A new collaboration between fitness industry leaders and tech companies is set to transform how fitness professionals assess and guide clients. The innovation brings together industry veterans Ian O’Dwyer of Feel SOMA and Richard Boyd of Collaborative Fitness, who have teamed up to launch a cutting-edge tool designed to enhance wellness, strength, and longevity. The tool integrates body composition analysis, hydration data, and other metrics to help trainers offer more personalized and effective fitness plans.
Joining forces with body composition company InBody, app developers Demotu, and the International Fitness Academy (IFA) in South East Queensland, Australia, the new tool aims to provide a holistic approach to fitness. Boyd emphasized the importance of these partnerships, saying, “We wanted to work with a body composition company that is forward-thinking in hydration and fluid placement, and InBody was an obvious choice for us. We also needed an agile app development team that could protect our intellectual property, which is why Demotu was ideal.”
O’Dwyer, a highly respected movement coach with over 30 years of experience, explained the core purpose of the tool. “We wanted to create a simple yet effective solution for fitness professionals. It helps them assess a client’s current state and adapt the session accordingly—from warm-up (‘Priming’) to optimal heart rate zones during exercise and post-workout recovery (‘Restoration’). This tool offers a comprehensive framework for personalized training.”
A Shift Toward Personalization in Movement Assessments
O’Dwyer and Boyd emphasize the importance of considering factors like stress, sleep, mood, nutrition, and hydration in personalized assessments. O’Dwyer pointed out the need for fitness assessments to be individualized, saying, “Movement assessments should be guided by the individual, not dictated by the fitness professional.” Traditional assessments, like the Overhead Squat Assessment from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), have long been staples in the industry, but the new tool aims to move away from a pass-or-fail mentality. Instead, it focuses on fostering individual awareness.
“We wanted to relieve fitness professionals from the pressure of analyzing every detail of movement or predicting outcomes,” O’Dwyer added. The new tool incorporates data from InBody, offering trainers valuable insights into a client’s hydration levels, cellular fluid balance, and even grip strength before initiating physical activity. Boyd noted, “With InBody’s data, trainers can gain a deeper understanding of key factors like hydration and fluid placement—critical for guiding workouts.”
Enhancing Readiness and Recovery
Originally developed for personal trainers to use in daily sessions, the tool now also addresses the crucial recovery process. Boyd explained the importance of adjusting fitness plans based on hydration levels. “If we assess that a client is dehydrated, we should avoid putting them in situations, like saunas, that could further affect their hydration negatively,” he said.
PURE International, based in Hong Kong, is the first organization to adopt this tool. Rey Bolivar, managing director of PURE, expressed excitement about the collaboration. “Being the first to implement this tool is a game-changer. It not only positions our trainers as authorities in the field but also informs our approach to wellness, stress, and recovery, which will drive our future plans for client care,” said Bolivar.
O’Dwyer emphasized the holistic approach the tool offers: “Hydration, stress, nutrition, mood, sleep, and breath all impact movement. By assessing these factors first, we can reduce injury risks and improve performance. Our ‘Priming’ phase addresses any limitations, ensuring clients enter their sessions in an optimal state.”
This innovative tool represents a significant shift in fitness assessments, prioritizing data-driven insights to promote individualized training, recovery, and long-term wellness.
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