Conventional Strength: The flipside of flipping tires. 1Precor Whitepaper Last Modified: Jan 2, 2013 | © 2013 Precor Incorporated

Boost Strength Training Participation Among Women

09.05.2013 | © 2013 Precor Incorporated

Precor White PaPer

Boost Strength Training Participation Among Women 2

09.05.2013 | © 2013 Precor Incorporated

Precor White PaPer

Boost Strength Training Participation Among Women

Women are an underserved audience in the world of strength training.

They have embraced the importance of strength training in their total workout routine — even more so than men — but they give it less time than men in their total workout routine. Women often do not feel comfortable enough using strength training equipment and are thus shortchanging themselves on the benefits of this exercise.

Those who identify themselves as “committed” to strength training are more than half of all strength users (53%). They are driven by the desire to have a healthy and well-toned body more than to compete better in sports. The “committed to strength training” group is equally populated by men and women, and covers a broad age range of 18-54.Women age 35-54 give the highest importance ratings to strength

training, more than any other age group or gender group. However, men allocate 35% of their total fitness regimen to strength training, whereas women allocate 28% of theirs.

Why Women Avoid Strength Training

It was revealed in a Precor strength survey that a great majority of females are apprehensive and unaware of how to start a strength-training regime. Based on surveying 500 women from 18 to 55+ years of age, the top 10 reasons why women don’t do strength training are:

1. Happy doing their cardio workouts2. Don’t want to look big and bulky, like a bodybuilder3. Boring4. No one ever showed them how to use the equipment5. Don’t have time for strength training6. Feel self-conscious doing strength training7. Strength training is too complicated8. Strength training is for serious athletes9. Need to hire a personal trainer to learn how to use equipment, cannot afford personal trainer

10. Have injury that prevents from participating

Barriers Facilities Need to Overcome

There is some dissonance among women in their strength engagement. While they consider it important, they express less satisfaction than men in the time they are allotting to strength training in their total workout.

Boost Strength Training Participation Among Women 3

09.05.2013 | © 2013 Precor Incorporated

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The key barriers to increased strength training cited by women are:

How to Boost Strength Training Participation Among Women

Women generally receive their first introduction to strength training when they join a club. They are in new territory, and need help in navigating through it.

Helping female exercisers understand how to properly use the equipment without causing injury will contribute to a more positive experience within a fitness center environment.

Building their confidence and knowledge about equipment use and proper form will encourage women to rely on health clubs as their means for fitness.

• Increasing their knowledge: The remedy to this problem is to educate female club members on how to properly use the equipment, particularly in strength training equipment.

• Generating interest: Women need help and incentives to begin a strength program. Assistance could include specific educational programs offered by clubs, special rates on personal trainers, and tutorials for the equipment that are less complicated and more targeted to women’s needs.

• Showing need: Create case studies focused on female success that will entice other women to join. A variety of case studies will help different groups of women relate to membership benefits.

• Offer time: Women indicated convenience is a major factor in their selection of, and retention of, a health club membership. Creating programs offered at different times of the day focused on health, fitness, and well-being will entice women to stay active and fit through a facility.

Realizing the Benefits of Strength Training

With attention to the needs of female members and a few simple changes, health club managers can help more women realize the benefits of strength training and improve the rate at which women join and frequent the health club.

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References

Precor Fitness/Strength Training Awareness, Attitudes, and Usage Study, 2013

INTEREST“Not interested in strength,” “I am happy just doing cardio workouts.”

NEED“I don’t really need strength,” “I don’t want the benefits

of strength” (i.e., big muscles).

KNOWLEDGE“I never learned how to use the equipment,”

“Strength training is too complicated.”

TIME“I don’t

have time for strength

training.”