IoT in Gym: The Future of Fitness

In the past decade, the Internet of Things (IoT) has spread its wings and has captured almost every industry. The fitness industry is no exception, with ‘IoT in gym’ becoming a common phenomenon.

More and more gyms and clubs have started integrating technology into their functions. They use smart wearables and other devices that exchange information with smartphones and gym/club management software that manages such information.

This blog talks about how to utilize IoT to grow a Gym business.

Fitness IoT Market

The market size of IoT in the fitness industry is an evidence of its growing popularity. The market is expected to reach almost 30 billion USD by 2025, against 6 billion USD in 2016.

This growth is due to the increasing demand for new and intelligent workout solutions. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, people have started depending more on technology for almost everything, including fitness. IoT and AR/VR have further accelerated the adoption of smart devices.

Benefits of IoT in Gym

Implementing IoT in a gym can benefit both the members and the gym owners. Some of the benefits are listed below.

1. Better Monitoring

Gone are the days when people used to depend solely on the trainer for getting fit. Increased awareness and technology penetration has led to people wanting to monitor their workouts at their fingertips.

IoT in gyms enables you, as a gym owner, to provide this facility to your customers. You need to build an intelligent infrastructure, like sensors in weights and other equipment, that would guide a person on how to use them, their specifications, results, etc.

Smart infrastructure would also help you monitor the inventory. You can also check which equipment is out of order, ensuring its timely servicing.

2. Environment Control

IoT can also help you control the environment inside the gym. From lighting to the cooling system, smart sensors can help you regulate the ambiance of the gym.

The sensors can automatically change the gym’s lighting depending on the time of the day. They can also change the temperature inside the gym based on factors like weather conditions, the number of people present in the gym, etc.

3. Security and Accessibility

IoT can help you keep track of lost or stolen equipment and help you store customer data securely on the cloud. The data shared by customers to your database and vice-versa is encrypted, thus maximizing the security. Cloud storage also ensures easy accessibility of the data whenever required.

4. Better Analytics

IoT provides you with an extensive array of data from various sources like wearables, equipment, or your customers. You can analyze it to get a better understanding of consumer behavior.

You can use this information to enhance the customer experience, leading to more customers for your gym.

Applications of IoT in Gym

You know why IoT in the gym is a step towards a better fitness industry. But in which areas can you apply IoT so that your gym attracts more members and you can provide them with a better experience? This section talks about the same.

1. Group Exercises

IoT makes it easier to exercise in groups as the users can better understand what they’re doing. More and more gyms have started using wireless sensors so that group members can easily monitor their work at any point in time.

This is also beneficial for the trainers as they can track the progress of each member of the group individually and can accordingly change the fitness plans for the members.

2. Immersive VR

Immersive VR is perfect if you wish to connect with your customers virtually. Devices like head-mounted displays and VR headsets enable a person to have a real-life-like experience virtually.

VR encloses a person in a digital world which responds according to the user’s actions. It captures the user’s movements via sensors and updates the stimuli presented to the user. The user can thus do anything from pilates to heavy training anywhere.

3. Shareable Tracking Data

In today’s day and age, people live for validation. They wish to show off every little accomplishment to their friends and family.

Providing your customers with wearables that accurately track workout progress and share the data with their mobile apps is a step ahead in attracting customers to your gym. The data can even be shared on the gym’s cloud platform and social media, enabling the customers to share their progress with their friends and family. Gym owners can create a leaderboard in the gym using this data, showing the progress of the gym members, which can act as a motivator to do better. Wearables like Fitbit and Strava provide this shareable tracking data feature.

4. Gym Client Experience

Gym members not only wish to work out in groups and see their position on the leaderboard, but they also want to have a customized experience at the gym. IoT enables you to provide your members with this personalized experience.

You can configure your club management software/apps and equipment to provide workout suggestions suitable to a particular individual. The app can also offer challenging tasks like competing against one’s own best performance. In addition to this, you can enhance the individual’s overall experience by providing on-demand video, music, and other content. Gyms can also use IoT to collect client feedback efficiently and accurately.

5. Cloud-based Smart Sensors

Devices that could only track heart rate are now a thing of the past. The technology has advanced, and the sensors have become more intelligent to integrate multiple tracking information. Cloud-based sensors have made the storage and transmission of information more accessible.

Cloud helps you store and analyze information and provides other benefits like tutorials, coaching, training videos, gym instructions, metrics tracking, club management, etc.

It helps you cut costs, as you no longer have to worry about maintaining expensive computer software and hardware. Cloud service providers can do the job of preserving your data. Cloud also helps you perform the tasks efficiently, resulting in smooth functioning of the gym.

IoT in Gym Devices Examples

Gyms can apply IoT in numerous ways. Listed below are some devices where you can effectively implement this technology.

