A presentation I gave to the Health & Fitness conference in Birmingham UK in 1999. Horribly clunky design and graphics, but even more relevant now than it was then
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TopicsTopics
The nations Health & Fitness 2000The nations Health & Fitness 2000
DisembodimentDisembodiment
Body modelsBody models
Rethinking what H&F meansRethinking what H&F means
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Health & Fitness?Health & Fitness?
Health awareness is risingHealth awareness is rising
Brits are living longerBrits are living longer
but...but...
Getting fatter:Getting fatter:
17% of men in 1999 (13% in 1993)
20% of women (16% in 1993)
Osteoporosis is increasing:Osteoporosis is increasing:
10% increase per year (source: NOS)
Decline in bone-mass-developing exercise
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Health and Fitness paradoxesHealth and Fitness paradoxes
Living longer <> mistrusting doctorsLiving longer <> mistrusting doctors
High-tech science <> faith in alternativeHigh-tech science <> faith in alternative
Nutrition awareness <> junk foodNutrition awareness <> junk food
Fitness education <> unfit childrenFitness education <> unfit children
Booming H&F <> Brits getting fatterBooming H&F <> Brits getting fatter
Mens Health <> 38 average male waistMens Health <> 38 average male waist
Know whats right <> do whats wrongKnow whats right <> do whats wrong
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Disembodiment definedDisembodiment defined
Dictionary definition:Dictionary definition:
Freeing from the body or physical matter.
Meaning Business definition:Meaning Business definition:
Losing touch with the body
Living less physically, more virtually, more remotely
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Disembodiment at workDisembodiment at work
Technology, efficiency = lessTechnology, efficiency = less physicalphysical efforteffort
Head work replaces body work:Head work replaces body work:
robots and machines
new jobs = information jobs
call centres - 2% of UK workforce
computers everywhere
Look no hands! VA computersLook no hands! VA computers
Presence at work not needed:Presence at work not needed:
e-mail, mobile devices
work from home
EVAs - electronic virtual assistants
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Disembodiment at homeDisembodiment at home
Domestic appliances = lessDomestic appliances = less physicalphysical efforteffort
Central heatingCentral heating
Convenience foodsConvenience foods
Remote controlsRemote controls
Rising car ownership:Rising car ownership:
car used for ever shorter trips
roads dangerous drive kids to school
On-line shoppingOn-line shopping
Telephone sexTelephone sex
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Disembodiment at playDisembodiment at play
Less physical activity at school:Less physical activity at school:
playing fields sold off/developed
curriculum encroaching on PE time
Roads + public spaces more dangerousRoads + public spaces more dangerous
Exciting immersive entertainment:Exciting immersive entertainment:
TV, video, DVD
Computer games - home and arcade
Internet
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Disembodiment - sci-fi scenarioDisembodiment - sci-fi scenario
The body is increasingly less relevantThe body is increasingly less relevant
Physical effort increasingly less the normPhysical effort increasingly less the norm
Huge market for magic H&F solutionsHuge market for magic H&F solutions
New horizons for pharma + bio-medical:New horizons for pharma + bio-medical:
effective therapies for obesity
tissue engineering - organs, bones etc.
gene reprogramming
Runners High in a pill
Health and Fitness without the sweat!Health and Fitness without the sweat!
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H&F ThreatsH&F Threats
Rush - no time for the clubRush - no time for the club
Less tolerance of physical exertion ...Less tolerance of physical exertion ...
... income and fun dont require it... income and fun dont require it
Less childhood experience of PE and gymLess childhood experience of PE and gym
More expectation of quick, easy fixesMore expectation of quick, easy fixes
Acceptance of extra inches - U.S. LeadsAcceptance of extra inches - U.S. Leads
DISEMBODIMENTDISEMBODIMENT
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H&F OpportunitiesH&F Opportunities
Co-opt technology (as already):Co-opt technology (as already):
add entertainment/experience to the grind
appeal to Playstation generations
Rethink frames of reference:Rethink frames of reference:
1.1. Whats a club?Whats a club?
2.2. Whats a body?Whats a body?
3.3. Whats the context?Whats the context?
4.4. Whats the offer?Whats the offer?
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1: Whats a club?1: Whats a club?
Is it the facility + equipment?Is it the facility + equipment?
Or is it staff + expertise?Or is it staff + expertise?
If its the facility:If its the facility:
is 6% penetration the limit?
Traffic congestion
home kit competing more conveniently?
If its the staff and expertise:If its the staff and expertise:
scope for creating off-facility, on-site value
more motivating to the weak-willed majority
easier to spot needs and opportunities
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1. Formalised H&F club role?1. Formalised H&F club role?
Health crisis - demographics, funding etc.Health crisis - demographics, funding etc.
