There are more than 4,500 gyms! With this figure, France, according to the global fitness market report, is in the top 10 countries where maintenance exercises are most practiced. There are several reasons for this craze that is gaining ground among certain sensitive sections of the population, particularly those over 60. Here we offer you an analysis of this trend. Discover!
The fitness market in France: a booming sector
In the recent past, the have focused more on curative care than on prevention. Comparison is still not a reason, but this parallel is quite eloquent on this subject: for less than 5,000 gyms, there are 22,000 pharmacies! But for some time now, we have been adopting more and more behaviors that are likely to maintain good health. Campaigns launched by health authorities calling for eating lots of fruit and vegetables have something to do with it.
Other forms of awareness-raising encourage people to move much more than usual. This type of campaign has certainly played an important role in the trigger that has occurred among many French people. Indeed, more than 4 million of them storm the gyms to get back in shape, stay in shape or simply have a better quality of life. According to the same document, women represent more than a quarter of people who frequent fitness centers. Men prefer running or hiking in nature.
However, we are seeing the emergence of a type of sports supervision aimed at certain sections of society. This is the case of fitness rooms for seniors.
The development of functional sports halls
According to the old Roman adage, for a healthy mind, you need a healthy body (Mens sana in corpore sano). If more and more elderly people, thanks to advances in science, manage to preserve their cognitive faculties, it remains that they must maintain a firm physical posture. Exercise also allows them to continue to keep their usual rhythm of life.
It is to meet these needs that fitness rooms for seniors are created. Already in 2006, a survey carried out in the United States showed that in ten years, the number of gyms for seniors had literally increased tenfold, the trend that has continued to this day has now reached other parts of the world, including France. No official statistics can support this statement, but the observation made in gyms intended for fifty-somethings is very telling.
At scheduled times, the clubs are downright packed with over-60s! However, do all centers offer the same quality of service?
Is it easy to find your way around when looking for a club?
It must be recognized in all objectivity that not all clubs offer the same type of support to seniors. While these centers may have similar equipment, they cannot be put in the same category for the simple reason that they employ different sports instructors. In addition, due to their success, not all gyms offer personalized support to each of the seniors who come to them. However, these seniors, who do not have the same needs, must be taken gently. A recommended fitness club :
- Takes into account the specific needs of each member
- Offers gradual monitoring
- Makes fitness sessions moments of pleasant distraction.
As we have just seen, the elderly have decided to take matters into their own hands by invading fitness rooms. This is the start of a generation of seniors who are getting older and fitter!
