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How Covid-19 Will Forever Change the Training Industry

My brother and I were having a conversation the other week and he asked me how I thought this pandemic would change the training landscape in the future.

I outlined a few things and would like to hear your opinion on my thoughts.

1.) Whether the shelter in place is lifted or not, things won’t be “back to normal” well in to next year. Until there is a for sure vaccine I just don’t see it happening.

This doesn’t mean gyms would forever be shutdown or limited on hours, but I think it will effect people’s attitudes towards being in overcrowded spaces.

2.) Big box gyms like LA Fitness and Lifetime fitness may see a drop in overall memberships until a vaccine is created.

Again, I think the whole pandemic will have a psychological effect on people, rightfully so. Being in a gym during peak hours, it’s almost impossible to eliminate exposure to anything.

They will most likely find ways to virtually serve members and will have to find ways to add value as opposed to just people paying monthly for access to machines.

3.) Smaller, relationship based training businesses could fair well because they are smaller, don’t have as much foot traffic, and are coaching based with micro communities.

However, even they will need to increase the value exchange if they want to thrive long-term.

4.) There will definitely be a virtual shift as this past month and a half has proven.

Trainers will either offer virtual sessions or have virtual options in conjunction with in person services. More and more trainers will start doing this, but will need to be smart and have true systems in place in order to survive long-term.

5.) Bootcamp based gyms will take a hit. Overcrowded sweatboxes are the lasts place the majority of people will want to be.

You may even see a few of them close because they were unable to pivot.

6.) Even though there will be more places offering “Virtual Training” they will have initial success, but in order to really have a good long term business, gyms will have to offer more than just “workouts”.They will need to find ways to add value and service in addition.

The reason why is it will be easier and easier for people to find workouts online.

Google, Instagram trainers, what your friend thinks, it will water down the value of workouts delivered from qualified coaches.

So to really offset this, rather than just providing a zoom link , or a video workout, gyms will have to get creative in additional services because these will be so common

7.) I think that more people will eventually be more in tune with their health than ever after this pandemic. One of the takeaways apparently was that people with pre existing conditions were at more risk of succumbing to Covid.

Specifically, people who were overweight, less active, who had high blood pressure, or diabetes were at high risk.

The fortunate thing about this realization is that with proper eating and exercise, these conditions can be controlled and or reversed.

Maybe people will become more conscientious of their overall health, and with a vaccine not yet created, will take the necessary steps to improving their health and be less vulnerable to Covid’s negative effects.

8.) High School training programs will need to adapt and add virtual or remote solutions as well. While a small few have, all others will need to.

This is especially important for competitive athletes. Coaches will need to find ways to deliver effective programming that will keep athlete not only active, but accountable, and injury free when they return from periods like this.

After seeing a handful of “training” programs assigned to kids, they are very basic and rudimentary. They will not be enough to keep high performers performing at high levels.

Push up and burpee packets wont cut it.

So coaches and schools will need to implement thorough solutions to deliver appropriate and calculated programming.

9.) With the fitness landscape being so saturated with fitness “experts” there may be more use of Online training certifications to begin separating the nonsense from the legitimate.

Again, it’s not hard for someone to deliver workouts virtually. Being certified will show that a trainer is vested in their craft and wants a long-term business that will help people.

10.) Gyms will be cleaner than they have ever been. People will want reassurance that their workout spaces are cleaned relentlessly and are as clean as possible.

Anyway, these are my 2 cents.

What are your thoughts?

-Coach