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 Boutique fitness studios are keeping track of clients' progress with
methods ranging from videotaping their workouts to measuring their
fat, to posting a friendly nudge on their Facebook pages.
Gregory Chertok, a sports psychology consultant with the American
College of Sports Medicine, said research has shown that even small
amounts of social support can produce large and lasting gains in
physical activity.
In a 2007 study by Stanford University in California, researchers
showed that even a simple, computer-generated phone call could be
effective in motivating the sedentary to exercise.
“These exercisers are being held accountable by their fitness
studios to a degree,” he said.
AKT InMotion, a New York/Connecticut chain of dance and
circuit-based interval training studios, offers a $2,000,
personalized, eight-week exercise and nutrition program. It includes
periodic body measurements and is supervised by a fitness concierge.
Anna Kaiser, founder of AKT, said photographs and measurements are
taken every two weeks to track progress.
“A client will say ‘I still feel fat’ because you don’t actually see
that you’re changing, so it helps,” said Kaiser, who added that
measurements were private and optional.
Accountability, she explained, is a two-way street. Clients must
show up as well as work on nutrition, and if aspects of the program
are not producing results, AKT will change it.
Videotaping is popular for tracking progress. At Refine Method
studio in New York City, which features full-body circuit training
and small classes, it is used to give clients a concrete measure to
gauge progress.
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Clients do a few key assessment moves, such as a squat, and the
videotape will show how they have improved over time.
Founder Brynn Putnam, a former New York City Ballet dancer, said
unlike professional athletes, who can count their wins, most people
don’t get clear indications of progress.
Regularity is also an important factor for improvement. Barry’s
Bootcamp, a national chain of interval cardiovascular treadmill and
strength-training studios, clients can sign up for a program called
'Academy,' in which they commit to the same classes at the same-time
Monday to Friday for four weeks.
Trainer Joey Gonzalez said he has used Facebook to reach out to
no-shows.
“Social media gives us a short cut for clients who have signed up
for accountability-based programs,” he said.
(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bernadette Baum)
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