Ray Algar takes up a non-executive strategic advisory role with Pendex

Pendex studio, Spain

Global fitness industry analyst Ray Algar announces that he has accepted a non-executive strategic advisory role with Pendex, a company that is bringing an AI-powered exercise system to the global health and fitness industry. Ray will be advising Pendex as they begin rolling-out their connected solution to businesses seeking new ways to effectively attract, engage and support people on their desire for increased health and vitality.

End of a temporary monopoly

Gyms and leisure centres once enjoyed a temporary monopoly for providing services that supported people on their quest to improve their level of health and fitness. Good intentions and New Year resolutions provided a largely captive and willing audience – ‘build it and they will come’ was the mantra and commercial success often followed; that period has now passed. Today competition is intense, and consumers are awash with choice from a rising tide of gym substitutes, such as outdoor fitness classes, free-to-access park runs, church hall Zumba classes, online streaming services and many more. Generic fitness operators are now under commercial stress as people seek more specialised and authentic service providers. Pendex will be contributing to this evolving consumer narrative by providing fitness operators with the ability to offer truly customised programmes with intelligently connected exercise machines that are continually monitoring and adapting routines based on a user’s current perceived state of vitality, sleep quality and response to their previous workout.

Ray Algar comments on what attracted him to Pendex: “The Pendex exercise system has emerged from the remarkable work of Dr Eugene Blum who operates from his renowned rehabilitation clinics in Russia and Spain. For 40 years he has pioneered the method of mechanotherapy which is the use of custom-built machines that are designed for a specific person in combination with personalised hands-on therapy to help a worldwide clientele who have been living with complex life-limiting health and musculoskeletal conditions.

I was instantly attracted to Pendex after meeting with Dr Blum and Alex Popyrin, the Pendex CEO at the Spanish clinic and seeing first-hand how Pendex had, through the development of 12 AI-powered exercise stations, successfully captured the essence of the rehabilitative work that was taking place daily inside these globally-renowned clinics.

The fitness industry now urgently needs to transcend new markets and attract people that have previously rejected its services. I believe that Pendex fits very well into the next chapter of the fitness industry’s evolution which is about authentic personalisation to ensure better health and fitness outcomes. Additionally, the unprecedented level of real-time data being captured by each Pendex machine will allow levels of reporting that enables clubs to build proof and evidence into their future service offerings.”

Alex Popyrin Pendex CEO at the Pendex studio in Marbella, Spain

Alex Popyrin, Pendex CEOAlex Popyrin, Pendex CEO comments: “Developing an intelligent human-computer model for the fitness industry is where value creating opportunities will be and I am thrilled to be attracting high calibre industry and academic experts to deliver best knowledge and expertise.”

Fitness industry talent must evolve

Technology is continuing to disrupt the fitness industry and the roles that people play. Commenting on this phenomenon, Ray Algar says: “The role of the personal trainer and instructor must evolve as automation permeates the fitness industry. A Pendex machine, which records hundreds of measurements each second and senses for correct form and range of motion creates an opportunity for staff to intervene and add value in areas where machines cannot. What emerges is a fitness environment where AI-powered machines and a new breed of up-skilled trainer create a compelling proposition that can unlock new demand.”

Responding to the industry’s need to report on outcomes

Well-located and abundantly equipped clubs have historically been sufficient for fitness businesses to prosper but this can no longer ensure long-term success. If the fitness industry is to play a valued part in a new preventative healthcare model and help business and people to harness the opportunity of an ageing society then it needs to transition from a provider of self-service like programmes where data and evidence of outcomes are weak to a future where physical activity capture and rigorous reporting of impacts, become the norm. “Exercise machines must today be intelligent enough to understand the complex language of human motion, detect and help people to correct their weaknesses, asymmetries and disbalances to effectively mitigate the effects of sedentary lifestyle and ageing. They should create personal exercise routines and guide people through each motion so it is performed correctly, safely and with maximum benefit. People must fall in love with exercise again. This is the role that Pendex will be playing in helping the fitness industry to attract and engage a new audience.” says Alex Popyrin, Pendex CEO.

About Alex Popyrin and Pendex

Alex Popyrin is the Co-founder and CEO of Pendex. He believes that recent advances in Artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and sensor technology will have a transformative effect on the fitness industry by allowing the delivery of more efficient and effective programmes.

Pendex is a turn-key solution of AI-powered training machines with unique fitness technology designed for everybody from rehabilitation patients to elite athletes. The Pendex training system delivers both results and revenue to people and its operators by providing customised exercise programmes and real-time diagnostics, augmented feedback and reporting. It leverages the emerging Internet of Things technology and big data analytics which allows fitness operators to more intelligently serve and predict customer needs.