Will the Fitness Industry Ever Return to its Old Ways after COVID-19 Pandemic?

The abrupt rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down by not only impacting people’s health but also disrupting the working of various industries and businesses. Among many other industries, the fitness industry has been dramatically affected by the pandemic.

The pandemic has inclined people’s attitude toward exercising and the way they exercise. However, when the pandemic struck the world, gyms and fitness centers were among the first to shut down by the government, and they are probably among the last to reopen. People across the globe have started adopting a holistic approach to health and well-being by adopting virtual fitness classes and mental well-being sessions in the pandemic period. Increasing need to stay fit and healthy and closure of gyms have made people shift to at-home workouts and outdoor activities such as running, cycling, etc.

How is the Fitness Industry Responding to the Pandemic?

As we have learnt to adapt to the new normal by staying at home, the fitness industry is also digging out ways to adapt to the changing ways of fitness. Fitness trends in 2020 reveal that fitness industry players are embracing digital means while considering buying patterns, additional cautions while going to gyms, and change in priorities of the clients.

The pandemic has forced people to stay in their homes in isolation. People have started taking this as an opportunity to game up their fitness and adopt a healthy lifestyle. They are enjoying the comfort of working out in their homes with the help of the Internet and smart devices.  As a result, fitness club and gym owners have started transforming their services as per the public’s demand and are adopting digital means for offering fitness training.

How are Gym Operators Adapting to the New Fitness Trends?

The pandemic has altered the entire panorama of the fitness world. Upon reopening, gyms will be subjected to a substantial number of guidelines that will make their functioning a bit different than how it was before the implementation of lockdown.

After the fitness centers reopen, they will have to follow major precaution, such as increased hygiene practices. For sanitized equipment and clean changing rooms, fitness centers will need to include sanitization stations, handwashing guidelines, and equipment sanitizing instructions put in place. Moreover, they must also offer additional training to the cleaning team and limit the number of people in the exercise area at any given time.

Even though the long-term impacts of the pandemic are vague, short-term impacts certainly have been terrible to many fitness industry players. The huge wave of the pandemic has brought in various problems such as increased unemployment of gym and fitness center professionals, expert trainers, and supporting staff. Gym owners are facing difficulties in paying rents, electricity bills, bank loans, and salaries of employees. Various boutique gyms, in fact, run on small margins; these gyms have been severely impacted by the pandemic. The brick-and-mortar gyms that contribute the maximum share to the fitness sector are also experiencing a decline in revenues. However, the virtual fitness industry has benefited from the rise of this deadly pandemic. As per a report by Research Dive, the global virtual fitness solutions industry is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 33.5% from 2020 to 2027, mainly owing to the rapid shift toward virtual fitness solutions from gyms and offline fitness centers by people across the world.

Gym trainers and workout instructors are trying to find other ways to continue their business, as they are facing a financial crisis due to the stoppage of gyms and fitness centers. To retain their customers and stay connected with their clients, gym owners and personal instructors have switched to online platforms. They are setting up the option for virtual programs to motivate people for a healthy lifestyle and simultaneously saving their gym business from running into losses and revenue downturns.

Digital Fitness Trend is Skyrocketing

In the year 2020, the fitness industry almost transformed into digital. The industry has undergone a massive revolution by switching to online mode. Not only people can benefit from online workout training but even gym trainers can learn new workouts and fitness routines from other experienced trainers over the Internet. Today, the need for fitness experts has magnificently surged as people are increasingly realizing the significance of physical fitness.

Moreover, the year 2020 has witnessed a proliferation of fitness mobile apps and extensive use of digital platforms, such as Zoom. Gym trainers and workout instructors get paid for offering fitness services and many of them have been very successful at this and are hoping that this new normal stays forever.

The Bottom Line

The extent to which our lives have been altered over the past year is quite surprising. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, at-home workouts rapidly became the only means for fitness enthusiasts. They started adopting virtual fitness sessions in the form of live streaming and pre-recorded programs. Suddenly, water bottles became exercise dumbbells and the sales for exercise bands and mats surged. YouTube turned into an open gym, and your trainers became available on zoom calls, motivating you to complete that extra workout set.

So as we adapt to the new normal, we have to also accept that the fitness industry has transformed for the better. Together, we must fight back to the crisis by addressing the need of the hour.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.