No matter how advanced longevity tech gets, the most powerful anti-aging drug will still be physical exercise.ย
It could be a cure for lonelinessย in seniors, too โ 38%ย of baby boomersย believe that regular physical exercise is an essential way to connect with their peers.
Weโre not just talking about Tai chi in the park or 5am walks. Seniors need more specialized training that boosts their health, confidence, and social connections.
Source: Fortune Business Insights
Despite the $112Bย fitness club market, current options arenโt doing elderly folks any favors. Those aged 59-77 are much less likelyย than younger generations to join group exercise classes or boutique studios.
Given thatโฆ
- One in sixย peopleย will be over 60 by 2030
- Over 50%ย of US wealth is in their hands
โฆ there’s a massive business opportunity to create fitness experiences that better serve the seniors.
Senior-only Boutique Studios
Over 60mย people are members of health clubs in the US, but fewer than 25% are older than 55. An obvious opportunity is to build fitness spaces highly tailored to these folks.
Boutique studios โ small gyms with instructor-led group exercises that focus on a few fitness areas โ took offย in recent years.
The industry is projected to grow to ~$80Bย by 2029, and the top players are minting millions:
Sources: CNBC, CB Insights, Nasdaq, Finmodelslab
To design a studio for seniors, pick regimes that emphasize strength and mobility, or other senior-friendly activities like chair yoga (51k searches/mo globally)ย and water aerobics (16k searches/mo).
The key is to customize everything, from instructors and equipment (like a robust post-lift recovery zone), to music and vibe (like dancing to popular jams from their youth).
Low-cost Ways to Get Seniors Active
Not ready to own a gym yet? No worries. Once seniors are hooked on that active lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to serve them that require lower upfront cost:
๐๏ธโโ๏ธ Train the trainers: Develop training programs and certifications specifically for retirees to become group fitness instructors. Having someone their age help them get fit can be hella inspirational. โจ
๐ฏ Special classes: Weโve written about animal-inspired fitness classes; you could copy the same model and rent out cheap community spaces to organize special senior fitness events, like inviting their adult children to work out with them. Intergenerational fitness could be a great way for seniors to bond with their offsprings who are too busy to visit.
๐คธ Wellness coach: Provide personalized coaching service to older clients and develop a fitness plan for them, physical andย social. Curate resources, sign them up for classes, help them rediscover their athletic abilities and social importance.
Adventure Tourism and Extreme Sports
For many active boomers, retirement is now โrewirement,โ a renewed period where they explore passions outside of work.
Travel is top of the list โ 52%ย of seniors rank traveling as their No.1 priority to spend discretionary incomeย on.
Combined with the $325B+ย adventure tourism market, weโre seeing a new niche: Active vacations or adventure tours designed for seniors who are physically fit, and seeking a thrill.
Think older people canโt handle adventure? Think again:
๐๏ธYuichiro Miuraย climbed Mount Everest at 80
๐ธWilliam Shatnerย went to space at 90
๐งDave Thomasย went to the South Pole alone at 68
Theyโre also doing more extreme sports, like Ironman triathlons, skydiving, and motorcycling.
This class of seniors are cooler than you. Source: Pinterest
For the daring entrepreneur, there are plenty of opportunities waiting to be explored:
- A boutique travel consultancy that creates custom trips for thrill-seeking elders.ย
- A booking or review platformย for agencies and professionals in this space (e.g., mountaineering coaches and tour operators).
- Content on how to safely seek that adrenaline rush and how to train or prepare for sports events that might be challenging for their age.
- Exclusive events where adventure tourists above 55 can gather, share their experiences and safety tips.
- Specialty insurance โ weโll wager the fine print on your travel insurance says nothing about an unplanned collision with a satellite.
Forget rocking chairs โ this class of seniors are rocking that fit and adventurous lifestyle. ๐ค