Creating Inclusive Spaces for Fitness Clients

Fitness, when presented properly and professionally, boasts the capacity to transcend borders, cultures, and backgrounds. However, despite its universal appeal, the fitness industry as a whole often struggles to fully embrace diversity and inclusion. To solve this dilemma, concerned gym owners and personal trainers/fitness coordinators might strive to create an inclusive fitness environment not only for current members/clients but for the betterment of society. We all must recognize the significance of diversity and inclusion in fitness and take the necessary steps to make fitness accessible to people of all backgrounds.

We Can Favorably Tip the Odds

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, roughly 25.6% of individuals currently living with disabilities find themselves relatively inactive. Considering that 61 million people in the U.S. possess a disability or comorbidity, we face over 15.6 million individuals who might benefit from inclusion at a gym or fitness center.

Fitness managers and gym owners can think of ways to approach and encourage these individuals to join their facility. Breaking down barriers takes a commitment: it may involve some reconstruction of current space, adding new class formats to the existing Group Exercise schedule, even outlaying cash for adaptive equipment. The rewards in the end will far outweighs the risk of expenditure. In due course, owners and managers can make significant inroads in the journey toward complete inclusion.

Similarity Breeds Familiarity and Confidence

The concept of self-efficacy teaches that when individuals see others who share a cultural background/age demographic/skin color/disability, etc. succeeding in fitness classes, leadership positions, and even advertisements for a gym, a powerful message gets transmitted: “I too CAN do this”!!! A diverse representation can inspire individuals who have previously felt excluded or marginalized to begin their fitness journey.

Inclusive fitness environments foster a sense of belonging and can offer tremendous support. Creating an opportunity to bring diverse groups together in a fitness setting can break down stereotypes and build bridges between communities, eliminating or at least minimizing feelings of isolation.

The Staff Sets the Tone

Many gym staff lack confidence in supporting a disabled person who wishes to use a particular machine or who tries to adapt a physical activity. Training modules, either online or in person, can help with the education process and comfort levels of the trainers. Actively employing disabled individuals helps new members instantly feel more comfortable with their surroundings. Here again, self-efficacy comes into play in a powerful way. The true-life experiences of these employees will allow them to offer unique insight to gym members while helping to remove barriers.

A successful fitness environment forges its strength by cultivating inclusive mindsets among staff, trainers, and members. This can lead to creativity and innovation. This can only work if the leadership fosters dialogue regarding diversity and inclusion, encouraging discussions on bias awareness and how to overcome stereotypes.

Employing a diverse team of personal trainers speaks volumes about a gym’s commitment to inclusivity, striving to make individuals from various backgrounds feel comfortable when seeking out guidance and support.

Accessibility

The American Disabilities Act encourages (and in some cases, requires) a business to foster easy accessibility to all who visit the facility. This includes gyms and fitness centers.

Wheelchair ramps, elevators, and restrooms that can accommodate those with mobility challenges can get installed without too much difficulty.  Gym owners may wish to reach out to companies that manufacture workout equipment, to see if they can purchase adaptive machines for specialized training programs.

Many wheelchair users need gym equipment which can work without them having to leave their chairs. Visually-impaired individuals might appreciate a gym equipped with voice-activated equipment. Those members with learning disabilities may need extra time with a personal trainer to fully and safely understand how some of the exercise machines work.

In addition to making sure that the fitness floor remains an easy-access space with no clutter marring the way for individuals in wheelchairs or with poor eyesight, gym owners might take into consideration the accessibility of locker rooms. Consider creating easy-to-maneuver changing areas with a toilet, changing bench/locker and shower all in one room.

Language, too, falls into this category of accessibility. Gym owners may wish to consider and address language barriers by providing multilingual resources and support. If managers do not inquire, they may miss out on the knowledge that one or two of their current employees do in fact a second language. Proper placement of such information, either in marketing materials or at the Front Desk, helps some individuals make a seamless transition into their new gym.