1. Wearables

The most common example of IoT fitness devices are wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers. These devices have now become a daily accessory for a lot of people. However, apart from just calculating your steps or heart rate, more advanced wearables perform various functions.

What are those other functions?

• Improved Muscle Training: Smart devices can be worn around a target muscle group to effectively get information like muscle response, activation levels, fatigue rates, etc., leading to a better workout session.
• Remove obstacles in progress monitoring: Checking your wrist regularly while working out may impede a good workout session. Newer wearables have built-in audio features that tell whether a person is working out properly.
• Enable posture improvement: Wearable devices have sensors that can detect your posture and immediately instruct you to correct your posture if it’s incorrect.

2. Fitness Apps

Another prevalent example of IoT fitness devices is fitness apps. Apart from apps launched by gyms, there are many standalone fitness apps too, which people use for their workouts. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant rise in the usage of these apps.

Fitness apps offer a variety of features including:

• Personalized workouts
• Diet plans and trackers
• Calorie counting
• Nutrition programs
• Yoga and meditation

3. Smart Training Gear

As mentioned earlier, more and more gyms are implementing IoT and focusing on intelligent infrastructure, including smart equipment and gear. An intelligent equipment-enabled gym can be very beneficial for the members as it guides and gives feedback to the members and alerts the gym owner if the equipment needs maintenance.

Some of the equipment and gear that have already implemented IoT are:

• Weights: Modern weights guide a person on the use, performance, and results. These weights help prevent any potential injuries due to an incorrect workout.
• Bikes, Treadmills, etc.: These smarter equipment offer a convenient workout experience. Features like workout intensity adjustment, built-in training options, and equipment construction ensure a safer workout session.
• Mirrors: Fitness enthusiasts no longer need to keep looking in the mirror to correct their workout techniques. Smart IoT-enabled mirrors have sensors that detect their movements and give feedback and instructions.
• Yoga Mats: An intelligent yoga mat controls your posture, guides you to correct your technique, support balance, measure metrics, and even design a personalized training program.

4. Smart Apparel and Footwear

Not only accessories, but today, even apparel and footwear have become IoT-enabled. Smart apparel monitors your overall health condition and specific metrics like breath, heart rate, burnt calories, etc. Similarly, smart socks and sneakers guide you about proper running styles and potential injuries. Again, intelligent yoga pants help correct your posture by vibrating at the target areas.

Your IoT-enabled Gym is just a few steps away!

The benefits and applications of IoT in gyms highlighted in this blog would make you want to implement the same in your gym. With the world advancing with each passing day, it becomes essential for you, as a gym owner, to keep pace with the new technologies.

While IoT would help you expand your gym business, it would also give a reason to your members to keep coming back. Thus, hiring the best people to implement IoT in your gym is essential.

With a decade of experience in providing businesses with IoT services, Idea Usher serves as the best choice for your IoT needs. Get in touch with our experts, and take your gym business to the next level.

Wrapping Up

The past few years have seen remarkable developments brought in various sectors with the help of IoT; fitness is a more recent one. IoT in the gym has transformed the way people work out. They have switched from traditional workout sessions to more advanced technology-dependent workouts.

This only means one thing for the gym owners- either adapt or perish. Although traditional training methods are still prevalent, it would be safe to say that IoT will soon take over most routine tasks.

With its tremendous potential, be it in the form of wearables, equipment, or apps, IoT doesn’t fail to prove that it is here to stay.

It is the future of fitness!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the FAQs related to IoT in the gym and fitness industry.

1. Which are some of the IoT-powered gym equipment already available?

While smart gyms are a relatively new phenomenon, a few companies have taken great strides in developing equipment facilitating a better workout. Some of them are listed below:

• Peloton: Peloton launched its smart stationary bikes in 2012. It was a pioneer in manufacturing bikes and treadmills with screens that enabled users to work out with others in their location.
• JAXJOX Kettlebell: JAXJOX offers smart kettlebells with adjustable weights between 42lbs, 36lbs, 24lbs, 18lbs, and 12lbs. They also have sensors for tracking the use, like an accelerometer, gyroscope, and 6-axis MEMS.
• Garmin Connect: Garmin tracks, analyzes, and shares fitness activities. It tracks a user’s actions like workout, sleep, etc., for a few days and suggests the type of workout the user should do next.
• Bowflex: Like JAXJOX, Bowflex sells adjustable dumbbells fitted with sensors and connected with mobile apps to record data for weights, sets, and reps. 

2. What features should be included in an IoT based fitness app?

Some of the features to include in an IoT based fitness app are:

• Diet plans
• Training modules
• Step tracking
• Integration of wearable devices

3. How can Idea Usher help me integrate IoT into my gym?

Idea Usher has years of experience in the digital field, and our experts make IoT apps for both Android and iOS platforms. We use channels like WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth 2.0, iBeacon, Zigbee, and NFC to provide these services.