As I walked into Space Gym last Monday (International Chest Day), it felt like there was not enough space at the facility for the gym members.
It is quite evident now that the fitness industry has bounced back from the two years of closures and restrictions stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many people and businesses have been through difficult times, both economically and emotionally. However, health and fitness have never been more important than they are today, and there are opportunities for the local fitness industry to bounce back even stronger over the coming months.
Spoiler alert: strength training, group fitness and engaging, high quality classes will boom.
Here are some reasons why the fitness business will be booming:
Home workouts are boring in the long term
The world is learning to live with Covid-19
Health is the new wealth
Strong is the new sexy – bodyweight vs strength training
Pictures and videos of people working out in their living rooms and/or backyards are no longer filling our social feeds. This is because mask wearing is now optional, and people are jumping at the chance to escape the limited training options that at-home workouts provide. 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, trainers play an essential role. They can write individualized plans for people of all ages, genders and fitness levels. YouTube videos, while helpful, cannot determine a person’s current actual condition including medical history. Pre-existing conditions or limitations are also not considered. More specific goals such as muscle building must be executed with supra-threshold stimuli in addition to training – i.e. heavy weights. For this, a professional environment is essential. A gym ensures that.
The gym also provides a steady increase (progression) of the load through professional strength training equipment and know-how of the trainers. Further, professional equipment feels better and effectively loads the target muscles without unnecessarily straining passive structures. In addition, working out in an environment with like-minded individuals, with the music thumping and adrenaline running, trumps working out at home alone.
