Gyms of the future: AI shows you how you could be working out in 2050

You may have already envisioned what your body could look like once you have achieved your fitness goals, but have you envisioned what fitness spaces could look like in 20 years? We have. 

CES 2024 has just kicked off, showcasing the latest innovations in the technology and gadget space, and we thought it would be interesting to envision the future of fitness spaces. 

Using AI, we have visualised what future gyms could look like and how you could complete workouts in the year 2050. We’ve also consulted some personal trainers to get their view on the future of gyms and where they see the fitness space moving. 

Keep reading to discover how you could soon be popping on a VR headset and cycling through the landscape of your dreams whilst in the gym.

Contents 

• Fitness in the metaverse 
• VR Fitness
• Wearable fitness devices
• Home gyms of the future 
• Commercial gyms of the future

Fitness in the metaverse 

The rise of the metaverse is upon us, and we could see VR technology being introduced into our fitness regimes in the gyms of the future. Creating a fun and immersive workout experience could see users completing spinning workouts through fun dreamscapes or even cycling through an Olympic stadium – the opportunities are endless. 

Using technology to enhance fitness experiences isn’t a new concept, and we have seen  many examples of industries trying to gamify fitness over the years. Consoles such as the Wii Fit and Nintendo’s Ring Fit have become popular in recent years, and we think this is just the beginning. 

How effective is VR for fitness?

Several studies have been completed on using VR for fitness, predominantly in the exercise therapy space. Dockx et al. produced a study on the impact virtual reality can have on rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease. The study found that VR training improved step and stride length in participants. 

Virtual reality within fitness can also help increase the enjoyment and engagement of participants whilst completing exercise. Gymgoers can benefit from virtual reality immersion and gamification, adding motivation for users who are inspired by gaming or competition. 

We spoke to PT Mina Matharu, a level 3 PT, gym instructor, and nutritionist, about the effectiveness of VR training for fitness. 

Mina commented: “I think VR training could be effective under the right circumstances. For example, the most important element of training is good form. Without it, exercises are pretty useless and could cause severe injury if not done right. If VR training software could provide step-by-step guidance on good form by showing examples of how not to do a move, that could be effective.”

What could this look like in the future? 

Using VR to help achieve your fitness goals could come sooner than you think, but what would this look like? Here are some examples of VR fitness classes we could all be doing soon.

VR Boxing

VR Dance Class

VR Climbing Wall

VR Swimming

What being inside a VR gym class could look like

Wearable fitness devices

Tracking your fitness with wearable devices has become popular thanks to devices such as the Apple Watch and other fitness trackers from brands like Garmin. What does this look like in the future? How much will we be able to track when assessing fitness goals and progress? 

Personalised health recommendations could become more prevalent, with watches and devices giving more insights and information on improving health and fitness. Biometric monitoring could provide users with comprehensive health assessments, including body composition stats, blood pressure and calorie expenditure.  

Fitness watches – Could fitness watches become even more advanced and show more insights and data?

Fitness socks – Imagine a future where your socks could track your speed and how far you have run.

Muscle development t-shirts – A wearable fitness t-shirt that shows which muscles have been activated and the intensity whilst working out. These could also show your recovery rate and guide workouts based on how fresh your muscles are to train.

Home gym spaces of the future

Home gym spaces have grown in popularity over the years, and with users looking to use their homes to work out in private, we have to consider what the future of the home gym could look like. 

Home recovery areas

More accessible recovery areas, including home saunas, could see a rise in the development of home gym spaces. A focus on rehabilitation and recovery at home makes sense as Google reports searches for “home sauna” at their highest ever in 2024 since records began.

Personalised workouts with AI Personal Trainers

Personalisation and custom workouts will become popular in the future to cater to the specific needs and goals of those in fitness. This could mean a rise in AI personal trainers who could show users how to perform exercises, build programmes and motivate them in their homes.

Mirror workouts with an AI personal trainer

Personal trainer Mina also weighed in on developments in the gym based on a similar idea. She said we could start seeing PTs in fitness studio mirrors: “You select a session and do the workout in front of the mirror – the instructor will then correct your form as you move.”

What could gyms of the future look like?

It is fair to say that the fitness industry is constantly evolving and adopting new technologies, but what could a gym look like in the year 2050? Let’s find out.

We asked AI to create some fitness spaces of the future and show us how fitness classes could look. 

Spinning class, 2050. 

Stimulating lights, personalised music choices, and muscle activation monitors could be the future of spinning classes in 2050. Immersive and colourful lighting could motivate spinning students and provide a fun environment to get sweaty.

A hike in the hills in the city, 2048.

As the urban development of cities continues to grow, we could see fitness spaces offering hikes into the jungle, countryside or even the desert with VR headsets. Imagine heading for a gym session after working and hiking sections of the Amazon or strolling next to the River Nile. Immersive technology could place users in realistic settings by mirroring the environment shown on the VR headset. From realistic incline settings to replicating smells and temperatures, a stroll on the treadmill could take on a whole new reality.

Sleeping pods at the gym, 2064.

As we learn more about the importance of sleep and its restorative benefits for the body, we could see a rise in sleep pods. Sleep pods could provide the perfect environment for rest, relaxation and muscle recovery.

Fitness spaces with strength machines, 2039.

In 2039, we could see vast gym spaces with strength machines we haven’t considered. We could see fitness spaces like the image below with immersive light and tracking.

Zero-gravity obstacle course, 2066.

Fancy toning your arms with a zero-gravity obstacle course? A futuristic gym could see zero gravity zones being used to develop your muscle power, putting a whole new spin on push day.

Self-contained fitness pods, 2054.

We could also see the rise of fitness pods in gyms that provide users with the equipment they need in a self-contained pod. This would eliminate the fear of self-conscious gym users and allow privacy whilst fully accommodating any exercise.

Robot spotters, 2047.

Want to lift heavier, but there’s no one around to spot you? Don’t worry. In the future, there could be robot spotters on hand to help guide you or take the weight from you if muscle fatigue takes over and you can’t complete the rep.

Body scanners that create your workout based on biometric data

Step into a 3D body scanner that assesses your body and provides a workout based on your current recovery needs and development areas.

Suspension running in the air

Many runners suffer from joint pain and injury. Could we soon run in the air with suspension technology to alleviate any impact issues?

Don’t fall behind the fitness trends and explore the gym equipment available at FitKit

Technology in the fitness industry is constantly changing, and at FitKit, we ensure  we provide cardio and strength machines from trusted and innovative brands. Ensure that your fitness space is equipped with commercial-grade machines so that gymgoers can get the very best results and hit all their fitness goals.