Background
True Fitness is a leading company that provides fitness and wellness in Singapore. The company is owned by the True Group, which controls other fitness companies across Asia (“True Fitness”, n.d.). The company majorly provides gym and yoga training to promote physical and mental health. In 2019, the company opened the largest commercial fitness center in Singapore at the Millenia Walk to meet the growing fitness and wellness services demand (“True Fitness”, n.d.). The facility has yoga studios, functional training equipment, a gym, an obstacle training playground, and other fitness equipment (“True Fitness”, n.d.). All activities at the facility are conducted by trained personnel through organized classes.
Emerging technology has revolutionized the fitness and wellness industry in Singapore. As a result, various trends have emerged in the sector, prompting companies to structure their operations to conform to the trends. One of the significant fitness trends in Singapore that the True Fitness Company has adopted is wearable technology equipment that monitors the intensity of the workout (Kercher et al., 2021). Additionally, this technology allows people to set fitness targets and accurately monitor their progress. FitBits are the most common wearable devices that many Singapore companies provide their clients with. Another significant trend in Singapore’s fitness industry is experiential fitness development. This trend involves additional activities in addition to the primary fitness exercise. Obstacle racing has become one of the added experiences people engage in as they attend other fitness training (Kercher et al., 2021). Experiential fitness has been essential in attracting more people to fitness activities. Many companies, including True Fitness, have adopted obstacle racing as their experiential activity to attract more clients by making fitness and wellness more enjoyable.
Impact and Challenges of Wellness
The pandemic has significantly affected the operations of True Fitness. The stringent measures deployed by the government to curb the spread of the virus have limited the number of people attending training classes (Piotrowski & Piotrowska, 2021). In addition, the stay-at-home initiative has made more people adopt home workouts than visiting the company’s facilities. Most of the clients who were visiting fitness facilities have resorted to virtual training. Therefore, getting these clients back has been a major problem for the True Fitness Company. Another significant problem the pandemic has brought is the lack of enough finances to manage the company’s operations (Piotrowski & Piotrowska, 2021). The low number of clients due to social restrictions has affected the company’s revenue, leading to huge losses. Furthermore, the company has been unable to maintain its employees or recruit other training personnel.
The government can play a vital role in addressing the challenges that True Fitness and other fitness companies are experiencing by easing social restrictions. This approach will increase the number of people visiting fitness facilities, thus enabling companies to operate normally. The government should engage with the stakeholders in the fitness sector to ensure that they maintain precautions during their operations to prevent the upsurge of infections when the social restrictions are eased. Another government intervention to address the fitness sector is experiencing is through offering subsidies to enable companies to sustain their operations. Government subsidies should enable the companies to pay their employees and cover other operational costs before normalcy returns.
The key demand drivers for the True Fitness Company are its facilities’ location and the price of its services. Unlike many competitors, True Fitness has positioned itself as a customer-centered company. The company’s fitness facility at the Millenia Walk serves many people in Marina Center and other surrounding areas. This facility serves residents and visitors, making it a preference of many people. Regarding budget, True Fitness has projected itself as one of Singapore’s most affordable fitness and wellness companies. The company aims to provide quality services at reasonable prices, making it easier for clients of different social classes to attend fitness training.
True Fitness should focus on the demographic and geographic consumer segments to increase its customer base and the demand for its products and services. The demographic consumer segment should focus on targeting both young and old populations. Older people are often sidelined on matters regarding fitness and wellness. The company needs to introduce programs that meet the preferences of both old and young clients. Additionally, the demographic segment should target people of all social classes. The lower middle class is often less considered regarding fitness products and service pricing. True fitness should introduce a comprehensive plan affordable for all social classes. Regarding the geographic consumer segment, the company should open more fitness facilities across Singapore to promote wellness and fitness among many people within and outside Singapore.
The current interventions at the True Fitness Company involve diversifying the services offered to meet the need of various target groups. For instance, the company employs obstacle racing training to meet the needs of athletes, gym services for fitness and bodybuilding, and yoga classes for mental wellness. The future intervention for the company involves relying on technology to offer fitness training remotely and track its clients’ progress accurately. The pandemic has reduced the number of people attending fitness classes physically, making virtual training an emerging trend. It is, therefore, necessary for the company to adapt to the new reality and employ video conferencing and social media technology to meet the needs of its remote clients.
