In the past year, social media fitness influencers have gained a following among an audience of all ages.
The hashtag “FitTok” currently has 14.2 billion views.
This trend is positive for the health and wellbeing of Americans, but frequent flyers of the gym point out some negatives of the increase.
According to a Statista study, Americans are set to spend as much as $33.25 billion on gyms, health clubs, fitness centers and studios in 2021.
After the closing of gyms from COVID-19, the jump of new memberships is prevalent in almost all gyms.
Physical education teacher Joshua Wagner has been the co-owner of Crossfit APEX for 14 years.
“Covid increased our membership a lot.” Wagner said. “People, whether it was [for] health’s sake, getting healthy or whether it was people needing an environment outside of their living room or basement. [People who want] to be a part of a group, our membership and our consistency of people that come in.”
Wagner’s advice for someone looking to start their fitness journey is to start.
“People are so fearful, nervous and uncomfortable being in that atmosphere.Whether you’ve done it before and you have experience with it and you’re feeling like you’re out of shape and you can’t do it now, whether you’ve never done it a day in your life, you have to actually take that initiate and do it,” Wagner said
Senior Manny Rota-Talarico gained interest in lifting during quarantine and now goes to the Indian Valley YMCA every single weekday.
“Feeling better, looking better, just being all around more fit can really help one’s physical and mental health,” Rota-Talarico said.
Junior Abby Kolb recommends people who are looking to start their fitness journeys to start with bodyweight workers so injury is less likely.
Sophomore McKenna Murauski said that one downside to the trend is people may not have proper knowledge.
“Don’t focus on one specific [body part], work out your whole body. If you’re confused on how to use something or do something, ask a person so you don’t hurt yourself,” Murauski said.