02 Essay on Fitness Industry Assignment Sample
Here’s the best sample of 02 Essay on Fitness Industry Assignment, written by the expert.
Fitness Industry Failing Pregnant Women
Aim of study
The fitness industry has shown a drastic growth over the years but in some areas like pregnant women, it lacks the excellence and considered as special population. The aim of this study is to explore the aspects of fitness industry failing pregnant women. The current opportunities for pregnant women, trends, knowledge of trainers in this sector is explained to understand the study.
Introduction
Fitness industry has classified pregnant women as different set of population and treat the matter in conventional manner. And it is a known fact that pregnancy is a natural and common occurrence and not a disease (Mullinax, 2006). It only requires specific warrants and appropriate device. Many organizations and principle parties that promotes health in pregnancy provide their views that exercising during pregnancy period should be avoided.
It is indicated as an issue and different instructions are provided to pregnant women. However, there are many open questions because of the individuality of involved people. Fitness industry lacks knowledge and ideal practices for pregnant women and it can harm their health in negative manner (Kardel, 2005). It is mostly recommended that pregnant women should exercise with low to moderate intensity.
The non-pregnant women are advised to maintain good amount of physical activity like swimming, walking, cycling etc. And there are lot of limitations for pregnant women but their fitness can be handled in much better manner, if the trainers and overall fitness industry provides proper knowledge about the same
Current opportunities offered for pre and postnatal women
Many people work in the fitness industry and it is assumed that there is sufficient awareness about the general offering that can be provided to pre and post-natal women. But in reality, it is very different case and it is realized that the knowledge and situation of fitness industry in context to pregnant women is very low and poor.
It is indicated that only 5% of the trainers in fitness industry hold qualification for pre and post-natal fitness routine and it is very less likely to find the qualified trainers (Bordo, 2003). At the same time, it is also important to get training from a trainer who I qualified according to recent trends and gained qualification in the last three years.
Maximum pregnant women struggle to gain information about the personal trainers with appropriate qualifications and safety guidelines at the gymnasium. It is clear that most of the people provide information on cautions and have fear of giving wrong advice. This kind of fear is due to lack of training and the top level management of fitness industry also cross check if the pregnant women are fine.
The pregnant women are constantly approached and asked not to overdo at the gym and ultimately, the women are discouraged from doing a fitness regime (Pennick, 2007). Another lacking concept is pregnancy specific fitness classes and it ultimately leads to dropping the fitness regime. This set of population is constantly looking for knowledgeable and trained fitness experts but fitness industry is unable to cater this population and when the pregnant women need help, they lack any kind of support from fitness industry.
Personal trainers catering to pregnant women
It is recommended for trainers to be adaptive and learn new approaches and skills within the fitness industry. But the reality is that most of the personal trainers are not qualified and provide generic fitness services to everyone visiting the gymnasium. However, enhanced knowledge and qualification can lead to better well-rounded services.
The better service is provided to visitors and it also helps in enhancing the reputation as excellent trainer (Shiraev, 2012). In case of personal trainers, they are not qualified in the field of pre and post-natal women but they should not be afraid of providing services to pregnant women. The trainer need to be honest about their areas of knowledge.
It is necessary for fitness trainers to ask about the general fitness level of pregnant women, their exercise outline, intention of fitness regime and their feeling about the participation in the fitness sessions. The fitness experts should always encourage pregnant women to listen to their bodies and act accordingly (Heinrich, 2010). The fitness experts can also suggest them to judge their internal body before deciding the fitness schedule but they should never ask them to leave the fitness sessions.
Opportunities for trainers for pregnant women
Most of the fitness trainers, who study about the pre and post-natal qualification do it because they seek for specific specialization in the fitness of pregnant women. And it is known that this fitness specialization is not a crowded market and there are lot of opportunities for trainers and specialists to work with pregnant women.
And there is also a lot of opportunities available for personal trainers (Jette, 2009). The qualification in this area does not ensure the specialization of fitness expert but it means that if a pregnant woman comes as a client, the fitness trainer can continue to work with her throughout the period of pregnancy. Moreover, if appropriate services are provided to pregnant women, then she is likely to return to fitness training after the end of pregnancy period.
