Fitness Industry Roundup: Overall Wellness is Key

The health and fitness industry aids consumers in maintaining many aspects of overall wellness. Now, governments and people as a whole are becoming more attuned to the role physical activity and exercise play. During this revelation, we as an industry need to continue promoting all that we do to support overall wellness to gain credibility and a seat at the table.

This week’s Roundup focuses a bit on overall wellness and initiatives or activities that we should keep an eye on.

Biden Announces Co-chairs of President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition

The White House issued a press release announcing key role appointments for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition (PCSFN). José Andrés, an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and humanitarian, and Elena Delle Donne, former dominant WNBA player, Olympic champion, and businesswoman, will serve as co-chairs. The White House highlights PCSFN as a federal advisory committee that aims to promote healthy, accessible eating and physical activity for all Americans, regardless of background or ability. José and Elena will lead the Council in promoting the National Youth Sports Strategy and expanding national awareness of the importance of mental health as it pertains to physical fitness and nutrition.

Learn more about José and Elena.

Fast Company’s Most Innovative Wellness Companies of 2022

Therabody and Clmbr, both IHRSA members, were named in Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Wellness Companies in 2022, ranking 5 and 6, respectively. This list is taken from The World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2022, an annual Fast Company ranking of businesses making an impact.

Fast Company writes that Therabody makes the list “For letting amateur athletes rest and recover like pros.” Specifically, the high-tech, futuristic RecoveryAir Pro and Therabody’s acquisition of PowerDot, an electrical muscle-stimulation wearables company, brings the company to another level.

For Clmbr, Fast Company is highly impressed with their product’s virtual fitness experience. “Connected fitness is reaching a new level with Clmbr’s virtual rock climber, which introduces the Free Solothrill to the at-home-gym crowd,” noted Fast Company.

See the full list of Most Innovative Wellness Companies.

Climbing Gyms Experience Rapid Growth Despite Pandemic

Speaking of climbing, regardless of the pandemic, climbing gyms in North America have hit an all-time high of more than 700 locations across 76 chains. And, although 29 climbing gyms have permanently closed since 2020, the growth of gyms reached 5.41% that year and 8.24% in 2021. One major influence to the sport’s popularity was climbing’s debut at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, where, according to Gripped, it became the most Googled new sport. “The week sport climbing was featured at the Olympic Games, our website traffic grew by 45% compared to the week prior,” Charlotte Bosley, Movement CMO, said. Moving forward, plans are in motion to open 48 climbing gyms across North America as soon as this year.

Read more.

Lifelong Exercise Keeps Muscles Healthy

New research from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, dropped a secret: lifelong exercise can protect against age-related loss of muscle mass and function. "This is the first study in humans to find that lifelong exercise at a recreational level could delay some detrimental effects of aging,” said Casper Soendenbroe, lead author. ScienceDaily published the findings, showing physically active people have a greater number of muscle stem cells—or satellite cells—which are key for muscle regeneration and long-term growth and protection against nerve decay. The researchers highlight that a little exercise goes a long way and activity type did not sway the results.

Find out more.

First Female Jockey Wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Rachael Blackmore, a 32-year-old jockey, became the first woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. “These are such special days and I wouldn't swap the Grand National for anything, but this is the Gold Cup,” Rachael told Sky Sports. "You have all these plans for how things are going to work out and racing doesn't let that happen but that's happened for me today." This win makes Rachael the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, Grand National, and the Champion Hurdle—which she has won twice. She secured the win on A Plus Tard for trainer Henry De Bromhead.

Read more.

Has your health or fitness-related business been featured in the news recently? We want to know! Send a link to any news article or video that highlighted your business to pr@ihrsa.org, and we may include it in a future issue of the Fitness Industry Roundup.