Over the last few years, there has been a steady trickle of news articles from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other media outlets warning gym owners of the “fitness trend” that should “worry all gym owners,” and will “change the way gym business exists.” The trend they’re talking about, of course, is online training -- apps, websites, subscriptions, etc. that tell the user how many sets of push-ups and jumping jacks and kettlebell swings to do, and perhaps provide videos or diagrams demonstrating how to do each movement.

These apps and web-based fitness programs claim to threaten the gym owner because they allow users to skip the commute and the awkward gym locker room exchanges, and let people train in the comfort and convenience of their own home. The idea is nice. And if it gets more people moving and taking ownership of their health and fitness, I am all for it. But despite what the Wall Street Journal may suggest, we’re not the least bit worried about a Fitbit app making our practice irrelevant.

The mistake of the news articles that suggest gyms and coaches may be a thing of the past is the assumption that all gyms are just a place to sweat, and the role of a coach is tell people how many reps to do and of what. What’s overlooked, though, is the lifeblood of what brings folks to an organization like our own. Our mission is not simply to produce sweat, and students are not enrolled here for the workout -- that’s posted for free on the daily blog, no enrollment required. The value lies in the education, the community, and the opportunities for ongoing personal development -- the things that can't come from an app or a web subscription.

Perhaps fitness apps will change the way some of the fitness industry works, but we’re not worried -- we’re in a different industry.

- PS

3/7/18

• 20 min AMRAP

• 400m run

• 3 ring muscle-ups

• 12 alternating DB snatch (50/35)