Human Touch Reflects on the Catalyst and Future of the Longevity Boom
Partnership
Sponsored By Human Touch
The health and wellness facilitator explains its unique viewpoint on the fitness industry, touching on longevity’s past, present and future
While Human Touch, the recovery massage chair and fitness experience provider, is currently celebrating 45 years of operation, it’s the farthest thing from a brand that’s stuck in the past.
With wellness and longevity being among the most sought-after fitness modalities today, Human Touch is as well-positioned to thrive in the future as anyone. The brand already experienced a spike in sales regarding a number of its massage chairs, answering this modern call with care and commitment.
“The average wellness ecosystem in a health club is much different than 5 years ago,” said Dave Corley, VP of Business Development at Human Touch. “Today’s members expect more than weights and cardio. They are asking for muscle massage and activation, stretching, red light therapy on their face and body, compression, cold therapy, hot therapy, relaxation, stress relief, percussive therapy and vibration. More and more people want to sleep better in order to wake up with the energy they need to live in this new world.”
Where it All Started
There’s no shortage of social, political or economic revolutions in the past decade that have used social media as a spark. The wellness and longevity boom is no different, according to Corley.
“We’ve observed firsthand how recovery has evolved from a trend to an essential service,” he said. “Increased education and awareness on social media has been a key driving factor in the idea that people can live longer and with less stress today. Companies that innovate and market their success have played a big role. Education and data are huge as they can grab attention and lead members into looking for and asking for modalities that can improve their lives.”
Presenting fitness enthusiasts with a visual representation of what wellness and longevity can do for them is half the battle. Social media handles it swiftly and effectively.
“With more education on recovery techniques, amplified by social media and direct access to information, people see how practices like muscle massage, stretching and therapies for mental relaxation contribute not only to physical recovery but also to a longer, healthier life,” said Corley. “This knowledge has driven growth in wellness offerings, as well as wellness areas like longevity.”
Human Touch’s Impact
Human Touch is proud to help feed this crowd, hungry for wellness and longevity, now that social media has put it front and center on their fitness menus. Those efforts start with listening diligently to operators and understanding their specific needs, and by extension, those of their members.
“We are highly focused on supporting the growing recovery needs in health clubs by listening to the owners and operators constantly, as they know their members better than anyone does,” said Corley. “The best health club groups engage their members often, they ask them to provide feedback so clubs can continuously meet their needs. They also listen to their staff. If a club operator comes to us and says ‘Our staff says our members want more stretching movement in a recovery chair,’ then we will listen and try to put that into action.”
As a matter of fact, Human Touch has already done exactly that. The brand’s XTPRO SE Stretch Edition chair has become a best-selling product of late. The recovery tool provides multiple micro-modalities, such as massage, stretch, compression, zero-gravity, sound and heat therapy all in one product.
Room for Growth
Human Touch acknowledges the significant ground the industry has made in establishing a more holistic view of health and wellness. Nonetheless, the brand knows we can go further.
“While recovery and wellness have certainly expanded our view of ‘health’ to include mental well-being, longevity, and holistic fitness, there are still areas to explore,” said Corley. “Emotional health, sleep optimization, and lifestyle habits like nutrition and mindfulness can benefit from greater focus and integration. Additionally, personalized approaches to health – recognizing individual needs and goals – could further refine our understanding.”
As the world continues to make scientific and technological progressions, Corley expects health and fitness to follow.
“Wellness is an evolving concept, and as science and technology advance, I think we’ll continue to uncover new concepts of health that contribute to a balanced, optimized life,” he added.
Wellness and longevity will remain popular as long as humans continue to value their well-being. Human Touch knows investing in that is a good bet to make.
“This will be a worthwhile investment as people increasingly prioritize health for longevity and vitality,” said Corley. “By focusing on recovery, businesses can meet a rising demand for proactive wellness, helping individuals manage stress, boost energy, and achieve a balanced lifestyle – values that will continue to drive the wellness industry well into the future.”