Gyms are one of the major cornerstones of society as they represent to many the process of change and self-improvement. That was taken away from many during the pandemic though as gyms all over the world were forced to close their doors. The sad reality was that many people exerting themselves indoors would have been a breeding ground for the virus, especially at the start of the pandemic. Fortunately for fitness enthusiasts around the world, gyms have now opened again which means that people are free to return to doing what they loved before COVID hit. However, the lockdown period might have given rise to an issue that may be a major problem for gym companies.
Without having access to a gym, many had to pursue other avenues to get their daily exercise in. One common way they did this was to go for runs in their local park, as exercise outside was still allowed at the time. This did not answer strength training concerns though and something different was needed for those who wanted to maintain the gains they had made in the gym. The answer to this equation was simple – buy the equipment and install it in the home. Over the pandemic, home gym setups became an increasingly attractive option as they would allow those frequent gym-goers to do much of the same activity they would do at an actual gym. Understandably, this trend has clear consequences for gym companies that are already struggling after reopening their doors.
In the US, sales of fitness equipment rose by 55% when their lockdowns were announced. This shows that gym companies are facing a reality where their customers may choose to stay at home instead of going to the gym. Unfortunately, there is not much that they can do about this either. When looking at the advantages of investing in a home gym setup, the choice is clear. They have a high setup cost but will eventually pay for themselves when a monthly gym membership is considered in the equation. Money would also be saved from reducing travel expenses, as well as time. Perhaps the biggest advantage though is convenience. A home gym setup allows people to use the equipment at will and be as loud as they want to be – two aspects that are simply impossible at a traditional gym.
Gym companies may be able to make their option more attractive by lowering their monthly costs and innovating more, but the truth remains clear that a home setup is simply more cost-effective and convenient. The future will likely see home gyms become commonplace as people will generally prefer to do things they can do outside in the home. The lockdowns exacerbated this notion, and many took to popular activities such as online gambling at places like nonukcasino.site, and of course, working out at home. One positive to take from the pandemic then could be that it offered a revelation to gym-goers: a home gym is simply better.