Marketing Matters

When designing mass marketing tools for a fitness center, managers can easily make an effort to reach a diverse population. Properly placed images and language can go a long way toward fostering an environment that welcomes all cultures and abilities. Using photographs of people of different races, weights, body types, and skill levels can make everyone feel welcome. Marketing tools must convey the message that physical activity is both beneficial and accessible for every unique body. Consider highlighting real success stories of individuals from various backgrounds who have benefited from fitness training at your facility.

Financial Accessibility

Aside from potential physical barriers at most gyms, the cost of membership represents a significant deterrent for lower-income families. Such financial barriers can prevent many individuals from even attempting to access fitness facilities and programming. Membership managers may consider offering flexible pricing options, scholarships, or discounts to make fitness more affordable for families whose means would qualify. Keep in mind the goal of creating a judgment-free space.

Listening Leads to Learning

Once a gym finds ways to connect with a diverse membership population, the work does not cease. New members with a disability may find themselves not “fitting in” quite as seamlessly as staff had hoped or anticipated. The best way to learn how to improve? Listen! Create a means for feedback from all members and demonstrate a true willingness to make changes/improvements based upon suggestions. By collecting data on Group Exercise and/or personal training participation, satisfaction levels, and overall impact, fitness managers can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of their programs. In this manner, gyms can ensure the satisfaction and success of all of the members.

Corporate Wellness Programs

Workplace wellness programs have seen a surge in popularity over the last few years as organizations recognize the importance of prioritizing their employees’ physical and mental health. Inclusion requires a commitment to understand what matters most to employees, so that a wellness program may serve everyone’s needs adequately.

When employees feel included, valued, heard and supported, they possess the willingness to participate in a job’s wellness initiatives. Such programs have shown success at improving morale, employee engagement, job satisfaction, creativity and productivity.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging

When individuals from different backgrounds engage in wellness activities, it promotes a sense of unity and camaraderie. This in turn has a positive effect on the culture of the workplace. Mental health tends to find employers tiptoeing around issues, fearing that employees hesitate to expose themselves for fear of stigma. Companies can offer resources and programs that address stress management, work-life balance, and emotional well-being, ensuring complete confidentiality, thereby creating a work environment where employees feel comfortable seeking help and support when needed.

Savvy Business Sense

Creating a culture of inclusion in the fitness industry makes good sense from a business perspective, too, according to IHRSA’s Senior Manager of Health Promotion & Health Policy, Alex Black Larcom, MPH, RD, LDN.

“Those who make their services and facilities more welcoming and inclusive to all people are providing an important service to a large market that has been previously underserved,” she says.

Larcom further addresses the difference between 2 key terms. “Accessibility refers to whether or not a person can physically get to a location or utilize a service,” Larcom says. “Inclusivity refers more to whether that person feels welcome, comfortable, and at home in that location or using that service.”

Universal Inclusion

In a recent UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) study of health clubs designed to welcome and include people with disabilities, over half saw boosts in revenue. 72% of managers also noticed an increase in customer loyalty. Health clubs that strive to ensure that people with disabilities feel welcome and included reap another big success: they underscore the many mental and physical health benefits of exercise for this demographic.

Universal inclusive fitness must reflect the principles of respect, dignity, and equal opportunities for all participants. As Group Exercise instructors and personal trainers, the goal of having every individual feel valued, empowered, and able to participate can come to fruition when managers tailor gym-related activities to the unique needs of its members.

As this idea spreads around the community, fitness centers can model the breaking down of barriers, establish new social connections among a diverse clientele, and may actually challenge/dispel stereotypes and common misconceptions regarding disabled individuals and exercise.

