There is evidence from past recessions that people take more care of their own health during economic dips
Today history is repeating itself in the health and wellbeing sector.

Joanna Griver isn’t an elite athlete and would laugh at the idea that she’s part of a fitness revolution. But one intriguing fact marks out this 42-year-old mother of two as Britain struggles for a healthier future: she has a personal trainer. The result, says Griver, is that she is more fit and healthy, feels rejuvenated and works harder at her chosen sport of running – despite giving up her gym membership because she missed so many sessions it wasn’t worth it.

“I’m definitely working harder now,” she insists. “My personal trainer is always coming up with new exercises, new things to try. She makes me push myself and either run more or run faster. She makes you challenge yourself.”

The idea that a woman who describes herself modestly as “a mum and housewife” should invest in £40-an-hour personal trainers might stun couch potatoes nationwide. But the physical training industry has boomed in recent years as growing numbers of “ordinary” people discover that investment in their health can pay long-term health dividends.

“It used to be perceived as something that only wealthy people have,” says Marnoch. “But now I think everyone at some time or another will seek help from a personal trainer.” Griver, from north London, goes for twice-weekly runs on her own, but for the last year has booked regular personal sessions with Bridgit Napleton, 43, who operates in north London as Green Fit and specialises in exercising outdoors.

Napleton holds group and individual classes in all weathers, emphasising not only the pleasure of exercise, but also the joy of working out in natural surroundings. The link clearly works. Despite little or no advertising since qualifying almost four years ago, Napleton’s business is booming. “Just by word of mouth, my classes have blossomed. I’m surprised at how busy I am.”

Barbara Hill, 44, mother of three, is another of Napleton’s clients who is happy to pay for personal attention. “Everyone needs a Bridgit,” she says. “I wanted to get fitter and she is very motivating. I enjoy it so much. It’s a wonderful experience. A friend used to laugh at me, but now she goes herself.”

So what does a personal trainer actually do? “My goal in personal training is to empower; to establish a fitness routine they can do independently,” says Napleton. But what that involves in practice is a wildly mixed bag, depending on whether a client wants to learn running skills, get strong, look toned or simply lose weight. It means side-by-side encouragement through a whole series of exercises that may include running, star jumps, resistance exercises and push-ups. In fact, the key to motivating and keeping clients interested in their own health seems to be variety.

Behind the rising demand for trainers are two sets of bulging figures that will simultaneously encourage and dismay anyone interested in Britain’s health. On the one hand, 200,000 people now work in the fitness industry, seven million people are members of leisure centres and health clubs and around 30 per cent of us do at least some kind of regular activity.

Terrific. Except that, according to Henry de Souza of the Fitness Industry Association, if you discount the old and infirm this leaves a staggering 50 per cent of adults doing no exercise whatsoever. “By 2050 around 50 per cent of adults will be obese, which is a huge legacy building up,” he warns. Trainers like Napleton running in the woods, doing sit-ups beneath trees are helping turn this vast tide of fat. And the good news is there is evidence from past recessions that people take more care of their own health during economic dips. That’s certainly a comforting thought: could a slimmed down economy lead to a slimmed down nation?

Source: The Telegraph – Personal Trainers: Booming

Author: Liz Knox