Technology is playing an important role in staying fit

In fitness,as in fashion, trends come and go. However, there are always certain trends which make a lasting impact. In the case of exercising, this comes in the form of integration of technology. While part of this is driven by the looming presence of technology in our lives, industry experts believe there's more than meets the eye.

Gone are the days when going to the gym is just about pumping iron. "The average gym-goer is a lot more educated about fitness than they were 10 years ago," says Colin Symmonds, clinical director and senior physiotherapist at Joint Dynamics in Hong Kong. "Nowadays, they are looking at fitness as a way to enhance their lifestyle. Their requirements of the trainers and the equipment are much higher than they used to be."

Brad Wharakura, manager of group fitness for Hong Kong at Pure Fitness, agrees and adds that technology can also be used to entice a new generation of gym-goers. "It's fun and engaging," he says. "[It] becomes a reason to encourage [them] to work out."

Julia Lohmann, managing director of HYPOXI Hong Kong, notes that hectic lifestyles in the 21st century have led people to crave more effective workouts.

Enter the smart fitness revolution. The trend has been slowly but steadily gaining momentum, having begun around a decade ago. It has now taken the fitness world by storm. Despite varying approaches to technology integration, industry experts wholeheartedly agree: technology is adding new dimensions to the way modern people exercise.

It should come as no surprise. From mobile apps and wearable trackers to fully tech-driven exercises, the options are endless.

At Pure Fitness, technology takes centre stage in the new 270-degree immersive studio spin class. Created with Les Mills, a New Zealand company that is considered the world's largest provider of choreographed exercise-to-music group fitness classes, Pure Fitness Lan Kwai Fong is one of a handful of permanent immersive studios in the world.

When the studio first opened earlier this year, it was the talk of the town, with celebrities and socialites among the first to give the class a trial run. Since then, it has skyrocketed with gym-goers around town eager to immerse themselves in the experience.

For Wharakura, the appeal of this technology-driven workout lies in the fact that riders are removed from their smartphones during the workout. "There are no distractions [so] the focus is on the intensive, immersive workouts. You feel like you are being transported out of your everyday life," he says.

Akin to a video game, riders in the 270-degree immersive studio spin class are whisked away to an artificially created universe, leaving the hustle and bustle of city and work stress behind them.