Fitness, Motivation & Art

We can all visualize the traditional motivational poster: a peaceful landscape with a single word like “persevere” or a monkey hanging from a tree encouraging the viewer to just “hang in there”.

As cheesy as those posters are, they serve well to distract and entertain. However, for more high-end or more intense spaces, the audience may want elevated imagery. Our art consultants can help find you unique imagery for your space that provide encouragement and distraction without being overly kitsch.

In the Guardian’s article, “The mind gym: five ways to make exercise a pleasure”, they suggest to those looking to keep motivation in their workouts to “engage your imagination” and “reframe the pain”. Both of those concepts can be assisted through the use of motivational imagery.

In other studies on motivation & physical health, findings show that “… health and fitness leaders can maximize participant’s intrinsic motivation by emphasizing goals focused on skill learning and health. Additionally, fitness leaders should make efforts to enhance participants’ feeling of competence and autonomy” (Sibley, Bergman). Gym owners and fitness leaders have the power to create encouraging spaces for gym-goers to thrive in.

Another function of having art in gyms is to keep gym-goers motivated to actually come back to the gym. The psychology of color & decor comes into play in a large way, though is often overlooked in these spaces. Having a nice, inviting and energized space is paramount for whether people want to be there or not.

Bright colors are used in exercise spaces to invigorate the senses, waking people up and getting them subconsciously ready for intensity. Blank white walls are the antithesis of motivation- they offer no positive energy, encouragement, or distraction. At the end of the day, a person is much less motivated to go to a space that resembles a prison than a space that is full of color and positive imagery.

Interested in learning more about color psychology in fitness centers? Check out this article by Advantage Sports Fitness that goes over the impact of each color within a fitness environment.

While it might seem like we’re down on “kitsch'” motivational art, it is important to note the function of kitsch and humor in motivational art. Creating a layer of “silly” aids in entertaining and distracting the mind in a way that more “serious” artwork can not elicit.

For example, the poster below has a goldfish wearing a shark fin with the phrase “mindset is everything”. Definitely a silly poster but definitely allows for a moment of mental escapism, and a lighthearted message that is uplifting to the viewer.

In addition to motivational content, consider creating an education zone in your fitness center. Education about the body and nutrition is essential for maintaining good physical health.

Unfortunately, not everyone has had access to education around anatomy and nutrition. People go to the gym as a space for body improvement, but many go through the motions without understanding their own body. By having educational art that is accessible to gym-goers, a gym can go from a facility to a health resource. Below are some cool & educational health posters.

Creating encouraging spaces is a conversation many are having, but fitness who lean into these concepts create spaces that promote wellness, generate positive energy, and encourage customer loyalty.

What does your fitness center look like? Have you ever noticed the art in a fitness center- for better or worse?