Between Q1 and Q2 2020, India saw a 156 per cent increase in total fitness app downloads, the highest in any country during the pandemic.
“Gyms and fitness studios were shut down during the pandemic which interrupted the growth trajectory of the fitness sector in India, making it imperative to accelerate the digital transition,” said Jitendra Chouksey, Founder and CEO, Fittr, explaining why fitness apps have seen such a surge in the last 24 months.
“Gym-goers also began to adapt to working out at home,” he said.
Now with gyms open once again post the third wave, does this still hold true?
Hybrid the new norm
Chouksey believes there is still some apprehension about going to the gym where a group of people may be gathered. Also, since a number of people continue to work from home, an online fitness model makes it easier to squeeze in a quick workout while working from home, he said.
“We are witnessing a new breed of fitness enthusiasts come into the fold who are comfortable in following a hybrid model to meet their fitness goals thus making virtual fitness a key component in the industry,” said Chouksey.
Some other trends that the founder expects to see in 2022 are:
Popularity of wearable tech
“Even before the lockdown, wearable tech had become a necessity. However, now post-pandemic everyone has been accustomed to consciously check their pulse rates, heart rates, daily step count, and continue challenging themselves to get fitter,” Chouksey said. According to the International Data Corporation, the Indian wearables market grew 170.3 per cent year-over-year (YoY) in Q1 2021, between January and March, shipping 11.4 million units.”
Surge in online classes
“We live in a period of incredible innovation. AI-backed by deployable data is enabling brands to offer smarter fitness and wellbeing solutions. Today, several platforms showcase live instructions from trainers and AI-enabled tracking to monitor workouts in real-time, making it more personalised for the users,” he said.
“Much like the education sector, the fitness sector will also have pre-recorded online classes that one can follow. These will be either free or competitively priced, and all one will need is access to apps to begin their virtual fitness journey.”
Focus on holistic well-being
“2020 highlighted the need to focus on our mental health in tandem with physical fitness. People are increasingly opting for brands with holistic solutions and offerings, including muscle fitness to yoga and meditation courses online. This is allowing the industry to pivot, build and foster communities.”
Increased demand for experts
“With the fitness industry observing one of the most significant leaps to online development and becoming digital, the need for fitness specialists and nutritionists has increased. Online fitness coaching became a lucrative business and an attractive and mainstream career option in no time, with many applying to become certified trainers and even earning specialised fitness certificates by taking online fitness courses.”
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