According to data from the Zdrofit network, for 62% of Kraków residents who start training in fitness clubs spending time actively is the most important thing. Exercise is increasingly becoming an element of a healthy everyday life not just a way to improve appearance. Analysis of the active city residents shows that regularity and wellbeing resulting from exercise are now becoming crucial.
As declared by 62% of respondents, the most frequently mentioned purpose of starting physical activity in fitness clubs in Kraków is to spend time actively. For many people, training is no longer just a means to achieve a specific effect but a permanent element of the day. At the same time, 42% of respondents want to improve their fitness, and 38% are focused on losing weight. A significant group (35%) concentrates on developing strength and overall fitness, combining various types of activities. The mental aspect is also becoming increasingly important. For one in five (19%) fitness club users in Kraków exercise is a way to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
– I see more and more often that people who start training in Kraków fitness clubs no longer come here just for a better body shape. They are looking for something more. They want to feel like they have more energy every day, they can catch their breath more easily between duties, and they simply function better. This shift in emphasis towards wellbeing and health is very clear. Kraków residents approach physical activity maturely. They know that it’s not about a one-off burst, but about regularity – says Katarzyna Majewska, fitness instructor at the Kraków Zdrofit club.
Kraków residents’ favourite fitness classes
General fitness classes, especially full body workout, are the most popular among users of fitness clubs in Kraków. More relaxed formats, such as Pilates and health-promoting training such as “Healthy Spine,” also enjoy high attendance. Spinning and Zumba classes are also popular. The ranking is complemented by specialist classes and aqua activities in fitness clubs with a swimming pool.
– Most new users of Kraków fitness clubs approach their activity realistically and focus on regularity. Zdrofit data shows that 66% declare they train two to three times a week, 9% plan to exercise four to five times a week, and 2% plan to be active almost every day. From the perspective of the World Health Organisation’s recommendations, it is precisely this kind of regularity, meaning exercise undertaken several times a week, that actually supports health and the prevention of lifestyle diseases – emphasises Magdalena Rodak-Dębowska from Zdrofit.
On a broader scale, the importance of physical activity is clearly visible in public health data. Analyses by the Institute for Structural Research show that if one in two inactive Pole started exercising regularly, the average life expectancy would increase by over a year and the number of hospitalisations would decrease by millions of days per year. The scale of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and metabolic problems would also decrease.