In case, the fitness expert has high percentage of female clients and the trainer cannot support them in pre and post-natal period, it definitely leads to significant loss of revenues for the fitness trainer (Dale, 2006). The pregnant women are a strong network and this section cannot be underestimated by the trainers. In addition, there is a very high scope of word of mouth referral because when the trainer helps the pregnant women in achieving her fitness goals, her network will definitely ask for recommendations and suggestions from her side.
Pre and post-natal fitness section is a very lucrative market for gymnasium as well as fitness experts. Pregnant women are most likely to cancel their fitness memberships and often does not join after months of membership even after giving birth. So, it is better to offer fitness services for pregnant women through specialist classes or trained staff that keeps them in the fitness system (Clapp, 2005).
The post-natal and pre-natal services can be segregated and offered to pregnant women. The specialized services ensure that pregnant women are back quickly and bring the related social network with them. It allows the fitness centres to retain the members and also create potential for purpose of referral. Another opportunity is to cater the secondary products like swimming sessions for parents and children.
The satisfaction of customers also improves the public relations of the fitness company and can be shared in the overall fitness industry. There is a huge opportunity for the fitness centres to lead the market through pre and post-natal specific classes.
Knowledge of trainers in fitness industry
The trainers mostly have limited knowledge about pre and post-natal exercises in the fitness industry. It is important for fitness trainers to consider important points for expectant mothers while exercising such as physical changes, increase in weight, distribution of weight as it affects the gravity and can also alter the coordination and balance (Pennick, 2007).
Other factors are loosening of ligaments that can create injury risks, increased or decreased heart rate while exercising and need to be determined on the basis of perceived exertion of pregnant women, weakening of pelvic floor as after third trimester, vigorous exercises are not recommended by fitness trainers (Zavorsky, 2011). All the relevant knowledge should be shared by specialist fitness experts to pregnant women so that they can exercise well and maintain their health throughout the pregnancy period.
Recommendations
It is advisable for pregnant women to consult with their doctor before commencing the exercise program. It is recommended to encourage the pregnant women for exercise and achieving the fitness goals and trainers should not treat them as different market. The trainers should encourage them to workout at least for 30 minutes per day and if the client is not active in previous time, moderate exercise of 15 minutes should be recommended.
The role of fitness trainer is not only limited to face to face training sessions but trainer should consult with their clients at least 2 days in a week and design specific program for pregnant women. It is not necessary to reinvent the fitness program for pregnant women but should maintain the activities that is in habit of the individuals (Pennick, 2007).
As soon as the pregnant women reaches through the third trimester, trainer should modify the workout to accommodate the changes of body. The main focus area has to be on stretching session especially on lower back, pelvic floor and strengthening exercises. It eliminates the back problem and have positive impact on the body of pregnant women.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the pre and post-natal fitness is a victim in the fitness industry and it is required to change the fitness industry and look forward towards the opportunities in the areas of pre and post-natal fitness industry. The pregnant women need not to fight for their right to be fit and exercise. The opportunities need to be recognized by fitness trainers as well as overall industry.
References
Bordo S. (2003). Unbearable weight: Feminism, western culture & the body: A review. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press; 2003. p. 1947.
Heinrich KM, Becker C, Carlisle T, Gilmore K, Hauser J, Frye J, Harms CA. (2010). High-intensity functional training improves functional movement and body composition among cancer survivors: a pilot study. Eur J Cancer Care. in press.
Jette S. (2009). Governing risk, exercising caution: Western medical knowledge, physical activity and pregnancy. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia; 2009.
Kardel KR. (2005). Effects of intense training during and after pregnancy in top-level athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sport. 2005;15(2):79–86.
Martens DL, Hernandez B, Strickland G, Boatwright D. (2006). Pregnancy and exercise: Physiological changes and effects on the mother and fetus. Strength Cond J. 2006;28(1):78.
Mullinax KM, Dale E. (2006). Some considerations of exercise during pregnancy. Clin J Sport Med. 2006; 5:563.
Pennick VE, Young G. (2007). Interventions for preventing and treating pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;2:CD001139.
Shiraev T, Barclay G. (2012). Evidence based exercise – clinical benefits of high intensity interval training. Aust Fam Physician. 2012;2012;41(12):960–962.
Zavorsky GS, Longo LD. (2011). Exercise guidelines in pregnancy. Sports Med. 2011;41(5):345–360.
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