Ask a friend a question – what they wish for 2011? Most will respond with a wish for health, happiness and peace in the world. We take our health and happiness leisurely with world peace given over to the likes of our NGOs or the United Nations.
It is often overlooked fact that there is a huge industry dedicated to keeping us healthy and our bank accounts lighter as a result. You may be pondering what this is all about. Let’s admit it that most of us who are members of a dedicated fitness centre or Gym probably take solace in the fact that we have made the change by joining a club and taking time to go regularly. The attendance in most cases starts to wane as the year starts to approach spring and then summer towards the holiday season.
It is astonishing that the whole industry is massive with a value of £3.8 billion value and with majority younger women. What is also striking is that the industry is dominated by people with relatively fewer formal qualifications and the average age of the member and staff is below that of the average population. The industry has some 6000 facilities and growing steadily, as more of us having increased leisure time at our deposal. Most of these centres are operated by national chains with fewer than 40% owned and run by single site operators. The Government’s drive to tackle inequalities in health and general focus on poor wellbeing has helped accelerate the growth of the sector. The increasing professionalisation led by the skills council dedicated to increasing the technical and formal skills of workforce will also help to sustain the growth curve.
The question is will it help to deal with some our own well rested and pampered curves from this festive season?
The key is self esteem and motivation to ensure that we take full benefit of what is on offer to maintain and enhance our wellbeing. It should not be the bank account direct debit that should keep doing the heavy lifting! Should It!
I wish you all a happy and strenuous workout to keep the joints and muscles in ship shape.
Keep that resolution in check, for 2011!
Copyright Semra Eren Nijhar – All rights reserved
Semra Eren-Nijhar 