According to estimates, there are over 200,000 gyms in India, of which only about 30,000 are somehow operating in an organised manner

Digital fitness solutions

A recent survey, entitled ‘Covid-19 Fitness Behaviour Survey’ by Bengaluru-based Gympik, a health and fitness service provider aggregator, reveals several interesting trends related to holistic fitness, as well as novel challenges the Indian fitness industry is facing in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. One of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, the survey draws insights from the responses of over 50,000 fitness enthusiasts from multiple regions. It maps the changes brought by the pandemic on the fitness behaviour of the Indian consumer.

A significant finding of the survey details the future shape of a post-pandemic reality. The survey highlights how consumers have adopted digital fitness solutions to counter the physical restrictions posed by the pandemic. The extended lockdown drove a massive surge in the demand for virtual classes for yoga (87 per cent) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) cardio workouts such as Zumba (72 per cent), aerobics (67 per cent), and Pilates (22 per cent).

Moreover, an overwhelming 84 per cent of fitness enthusiasts tried live-streaming fitness classes at least thrice during the lockdown – marking a significant increase over the corresponding numbers in 2019, which stood at 29 per cent. During the lockdown, 77 per cent of Indians also tried to stay fit by combining household chores with virtual classes and DIY home workout routines.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, it was the younger audiences who led this charge in the demand for virtual fitness. Consumers between 25 and 34 years of age were the most willing to adopt digital fitness solutions, with female users (60 per cent) being more open to virtual classes than male users (40 per cent). Major urban centres such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi/NCR dominated the country’s virtual fitness landscape, with 58 per cent, 46 per cent, and 42 per cent of their surveyed residents working out at least three to four times a week, respectively.

The survey also analysed the consumers’ enthusiasm towards resuming gym workouts – with strong sanitisation, social distancing, and spot temperature checks emerging as the key areas of concern. And, while 20 per cent of the respondents were eager to return to gyms, only 8 per cent felt it was safe enough to do so in the current situation. About 93 per cent of the surveyed fitness enthusiasts also expressed their doubts about sanitisation measures taken at physical fitness centres after the lockdown. Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of members said they would be more comfortable at the gym with additional sanitiser dispensers in the workout area, while 87 per cent felt regular temperature check-ins along with contactless payments and attendance systems would make them feel safer.

As gym owners gear up to resume operations, implementing better on-premise sanitisation can help them allay such concerns and get their business back to pre-pandemic levels. With customers also open to continue paying for digital fitness post-lockdown, they can also look at implementing hybrid physical/digital memberships to make their business more viable, sustainable, and future-ready.