In recent years, it’s become increasingly harder to ignore the need to lead a healthy lifestyle; you could go about your day to day life without the constant reminders that you could be healthy.
Now, thanks to Instagram, there isn’t a single day that goes by where at least one person on your feed has posted a photo of their workout regimes, healthy meals or new workout attire.
Whether you are repulsed or encourage by it, images of the ideal are perpetuating through society which has resulted in a huge shift in people’s attitudes towards exercise, fitness and nutrition which has transformed the fitness industry.
Why the Fitness Industry Loves Instagram
Instagram has become one of the biggest digital platforms for inspiration and motivation.
Whether you are training towards your next bodybuilding competition, working towards a summer body, or simply trying to lose/gain weight and get in shape, Instagram is the go-to app for inspiration and motivation.
When opening Instagram, the app provides a constant stream of motivational images and tutoring videos, with an abundance of fitness and sports brands capitalizing on users on-going quests for self-improvement.
Why is Instagram So Successful at This?
In todays world, people are drawn to the consistency of photographic evidence that demonstrates progression and results, giving people the encouragement and hope that such fitness goals are possible, when you put your mind to it.
Instagram serves a new way to show off results and more importantly, the process of getting those results. It has helped to cultivate fitness communities which has proved to be extremely important when it comes to people who work out at home that are absent from the community that others may find in the gym.
The Power of Instagram
Statistics suggest that Instagram has 1 billion active users a month and around 100 million pictures and videos uploaded every single day. Wow! So, it should come as no surprise that the app holds immense power to connect people from all over the world.
This huge power has enabled Instagram to become the leading platform for businesses and organizations to gain more coverage for their brands, products and services.
Instagram provides a powerful platform that are empowering the fitness elite to reach and communicate their healthy lifestyle habits with an unprecedented number of eager participants. Personal trainers, health experts and fitness enthusiasts can capitalize significantly from their platform through the sharing of diet plans, workout demos and health supplements.
The Ideal
Instagram has created an image of the modern ‘ideal’ which promotes sculpted curves, defined abs, toned glutes and solid muscles which is posted to our feeds daily.
This is seen as problematic as people believe Instagram to be promoting an unrealistic and unattainable goal that young people become too invested and obsessed with trying to reach. On the other hand, the images can be seen positively, to show off personal achievements and encourage others to keep going.
Fitness Apparel
Not only has Instagram transformed the fitness industry, but it has also caused a major stir in the fashion industry by infusing the world of fashion and fitness to create a hybrid style, known as ‘athleisure,’ which is currently one the leading trends on Instagram.
The term ‘athleisure; refers to causal clothing that is designed to be worn for exercising as well as general casual use.
Gone are the days when showing up to anywhere but the gym in yoga pants and running trainers was frowned upon. Now fashion runways have embraced athleisure and it is being sold in high-streets all around the world. And thanks for Instagram, this is a trend that isn’t going anywhere.
The popularity of athleisure has been fueled by the Instagram lead cult of healthy living and fitness enthusiasts who are constantly posting pictures and selfies of themselves modelling with new protein shakes and health supplements whilst wearing their latest gym apparel which is often promotional content that is part of a brand deal.
The Influence of Influencers
Influencers have taken over the world of Instagram and is a concept that is only possible because of how social media has changed the way we perceive and process digital media.
Fitness influencers have very quickly become some of the most powerful across social media. Following the massive attention being paid to these figures comes the brand sponsorship and commercial opportunities.
So Why Are Fitness Influencers So Popular?
Once upon a time, the fitness industry implied that achieving your dream body was only attainable for those that worked out the hardest, like famous body builders or professional athletes.
Fitness influencers have successfully squished this attitude by changing the notion of fitness and making it achievable for everyone. For an influencer to capitalize from this, they must manipulate their image to adhere to brand deals for public exposure.
The Instagram Food Scene
It has become a popular trend to take a picture of your food and upload it to Instagram before eating it. Such food photography has transformed societies eating habits by displaying a variety of delicious pictures of healthy food and recipes that are promoted by health experts, encouraging people to eat healthy.
If you are ever out of ideas for healthy lunches and dinners, Instagram is a great place to go for food inspiration that is completely free of charge. This has transformed peoples eating habits and contributed to a healthier lifestyle.
Author Bio: Poppy Jones is a professional fitness advisor who takes a keen interest in health and fitness tech. When she’s not in the gym, you can find her taking long walks with her two dogs or watching cooking YouTube channels.