Cures getting costlier - prevention vitalCures getting costlier - prevention vital
H&F industry positive impact on healthH&F industry positive impact on health
H&F club usage link-up with insurance :H&F club usage link-up with insurance :
health benefit makes insuree a better risk
justifies discount on premium
incentivise insurees H&F club usage
What stops H&F from taking an integralWhat stops H&F from taking an integral
rolerole
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2: Whats a body?2: Whats a body?
Body:H&F industry = Cars:motor industryBody:H&F industry = Cars:motor industry
View varies by era, culture even in Europe:View varies by era, culture even in Europe:
France, Italy: Liver
Germany: Circulation
Britain: Intestines
Science extending understanding:Science extending understanding:
blurring body-mind divide
interaction of complex systems
Prevailing body model sets thePrevailing body model sets the
agendaagenda
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2: The Body - current H&F view?2: The Body - current H&F view?
The Body BeautifulThe Body Beautiful
Western, scientificWestern, scientific
Mechanical modelMechanical model
Pecs, glutes,Pecs, glutes,
deltoidsdeltoids
DevelopmentDevelopment
PerformancePerformance
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2: Another view2: Another view
The Qi bodyThe Qi body
Chinese, pragmaticChinese, pragmatic
Energy modelEnergy model
MeridiansMeridians
RegulationRegulation
BalanceBalance
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2: Another view2: Another view
The Subtle bodyThe Subtle body
Indian, mysticalIndian, mystical
Energy modelEnergy model
ChakrasChakras
Accumulate energyAccumulate energy
RaiseRaise
consciousnessconsciousness
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2: New Body-Mind thinking2: New Body-Mind thinking
Challenging traditional Body-Mind splitChallenging traditional Body-Mind split
Body-Psychotherapy:Body-Psychotherapy:
Alexander Technique
Bioenergetic Analysis
Biosynthesis
Bodynamics, Biodynamic Psychology
Hakomi
Energy Stream and Chiron
Body at work:Body at work:
office gyms, nap spaces
massage breaks <www.workmassage.nl>
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2: What body? - implications2: What body? - implications
Power of the mental modelPower of the mental model
Model determines:Model determines:
what/how we feel about/in our body
how we experience it - what it means to us
what we do with it
what we focus on, what we ignore
Growing interest in different body modelsGrowing interest in different body models
New ways of experiencing the bodyNew ways of experiencing the body
New takes on health and fitnessNew takes on health and fitness
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2: What body? - questions2: What body? - questions
The industry frame of body reference?The industry frame of body reference?
How far does H&F remit + credibility extend?How far does H&F remit + credibility extend?
How far is the industry willing to extend?How far is the industry willing to extend?
Potential demand for other body experiences?Potential demand for other body experiences?
Who will capitalise on it?Who will capitalise on it?
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3: Perception depends on context3: Perception depends on context
e.g. Suntanned:e.g. Suntanned:
pre-20th century: peasant, worker
post-war: jet-setter
2000: melanoma candidate
e.g. Thin:e.g. Thin:
before: poor, underfed
now: virtuous, fashion model (or anorexic)
e.g. Physical tiredness:e.g. Physical tiredness:
pre-Information Age: weary end of a days work
now: glowing end of a days play
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3. Changed context3. Changed context
THENTHEN
HealthHealth: pot luck, fallible: pot luck, fallible
FoodFood: basic, sufficient: basic, sufficient
Body functionBody function: work,: work,
locomotion, survivallocomotion, survival
ExpectationExpectation: grow old: grow old
NOWNOW
HealthHealth: fixable: fixable
FoodFood: varied, excessive: varied, excessive
Body functionBody function: pleasure,: pleasure,
attractionattraction
ExpectationExpectation: stay young: stay young
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3: Re-embodiment3: Re-embodiment
Were still physical beings - still animalsWere still physical beings - still animals
New context doesnt change our nature:New context doesnt change our nature:
makes physical living less necessary,
makes it more difficult, but
more valuable
Need to reconnect, re-embodyNeed to reconnect, re-embody
Clues:Clues:
rave and dance culture
activity holidays
extreme sports
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3: Re-embodiment opportunity3: Re-embodiment opportunity
Huge scope for new body attitudes + practiceHuge scope for new body attitudes + practice
health
appearance
feeling
H&F industry already up and running:H&F industry already up and running:
body experts
trusted, familiar, not weird
The obvious resource for a new lease of bodyThe obvious resource for a new lease of body
life in a disembodied agelife in a disembodied age
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4: Whats the H&F offer?4: Whats the H&F offer?
70s-80s : looking good70s-80s : looking good
80s-90s : enhancing health80s-90s : enhancing health
90s-00s : unload stress, invest for 3rd age90s-00s : unload stress, invest for 3rd age
Whats next?Whats next?
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Can H&F extend?Can H&F extend?
Beyond the hardware?Beyond the hardware?
Beyond the bio-mechanical?Beyond the bio-mechanical?
Beyond optional to essential?Beyond optional to essential?
Beyond the session into everyday life?Beyond the session into everyday life?