaces for people to exercise, creating inclusive environments and training staff to be more aware of their members’ mental health needs, the fitness industry can also harness technology in these efforts.
For iFIT, addressing wellbeing is top of mind. The brand works to establish a community feeling with engaging and supportive workout content. Take its Heart to Heart series for example, which takes users on a walk with iFIT trainers who share the ups and downs of their personal stories of overcoming hardship.
“iFIT’s trainers connect users at a human level with content series like Heart to Heart,” said Kelly Fuson, iFIT Senior Director of Global Marketing, Commercial. “This is something you could do in the gym, on a cardio machine at home, or outside in nature.”
Additional series that help to address wellbeing include the Anxiety: Work It Out Series with iFIT Guide Dr. Jarrod Spencer, which shares anxiety-relieving advice during virtual walks through the Caribbean and the Climbing to the Top Series with iFIT Trainer George Hincapie, which takes you to the peak of the legendary Haleakalā Volcano and includes stories of mental resilience.
Wellness IQ
The concept of a Wellness IQ has come up more recently as a way to measure how savvy an athlete may be at understanding their own fitness and wellbeing and how to improve it. It acknowledges that we are all on a unique journey and discovering what works for each individual and how to go about doing it properly, whether it be stretching, strength, or cardio.
iFIT offers users a very inclusive experience, no matter their level of fitness. For those who might be intimidated at first in gym environments – and would perhaps prefer a more remote setting in which to take the first steps of their fitness journey – iFIT provides beginner-friendly and convenient workout options that can help individuals make the most of their gym memberships over time as they gain more knowledge and confidence.
“The beauty of iFIT is that it allows people who might be new to fitness or just starting their journey to accomplish a specific goal become more confident with different types of workouts and techniques at their own pace and in any setting they feel comfortable in,” said Fuson. “The ultimate goal is to serve an athlete at each step of their journey, one that hopefully has them maximizing their gym, studio, or even corporate fitness center through content that comes to life on our Freemotion cardio machines or through strength training with our GENESIS cable machines.”
iFIT’s open and versatile form of educational content combined with its high-quality machines paves the way to an evolved, more fitness-literate world.
“A goal of ours is to either be a gateway to hiring a personal trainer, or help augment an existing personal training plan by filling in the gaps in between sessions, and over time increase an athlete’s Wellness IQ,” Fuson added.
Hybrid Fitness Appeals to All
Consistent gym goers, moderate fitness enjoyers, those who like to experiment with new modalities or just casual consumers all stand to benefit from iFIT’s Hybridization, as the brand offers features catering to all consumer identities.
Today, however, those who lead a balanced lifestyle between physical, nutritional and mental wellbeing and those who continually evaluate new fitness programs, products and services are experiencing the most growth year-over-year, according to iFIT.
The needs and wants of modern fitness consumers are changing. An increasing number now look to improve their overall health and wellbeing – including mental health – rather than to purely build muscle. With its inclusive approach and huge variety of options that cater to people of all ages and backgrounds, iFIT offers the perfect hybrid solution to fitness operators – no matter who their members are.
This article originally appeared in ATN’s Gym of the Future Report, which explores the technology, equipment and sustainable practices driving a new era of personalized fitness and wellness experiences. Download the free report.
