The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 lockdown led to a huge change in the global fitness industry. With gyms closed and social distancing being enforced, home gyms were the only viable option. They quickly saw an upward trend as people turned their living rooms into home gyms. COVID-19 indicated a downward spiral of deteriorating health but people were not ready to relent! Just like that, COVID-19 led to the unprecedented rise of home gyms in all parts of the world.
What does it mean for the economy?
The home gym equipment industry hasn’t quite flourished like this ever before. With an increased emphasis on health and wellness during the pandemic, people took to working out even at home. Demand for a basic home gym setup reached an all-time high. Different products ranging from yoga mats to dumbbells and barbells started selling out. According to a US company’s retail data, the rise of home gyms led to the doubling of its growth revenue between the months of March and October in 2020. What’s more? Studies show that home gyms are here to stay. The home gym equipment industry is expected to be valued at more than USD 30 billion by 2025. It is safe to say that COVID-19 played a huge role in this.
What does it mean for people?
Home gyms have overtaken conventional gyms as the new normal. People are now realizing that they only need a few weights and a mat to practice a healthy lifestyle. They no longer need to put tons of money away for a gym membership or push themselves out of the comfort of their homes. And that is how the COVID-19 pandemic revolutionized the global fitness industry and made home gyms the new normal.
Manisha Ray
A connoisseur of all things wonderful in life, Manisha is a literature major at Delhi University. She is a keen observer and a quiet thinker.