From Fitness to Function

As today’s exercisers shift their focus from physical appearance to longevity, fitness operators like yourself have an opportunity—and responsibility—to evolve the way you design, equip, and program your facilities. Dr. Mark Kovacs, performance physiologist and expert in training science and facility design, shares how you can better support lifelong movement, personalized recovery, and the next generation of performance-minded members. 

How Should Facilities Rethink Their Spaces and Programming? 

Q: In your view, where do traditional fitness environments fall short when it comes to fostering lifelong movement? 
Dr. Kovacs: Traditional gyms were designed for routine efficiency—rows of treadmills, isolated weight machines, and predictable floor plans. While that works for some, it often lacks the variety, stimulation, and social connection needed to sustain long-term motivation. 

The shortfall isn’t just in the equipment; it’s in the experience. Repetition without relevance leads to disengagement. That’s why we’re seeing momentum shift toward dynamic, experience-driven formats—like small group training, functional zones, and competitive or gamified sessions that create energy and accountability. 

The future lies in creating environments that are not only physically challenging but also emotionally engaging. When facilities integrate smart technology, adaptive programming, and community-based design, they tap into something deeper than exercise—they support a lifestyle. People return not just to work out, but to connect, grow, and feel seen. That's how a gym becomes more than a place to train - it becomes a movement hub. 

Q: Are fitness facilities evolving quickly enough to shift their focus from performance and aesthetics to functionality and long-term longevity—and if not, what’s holding them back? 
Dr. Kovacs: Many facilities recognize the need to evolve—but transformation takes time. Long planning horizons, fixed capital investments, and legacy layouts make it difficult to pivot quickly. That said, the leaders in this space are already adapting. We’re seeing a clear shift in floor space allocation. A decade ago, the typical gym devoted 70% of its footprint to cardio. Today, progressive facilities are trending toward a 50/50 split—or even 70% strength-focused layouts in some cases. 

This shift isn’t cosmetic—it’s strategic. Emerging research has reframed strength not just as a fitness metric, but as a healthspan and lifespan indicator. “Strengthspan”—the duration for which individuals can maintain muscular strength as they age—is now seen as a critical predictor of functional independence and overall longevity. The latest data is highlighting “power” as the next phase in this evolution. I use the term “Powerspan” and this will become the next term used in the industry and the need already exists to focus on programming with safe and effective power training for individuals as they age. 

The facilities making this pivot understand that they’re not just shaping bodies—they’re shaping futures. By investing in programming and environments that support lifelong movement, they meet the evolving expectations of members who are training not just for today, but for decades to come. 

How Should Strength Training Evolve Across a Lifespan? 

Q: How should fitness facilities evolve their floor design to support strength training and long-term health for members from their 20s through their 70s? 
Dr. Kovacs: Strength training isn’t one-size-fits-all across the lifespan—it needs to evolve with the body. In your 20s and 30s, most people benefit from almost any consistent resistance training, thanks to naturally high hormone levels and recovery capacity. But by your 40s and beyond, precision matters more. Exercisers need to lift with intention—using challenging loads, proper technique, and progressive overload. 

One key shift as we age is the importance of power training—the ability to move weight quickly. Power training combines strength and speed, and it's critical for functional tasks like catching yourself during a fall, climbing stairs, or reacting to a trip. Because we lose power at a faster rate than raw strength, it needs to be intentionally trained. Even just a couple of sessions per week focused on explosive movement—within safe parameters—can dramatically improve mobility and independence later in life. 

Facility managers need to recognize this shift and evolve their training environments accordingly. Supporting members from their 20s through their 70s means providing the space, equipment, and programming that promotes not just strength—but lasting performance and functional health. 

What Role Should Recovery Play in Modern Fitness Facilities? 

Q: What role should recovery play in today’s fitness facilities, and how can it be intentionally integrated into the overall member experience? 
Dr. Kovacs: Recovery has become one of the biggest shifts in training philosophy, originally driven by elite sports. When athletes hit the ceiling of how much they could physically train, recovery became essential leading to the integration of hot and cold tubs, saunas, red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers, and more in collegiate and professional environments. Over the past decade, that trend has made its way into mainstream fitness, with tools like compression devices, massage guns, red light rooms, and even sleep pods becoming more common in commercial facilities. 

These recovery spaces are popular because they offer benefits without requiring physical effort—but that can also be a double-edged sword. While they’re incredibly valuable for helping people train more consistently, the mindset should be that recovery is earned. It works best when it complements real physical effort, not replacing it. Facilities should integrate recovery intentionally, making it accessible and appealing but also reinforcing its role as part of a larger, active training journey. 

