What Are the Biggest Trends in Multifamily Fitness Centers in 2020?
Learn about this year’s best gym equipment for multifamily gyms!
Now that working from home has increasingly become the norm, 2023 will only mean a greater increase in the demand for multifamily gyms. Working from home means residents are looking toward onsite fitness centers as an easy and more convenient way to exercise. There are numerous benefits of onsite fitness centers, both for residents and the property owners wanting to ensure their residents are happy.
That being said, it’s difficult to know how to build an onsite apartment gym that will appeal to residents. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions when it comes to choosing the right fitness equipment for multifamily properties.
What exercise equipment do gym-goers want most?
In an atmosphere dominated by Millenials and Gen Z, who now comprise 80% of health club members and the majority of all U.S. renters, multifamily communities can stay on-trend and get the biggest ROI for their health centers by offering these four core amenities: outdoor exercise, spaces for residents to perform app-based exercises, functional fitness equipment, and the very best all-in-one gyms.
Two Echelon Reflect mirrors in high-rise NYC apartments
No matter which gym equipment you choose, be sure to follow the CDC’s most recent information for gym owners to keep your staff and residents safe.
How can I add outdoor exercise to my existing multifamily fitness center?
The pandemic has ushered in a new era of creativity in exercise as many gyms and fitness studios have started to offer outdoor exercise classes. According to The Mayo Clinic, outdoor exercise allows more space for social distancing, and many people feel safer outside.
Consider which pieces of your gym equipment, like mats, kettlebells, and functional fitness accessories, can be transported outside or to adjacent indoor spaces. That way, residents can move their strength training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into a nearby space like a parking lot, pool deck, patio or playground.
Even in a small outdoor space, fitness equipment can provide a sizeable upgrade to your residents’ fitness experience. Not all fitness equipment needs to be large or bulky, and outdoor fitness equipment for small spaces might include jump ropes, free weights, or fold-up equipment that fitness equipment outfitters can supply you with.
You may also be able to partner with a local gym, studio or personal trainer who needs an outdoor space so that you can offer their fitness classes as an added benefit to your residents.
What can I do to adapt my gym for residents who use exercise apps?
One of the biggest trends this year continues to be the dramatic shift toward online and app-based exercise. The best home workout apps let you connect with a personal trainer, exercise on your own or join a group fitness program directly from your phone. Most of these apps are bodyweight driven or require only simple strength equipment, so they are also easy to transport outside.
The most important thing that you can do is to offer safe and open fitness spaces where residents can engage with whatever exercise app they’re already using. Look for ways to adapt your existing floor plan and reposition exercise equipment so that residents can easily find open mat space for app-based exercise.
Interested in making your gym more app-compatible? Advantage Sport & Fitness has everything you need, from dumbbells and kettlebells to Ecore flooring. We also offer content subscriptions to virtual exercise app platforms that are regularly refreshed with new classes from world-renowned group exercise instructors. These virtual exercise services are a great add-on benefit that you can provide to your residents.
Which functional fitness equipment do residents want?
Although functional fitness has been around for years, its popularity is soaring in the midst of the pandemic, mainly because of how well it integrates with home workout apps. Slam balls, medicine balls, battle ropes, core bags and tires are this year’s most essential pieces of functional fitness equipment outdoor spaces and indoor spaces alike. We especially love the Escape Your Limits fitness app which uses your existing pieces of Escape functional fitness equipment in custom, app-based workouts.
You may also consider a library-style check out program through which your residents can rent gym equipment directly from your fitness center. That way, residents can easily move their exercise outside!
Wait! What’s the best all in one gym for multifamily fitness centers?
With an all-in-one gym, residents can complete their full body workout in one small space on just one piece of gym equipment. That means less cleaning and sanitizing for you, plus easier social spacing for them.
The Aviron Rower
We like to think of functional fitness as the ultimate portable all in one gym, but you might also consider investing in a technology-driven workout system, such as the Peloton Bike, the Echelon Reflect mirror, the Escape Fitness MARS touchscreen or the Aviron Rower, some of our best-selling cardio equipment options of 2023. As gym-goers begin to experience the full body workout of indoor rowing machines, these ergonomic, interactive rowers are quickly taking over the world of multifamily fitness centers.
Need help choosing the very best equipment to gain all the benefits of an onsite fitness center for your multifamily fitness community? Contact us for a free consultation!