Why Fitness will boom after the pandemic
Many people and businesses have been through difficult times, both economically and emotionally since the start of Coronavirus. However, health and fitness has never been more important, and there’s opportunities for the fitness industry to bounce back even stronger over the coming months.
Spoiler alert: strength training, group fitness and engaging, high-quality classes will boom. Well-qualified instructors who unite the group and teach in a fun and motivating way will be more important than ever. They are the difference between virtual and live training experiences.
Here are 7 reasons why the fitness business is booming:
- Home workouts are boring longer term
- Total membership is down due to COVID – but these members are coming back
- Health is the new wealth
- The biggest cake ever! Get your slice with Apple and Google
- Strong is the new sexy – bodyweight vs. strength training
- Hybrid working is an opportunity for the fitness sector
- Members are longing for experiences
1) HOME WORKOUTS ARE BORING LONGER TERM
What haven’t people tried in the last few months? Pictures from garages, basements and living rooms are no longer filling our social feeds, and as restrictions ease, people are jumping at the chance to escape the limited training options that at-home workouts provide.
Everyone knows someone who has lost motivation in the latest lockdown because even the newest YouTube video no longer offers any different bodyweight workouts or exercises. In the long run, it is difficult to keep coming up with new workouts alone, because every movement has already been repeated many times.
To provide variety with expensive equipment and prevent monotony was also not a solution for many. In addition to the equipment, the trainer plays an essential role. They can write individualised plans for people of all ages, ethnicities, genders and fitness levels.
YouTube videos cannot determine a person’s current ACTUAL condition (medical history). Pre-existing conditions or limitations are also not taken into account.
2) TOTAL MEMBERSHIP IS DOWN DUE TO COVID – BUT THESE MEMBERS ARE COMING BACK
It’s no surprise that there was a spike in gym membership cancellations due to COVID – even with gyms freezing memberships often at no cost, prolonged periods of closure and changes in personal circumstances for members would have caused some individuals to review their membership and realign their plans after reopening.
In some countries, up to 90% of members are already back in the gym! In the UK, where gyms in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland reopened in April, global franchise Anytime Fitness recorded the busiest month for new memberships since it began trading in the UK.
And for those who are just reopening, the opportunity for customer acquisition is huge. The competition will be high, but for gyms that get it right, it’s an exciting time to reopen.
3) HEALTH IS THE NEW WEALTH
A UK study shows that diabetes sufferers (aged 40+ years) are more at risk from COVID-19, and those with high blood glucose and BMI, hypertension and heart disease are also more likely to suffer from serious implications associated with Coronavirus.
So, this is where the health consciousness that existed before the crisis meets the desire for shared activity. It is this target group that is looking for an alternative that is available close to home to balance out their workday.
People of all ages have become aware that basic fitness and a strong immune system help to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. And even for those with pre-existing conditions, good basic fitness can mean the disease is milder or the side effects less severe.
Continue reading on the official Life Fitness website HERE.
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