PUNE: Many fitness trainers went into business for themselves after several gyms were closed since last year. Even if the facilities are slowly opening up and calling their employees back to work, the trainers have found a feeling of financial security by continuing as freelancers and are giving the companies competition.
Over 10,000 trainers have been unemployed since last year. Swagat Joshi, who started freelancing as a personal trainer last year, said, “Clients tend to connect more with the trainer than with the gym they go to. So it wasn’t difficult for me to get in touch with them and offer my services at home. ”
Akhil Jadhav, freelance trainer, said, “It is difficult to exercise with masks, face shields and other protective equipment because the rate of breathing increases with strenuous activity. At home, you don’t have to worry about any of these factors and you can concentrate fully on your training. ”
According to Nilesh Kale, president of the Pune Fitness Club Association, there were over 3,500 member gyms in Pune prior to the pandemic, of which about 1,000 were permanently closed by the end of 2020 and another 1,000 are on the verge of going under. The resulting job loss has become one of the biggest contributors to gym closures.
“After paying rent, electricity bills, and other bills, gyms struggle to offer huge discounts to get customers back. Personal trainers have no overhead costs. They are our biggest competition alongside fitness apps and online workouts, ”said a Pimpri gym owner.
Since customers choose to exercise from home for safety reasons and above all for convenience, they are replacing bulky equipment that takes up space in their homes with compact and versatile products, such as dumbbells with straps. Fitness enthusiast Jashan Bhumkar said, “As a fitness enthusiast, my main focus was weight lifting before the pandemic. Now I’ve bought a resistance band and a kettlebell, which helped me break through the monotony and try out new training routines at home every day. ”
“Resistance bands, when used correctly, can be just as effective as dumbbells and weights. In addition to building muscle and tone, it can also help with fat loss, ”said another fitness enthusiast, Jasim Khan.