Workplace Wellness
The three significant dimensions of wellness that could impact the health of True Fitness employees include mental, financial, and social wellness. Mental wellness involves the ability to think clearly, feel and behave appropriately. Inadequate mental wellness can result in stress, depression, and anxiety (McKinley et al., 2021). Financial wellness involves the employee’s ability to meet their financial objectives. Lack of enough finances tends to subject the employees to stress and make it difficult for them to access basic needs, including medication. Additionally, this type of wellness can lead to depression and social isolation when the employees lack enough finances to meet their needs. Lastly, social wellness involves the employees’ ability to establish and maintain relationships (McKinley et al., 2021). When employees lack enough time for their social life, they may portray withdrawal symptoms and develop depression.
There are various forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments that True Fitness can employ to improve the overall wellness of its employees. The most effective CAM therapy for the company includes meditation and acupuncture. Meditation is essential in enabling the employees to compose and relieve themselves of work pressure and other forms of stress at work that may negatively impact their health (Saeed et al., 2019). Meditation is essential for treating depression and other mental conditions such as anxiety that the employees may be experiencing. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the body to eliminate the symptoms of various mental and physical conditions (Barth et al., 2021). Acupuncture has been essential in treating headaches, depression, and back pains, among other conditions. This treatment method is necessary for the overall wellness of the employees.
The media can influence the wellness of employees by creating awareness and educating employees about the various dimensions of wellness and how to achieve them. Additionally, the media should educate the employees about their rights to make them aware of any form of violation of rights by their employers. Furthermore, the media should amplify the critical issues that employees experience that affect their wellness. These issues should be highlighted for the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to improve employee welfare.
Residential Wellness
True Fitness can promote ethical consumerism by proving its services based on the cultural preference of the people and by obeying the fitness sector’s laws. Conforming to the people’s cultural preferences will ensure its services promote social cohesion by recognizing and respecting various cultural practices. This strategy will make people comfortable associating with the company hence promoting its business. Obeying government regulations is essential in promoting a conducive environment for the business to operate without violating the law. Additionally, obeying the laws ensures that the company remains operational consistently, thus earning the customers’ trust.
Government stakeholders need to implement health and wellness initiatives in Singapore’s communities as a preventive measure to control the development of mental and physical health conditions. Health and wellness initiatives should also be implemented to reduce health inequalities by ensuring that all social classes can access quality treatment (Warburton & Bredin, 2019). Lastly, these initiatives should be implemented within the community as an awareness mechanism to promote positive living among the people and ensure they know how to handle various health conditions hence reducing hospitalizations
The most appropriate True Fitness services for the elderly residents in Singapore’s HDB assisted-living housing estates include yoga and meditation. Yoga is essential for the improvement of strength and increasing the circulation of blood in the body (Saeed et al., 2019). Additionally, yoga enables the elderly to develop balance and walk without much assistance. Meditation is vital for improving the mental health of elderly residents. This program will reduce the vulnerability of the elderly to mental conditions such as depression or dementia.
References
Barth, J., Muff, S., Kern, A., Zieger, A., Keiser, S., Zoller, M., & Witt, C. M. (2021). Effect of briefing on acupuncture treatment outcome expectations, pain, and adverse side effects among patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized clinical trial.JAMA network open, 4(9), e2121418-e2121418. Web.
Kercher, V. M., Kercher, K., Bennion, T., Yates, B. A., Feito, Y., Alexander, C., & Miguel, Á. (2021). Fitness trends from around the globe. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 25(1), 20 10.
McKinley, C. E., Spencer, M. S., Walters, K., & Figley, C. R. (2021). Mental, physical and social dimensions of health equity and wellness among US Indigenous peoples: What is known and next steps.Journal of ethnic & cultural diversity in social work, 30(1-2), 1-12. Web.
Piotrowski, D., & Piotrowska, A. I. (2021). Operation of gyms and fitness clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic-financial, legal, and organisational conditions.Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 21, 1021-1028. Web.
Saeed, S. A., Cunningham, K., & Bloch, R. M. (2019). Depression and anxiety disorders: benefits of exercise, yoga, and meditation.American family physician, 99(10), 620-627. Web.
True Fitness. Trueyogafitness.com.sg. Web.
Warburton, D. E., & Bredin, S. S. (2019). Health benefits of physical activity: A strengths-based approach.Journal of clinical medicine, 8(12), 2044. Web.