People all over the world are in quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak and a lot of gyms and fitness studios are forced to temporarily close their doors until the pandemic is over and discover different ways to stay engaged with customers. This means that one-third of the earth’s population is stuck inside their homes with little to no physical activity which can have a negative impact on one’s physical and mental health.
Updating Their Learning Online
Although these times hold uncertainty, one thing does remain true – there’s a power in people connecting!
canfitpro is bringing the magic of in-person conferences online for canfitpro 2020 Virtual Series. From your own home, canfitpro 2020 Virtual Series attendees can participate from wherever they are in the world, live streaming education from fitness experts, leaders, pioneers, and innovators from around the globe. They will network and chat with one another, and engage with some of the world’s most influential fitness professionals. There can even connect in a virtual expo hall!
If you’re a trainer and planning to use this time to earn 2 CECs per day to a maximum of 8 by attending the Virtual Series and learn from over 100 presenters, fitness experts, leaders, pioneers and top fitness innovators, then this event is for you.
Importance of Physical Activity in Quarantine
Research has proven that physical activity lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Staying active can also boost one’s immune system because it flushes bacteria from the lungs, increases blood circulation, and raises body temperature which is all-important in order for the body to fight infection effectively.
Additionally, physical activity can help boost one’s mood because it promotes the release of endorphins or what is commonly known as feel-good hormones. This will help prevent any psychological issues that might develop as a result of being in a confined space for long periods of time.
Kyle Blust is one of the many fitness gurus who are looking to help people stay active during the outbreak and help trainers engage with customers.
“The rates of depression could possibly skyrocket after this,” said Blust in an interview. “Having a positive mindset, eating cleanly, and working out can all work to strengthen that immune system and to keep yourself from falling into that state of depression,”
A lot of fitness trainers believe that lockdown is not a hindrance to fitness. You won’t need gym equipment because you can use whatever it is you have in your home and still get a proper workout.
“Be creative and realize this is your body right now, and even though these circumstances we have we’re confined to our home, doesn’t mean we can’t get active,” said Joey Thurman, a fitness expert based in Chicago. “Don’t use [the quarantine] as an excuse to slack off on being healthy. Right now is the most important time to get active.”
In order for all of us to come out of this fit and healthy, we all have to include exercise into our daily routine.
Virtual Workouts During the Pandemic
The fitness industry, which is largely dependent on physical locations and on-site staff, was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With their doors having to be closed until further notice, many of them had to adjust to a new reality and were forced to turn to online platforms in order to survive the financial hit to their business and engage with customers.
Barry’s, a popular fitness studio, which has branches all over the world, began offering free workouts via Instagram Live starting on March 17, 2020. The studio normally charges $25 to $38 per class and this free content has significantly increased their social media following and solidified their online presence.
“Innovation is at the core of everything we do, so pivoting from in-person to social media to host live-at-home workouts was instinctual for us,” Barry’s CEO Joey Gonzalez stated in an interview with CNBC. “Instagram Live allows for the viewers to interact with us in real-time – and as a brand that places our community at our core, that was important to us.”
Y7, a hot yoga studio that has 15 branches all over the United States, is also offering two free digital workouts per week. They are preparing to launch a new streaming platform where customers can access all Y7 classes and charge $25 per class or $179 per month for unlimited classes.
Children haven’t been left out of the fitness equation either. With schools closing, parents are now looking for alternative ways for their kids to keep moving and stay active while practicing self-isolation. Fitness guru John Wicks is live-streaming daily “PE with Joe” lessons on his channel, The Body Coach, on weekdays.
“Exercise is an amazing tool to help us feel happier, more energized, and more optimistic,” Wicks wrote on his website. “The workouts will be fun and suitable for all ages, and even adults can get involved.”
Personalized Fitness Lessons
The COVID-19 lockdown also resulted in a number of personalized classes being offered by fitness trainers. Instructors are using video conference apps such as Zoom, Google Meet-up, and Dacast to conduct fitness classes that are tailored to each of the needs and abilities of their clients. Most of these personalized classes can be accessed on phones, laptops, and desktops and can even mirror the session on a TV screen.
These personalized online classes are perfect for those who are looking to get fit and healthy but aren’t sure where to begin.
Adapting to the Industry Shift
Because the fitness industry has gone virtual to engage with customers, there is no shortage of fitness lessons one can access online. However, it is important for the trainer to be certified and have had proper instruction in basic exercise science, human movement science, and nutrition. There are online personal training courses that teach all of those and more.
If you are someone who is looking to build a career in the fitness industry, you have to get certified from being a gym instructor to being a personal trainer. And because of the quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the perfect time to attend online personal training courses to get certified. Most of these personal trainer courses and gym instructor courses can be easily tailored to fit your schedule and have round-the-clock support that is just one phone call or email away.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the coronavirus has affected the fitness industry greatly. But there are a number of realizations that have come out of it.
Firstly, we don’t need to go outside in order to stay active. Sure, having the proper equipment from gyms and fitness centers helps a lot but we can also use ordinary things in our lives and still get proper exercise.
Secondly, we can always improve ourselves by learning a new skill from all the online courses available online. Whether you want to be a certified fitness trainer or you just want to learn a new language, you can surely achieve it with the right amount of perseverance.
And lastly, humanity’s ability to adapt is exceptional. The changes brought about the virus shook the entire world but we were still able to adapt to them despite all the difficulties.
