With no likelihood of gymnasiums starting over amid the increase in coronavirus cases, people have turned to virtual training. With the gradual rise in at-home fitness, the demand for gym equipment and virtual trainers has witnessed a spike.
More demand for virtual trainers
Reports published in Times Of India suggest, online streaming by health clubs and fitness studios has risen to a great extent. Some e-commerce portals, too, have added a’digital personal trainer’ section on their app. A Snapdeal spokesperson says, “Customers are buying fitness coach and nutrition expert consultations that we’ve recently added on our website. It lets them see how they’re doing compared to virtual classmates.”
Fitness experts opined, using apps and virtual classes keep them motivated. Kavita Duggal, who works in the hospitality sector, says, “I like training through fitness apps. It is not expensive, and if you follow diligently, it is as good as a gym session.”
The demand for fitness equipment is increasing rapidly during lockdown, with people setting up home gyms. A staff member at an e-commerce website says, “Even with social distancing norms, it isn’t safe to use gyms for at least a few months. So, we expect more people to order treadmills and cycles.”
Nitin Kumar, who works for a transport company, says, “I spent half of the lockdown watching fitness videos lying on my couch. I didn’t exercise much as I didn’t have weights. But now I’ve ordered them. Most of my friends and colleagues are also buying gym equipment as in a month or two, we’ll have to go back to office.”
‘Fitness equipment demand up by 60%’
A Snapdeal spokesperson says, “The demand for fitness equipment in the last two months was nearly 60% more than the same time last year. The hot-selling equipment is priced under Rs 500. Exercise bands are popular due to their versatility and price, and sales of gym bags and bottles has significantly reduced as compared to pre-lockdown.” Most of these orders come from NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. A Flipkart spokesperson says, “With social distancing being the new norm, consumers have turned home spaces into gyms. Fitness products such as yoga mats and dumbbells are seeing a rise in searches.“