Q: Of the many recovery tools available today, which ones are most strongly supported by scientific evidence—and why do they matter for facility operators to prioritize? 
Dr. Kovacs: Sauna therapy stands out as one of the most effective recovery tools, promoting increased blood flow, cardiovascular health, and efficient nutrient delivery while aiding in metabolic waste removal. Cold plunges can also be beneficial but require strategic use—daily immersion may actually impede muscle growth, so a targeted approach of once or twice weekly, especially post-intense workouts, is recommended. Additionally, technologies like red light therapy panels, electrical muscle stimulators, and even heating pads during prolonged sedentary periods can support blood circulation and accelerate recovery. New research on pneumatic compression (focused on blood vessel vasoconstriction and vasodilation) is exciting as well. Facilities that incorporate these evidence-based tools can enhance member outcomes and differentiate their wellness offerings. 

Facilities that incorporate these evidence-based tools can not only enhance member outcomes—they can create a powerful point of differentiation in a crowded market. By offering more than just fitness equipment and classes, operators can position their facility as a destination for holistic well-being. Recovery-focused amenities help keep members engaged, spending more time in the facility, and seeing greater results—strengthening both loyalty and brand identity in the process. 

How Can Facilities Deliver Personalized Wellness at Scale? 

Q: How can fitness facilities deliver a more personalized experience—particularly when it comes to recovery and training solutions? 
Dr. Kovacs: One of the most important strategies we see today—and where a lot of innovation is headed—is in personalized assessment and recovery. The best facilities already start by evaluating every new member’s needs, strengths, and goals to tailor programs accordingly. But the question is always: are we asking the right questions, and are we getting the most meaningful data from those assessments? 

That’s where technology, especially wearables and real-time feedback tools, can play a major role in advancing the process. These tools not only help customize workouts and recovery plans but also enable ongoing monitoring and adjustment—ensuring clients aren’t just repeating the same routines but progressing appropriately or even regressing when needed. 

Another area gaining traction is active recovery. Rather than complete rest days, which can leave the nervous system feeling sluggish, active recovery incorporates light, purposeful movement—like walking, biking, or dynamic stretching—often paired with modalities like saunas or steam rooms. This approach, backed by decades of sports science, helps athletes and everyday exercisers return to their next session feeling more energized and ready to perform. 

Facilities that are ready to evolve should start by rethinking onboarding. Are you assessing new members in a way that drives personalized, actionable programming? Are you providing tools—from training to recovery and nutrition—that support long-term success? The leaders aren’t just offering workouts—they’re delivering full-spectrum wellness. Now’s the time to get ahead. 

Q: Looking ahead, where do you see the greatest potential for innovation in the fitness industry over the next 5 to 10 years? 
Dr. Kovacs: Innovation in fitness and wellness is increasingly being shaped by how we cater to two very different types of individuals: those who are deeply data-driven and those who aren’t tracking anything at all. The data-focused user thrives on wearables, biometrics, and real-time feedback—but there’s a caution here. Over-monitoring can lead to stress or anxiety, especially for people prone to obsess over performance metrics. On the other hand, many individuals aren’t tracking progress at all and simply need encouragement to move and find joy in physical activity. Future programming must be tailored thoughtfully to meet these very different needs. 

What excites me most is the growing potential for diagnostic-style testing—not in the medical sense, but in holistic health and performance data: sleep, nutrition, strength, cardiovascular performance, injury history, and even blood work. As your facility gathers more of this information, you’ll be able to deliver hyper-personalized training programs that are incredibly specific to the individual. This level of precision will allow people to train more effectively and, ultimately, live longer and healthier lives. 

We’re also on the brink of major innovation in the equipment itself. Recovery tech has made huge strides in the past five years, and strength training equipment is next. We’re going to see machines that can adapt in real time—rep by rep—to the body’s feedback, adjusting resistance and movement to optimize performance. It’s an exciting time to be part of the industry. 

How Should Members—and Facilities—Shift Their Mindset? 

Q: What mindset shift is required for individuals to move beyond short-term fitness goals and embrace training that supports function and longevity? 
Dr. Kovacs: Successful engagement requires balancing immediate goals with long-term vision. While short-term objectives—like losing weight for an event—can motivate initial participation, they need to connect to a deeper purpose, such as maintaining mobility and vitality into later decades. Fitness facilities can play a pivotal role by shifting the focus away from aesthetics toward measurable performance indicators like strength, endurance, VO₂ max, and mobility. Emphasizing these functional outcomes fosters sustained member commitment and drives lasting health benefits 

What Daily Habits Should Operators Encourage Their Members to Embrace? 

Top 5 Daily Habits to Build into Member Protocols 
Dr. Kovacs’ non-negotiables for long-term health: 

• Walk 10,000 steps a day 
• Get 7–9 hours of sleep 
• Eat 0.8–1g of protein per pound of bodyweight 
• Train both Zone 2 and high-intensity cardio 
• Strength train 2–4x per week, including power work 

Final Thought for Operators 

Your members are evolving. They care less about aesthetics and more about energy, mobility, and quality of life. Facilities that adapt—not just in equipment, but in education, programming, and personalization—will be the ones who lead the industry forward. 

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