Communication Tactics

As with any other population, clear and respectful communication can enhance the training experience, help to build trust, and foster a sense of inclusivity. Managers bear the responsibility of educating and training their staff on these key points. Below we outline several other communication skills that will help when creating alliances with any specialized population ~

Active Listening

This may seem inherent in any conversation; yet so many individuals fail to understand the value of “listening” as opposed to merely “hearing”. When engaging with individuals of diverse abilities, one must give his full attention and genuinely listen to their needs, concerns and goals. It takes practice, but the diligence pays off when one successfully creates a safe and inclusive space.

• Maintain eye contact
• Use non-verbal cues to demonstrate engagement
• Avoid interrupting
• Have patience while the member expresses himself completely
• Repeat ideas back to the individual, paraphrasing his words to ensure clarity
• Ask open-ended questions, encouraging him to explain anything in further detail

 Simplifying Instructions

When explaining the next exercise in a client’s workout, simplicity can go a long way.

• Use straightforward language, sidestepping the tendency to slip into “fitness jargon”
• Break down instructions into smaller steps
• Utilize diagrams or videos to enhance and guarantee comprehension
• Provide demonstrations or physical cues to supplement verbal instructions

Provide Positive Feedback

Encouraging words from the trainer can motivate individuals and instill confidence in their abilities.

• Focus on effort, progress, and personal achievements
• Be specific and highlight areas of improvement
• Offer praise and encouragement to reinforce positive behavior
• Always speak in a positive and upbeat tone of voice, with the intention of supporting growth and development.

Flexibility and Adaptability

In both able-bodied clients as well as those with disabilities, every one of us hears, absorbs information, processes and communicates differently. With this understanding, strive to remain flexible and adaptable when dealing with clients. Some individuals may prefer written instructions, while others may perform better following verbal cues or demonstrations. As the professionals, we must possess the willingness and abilities to adjust communication style based on individual preferences and requirements.

Breaking Down Barriers

Diversity and inclusion in fitness embody essential principles that can transform the fitness industry as a whole while contributing to a healthier society. By creating inclusive fitness environments and making fitness accessible to people of all backgrounds, we can break down barriers, reduce health disparities, and foster a sense of belonging for all. Embracing diversity and inclusion in fitness not only makes good sense in terms of spreading kindness and maximizing the gym’s bottom dollar; it represents a giant leap toward a brighter, more inclusive future for all bodies.

Health disparities persist among various racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups, largely due to unequal access to healthcare resources and opportunities for physical activity. By promoting diversity in fitness spaces and creating more inclusive possibilities, our industry holds the potential to reduce these inequalities. When fitness facilities welcome people from all backgrounds, they become an essential aspect of the solution to promoting better overall health.

References:

https://www.fitbudd.com/post/diversity-and-inclusion-in-fitness-creating-an-inclusive-environment-for-all

https://www.betteryou.ai/the-importance-of-inclusion-in-workplace-wellness-programs/#:~:text=Key%20Elements%20of%20Inclusive%20Workplace%20Wellness%20Programs&text=This%20means%20providing%20accessible%20facilities,to%20individual%20preferences%20and%20schedules.

https://getyourselfactive.org/guide/6-tips-to-create-an-inclusive-gym/#:~:text=Actively%20employing%20Disabled%20people%20in,and%20processes%20to%20remove%20barriers.&text=Consider%20equipment%20such%20as%20exercise,hand%20bikes%2C%20and%20adaptable%20machines.

https://www.healthandfitness.org/improve-your-club/why-making-your-gym-more-inclusive-is-good-for-business/#:~:text=Using%20clear%20language%20and%20demonstrations,comfortable%20speaking%20a%20different%20language.

https://educatefitness.co.uk/inclusive-fitness-training-empowering-individuals-for-a-healthier-lifestyle/#:~:text=Encourage%20your%20staff%20to%20be,connect%20and%20support%20each%20other.

https://www.sportengland.org/research-and-data/data/active-lives

https://www.healthandfitness.org/publications/creating-an-inclusive-fitness-club-and-sector-an-ihrsa-e-book/