Is Technology Polluting Fitness?
For me, the gym has always been a sacred space to fortify the connection between the mind and the body. One of the few remaining spaces to disconnect and get away from the incessant pull of rings, dings, and flashing screens. A place to settle the soul and release anxieties. A place to refresh and invigorate the spirit. A place of simplicity, where energy and effort expended translates into tangible results.
As of late, I have been struck by the extent to which technology has increasingly infiltrated this space. At its core, the gym is designed to satisfy our physiologic need to move. But these days, I look around and see others scrolling Instagram in between sets, taking selfies to show off new gym apparel, or binge-watching Netflix on ellipticals and treadmills. At times, I feel frustrated, particularly when someone is so absorbed in a screen that they lack all awareness of me patiently waiting to share their equipment. But most often I feel dismayed that people are missing out on the best part of their workout—the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with their magical and exquisite physical form.
Exercise is structured movement. And movement is a gateway through which we learn the language of the body. Through movement, we sweat, we breathe, we feel alive. We access our primal side. We hush nagging thoughts and emotions to exist fully in the present moment. Our bodies speak to us constantly, telling us through subtle cues how we are feeling, when we are hungry, when we are energized, and when we need rest. But we are not born fluent; this is a language we acquire through deliberate practice. Engaging the body through movement sparks the dialogue. Only when we listen intently will we learn how to transition between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, how to pace ourselves, how to calibrate that final push, and how to endure despite physical pain, exhaustion, or even boredom. These skills are directly applicable in our daily lives, helping us perform optimally for our jobs, our families, and our communities.
In bygone eras, much of our work—tilling land, shepherding livestock, and building shelters—entailed tough and methodical physical labor. Our livelihoods depended on our physical health, and therefore, understanding the language of our bodies. Times have changed. We spend increasing time in the supratentorial realm doing cognitive tasks while external stimuli—emails, notifications, and alerts—barrage our attention. Knowledge work occupations have been adding more jobs than any sector since the 1980s. Adults in the United States spend an average of 10 hours each day in front of computer screens. Children aged five to 16 spend an average of six and a half hours a day in front of a screen. In turn, the mind-body connection deteriorates. We listen to our bodies less and less, impeding our ability to discover and obey our natural, physiologic rhythms.
The health and fitness industry has been abuzz with the promise of technology for some time. An industry wide study on fitness trends from 2013 to 2015 identified the top 4 fastest growing technology trends. Online classes reservations increased by 144% which makes everything easier for members, instructors and operators. Participation in ClassPass, which enables flexible workout options with thousands of group fitness classes available every day at various locations, increased by 156%. Virtual training and coaching increased by 163%, which makes personalized training more accessible. And finally, mobile applications increased by 168%, which enabled fitness clubs to create a seamless, connected experience for members. COVID has only accelerated the infusion of technology into the world of health and fitness. With many physical spaces on lock down, the industry is flocking into the virtual fitness space.
Of course, there is much to celebrate. Technology can facilitate participation, improve access, standardize quality, and provide flexibility, thereby inviting more people to engage with a healthy lifestyle. But as with any benefit, it is prudent to also identify and examine potential risks.
Soon enough, “smart” gym equipment will be wired with sensors that dump mountains of data onto smartphone apps and wearable devices. Virtual systems and trainers, led by the likes of Peloton, Mirror, and Tonal, will spoon-feed on-demand workouts. Companies like Black Box VR will bring virtual reality headsets to “gamify” the fitness experience. These advances are exciting and wonderful in many respects. But if we rely solely on virtual systems and quantitative data to power our fitness experience, we may be less apt to develop feel and intuition about our unique bodies. We may be less likely to truly absorb the process of creating incremental progress. And we may be less likely to develop an intrinsic love of movement.
As we continue into the digital age, it will take increasing effort to listen to our bodies and heed its wisdom. Technology has the potential to monitor our progress, deliver actionable insights, and fuel our motivation. But we will need to understand what, out of all of the buzz our technology is generating, is actionable signal versus distracting noise. We will need to carefully integrate technology such that it assists, rather than sabotages our ability to connect with our bodies through movement. How we do this remains to be seen. Performance Medicine will help to navigate the path forward.
