The fitness industry is one such industry that has suffered greatly due to COVID-19. Class bookings and gym attendance have dropped to roughly 91% of pre-coronavirus levels. Fitness studios and gyms were the first enterprises to undergo mandatory shutdowns due to the threat of COVID-19 spread as these are high-touch establishments.
How has this shutdown affected the industry? The post below sheds light on this and other fitness-related queries. Keep reading to learn more.
What’s the Importance of Keeping Fit?
If you’re not working out already with steroids from Canadian Anabolics, here are some solid reasons why you should:
- It helps you have stronger muscles and joints.
- It helps you feel better- you get more sleep, and your self-esteem is at its peak.
- It lowers your risk of getting a heart attack.
- It reduces the risk of some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
- It helps you manage your weight.
How the Pandemic Has Affected the Fitness Industry
When the government announced the closure of fitness centers and tighter social-distancing laws, the industry was affected in the following ways:
1. Difficulty to Pay the Bills
Though the centers have closed, that doesn’t mean that overheads and bills have stopped. Owners find it hard to pay electricity bills, bank loans, salaries of employees, and bank loans. With most people freezing their membership, most gyms have lost regular income.
2. Home Workouts
Without classes and gyms, many individuals have turned to at-home exercises to remain healthy and fit. While some are opting for digital content, others are purchasing products to use themselves, such as:
- Ab rollers
- Skipping ropes
- Yoga mats
- Resistance bands
- Dumbbells
3. Digital Transmission
Plenty of gymnasiums have moved content and classes online. There’s been a massive shift towards using social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook and video conferencing software like Zoom to interact with new users and existing customers.
Instructors offer everything from dance and boxing, yoga to HIT, to barre through a monthly subscription, for free, or via a discounted rate all online.
4. Job Loss
Last year, the fitness industry’s workforce decreased by 44% as 1.4 million staff members lost their sources of income. The 3.2 million industry jobs were in a state of uncertainty when owners shut down approximately 95% of fitness centers at the peak of closures in the spring.
5. Uncertainty About Gyms
There’s a (logical) worry in the industry that the prolonged shut down of fitness centers and gyms will mean individuals will get accustomed to not using them. Even when these centers reopen, people may hesitate to rejoin since they have cheaper alternatives at home and online.
Conclusion
COVID-19 is a significant hindrance to the success of the fitness industry. The good news is, all hope isn’t lost. All this is only for a while. Just as we overcame the previous pandemics (swine flu, bird flu, influenza, etc.), we shall overcome coronavirus. Additionally, trainers offer their services online, which means the industry is still as functional as ever.
