How COVID has affected the health & fitness industry and Australians alike.
On 23 March 2020, over 6 400 fitness businesses closed their doors and over 35 000 people were out of a job.
Data from Fitness Australia’s COVID-19 Fitness Industry Impacts Report released last year found:
‘81% of exercise professionals and sole traders had lost their job or main source of income
70% of businesses cited a 100 percent decline in memberships
Revenue was down 100% for 50 percent of gym owners
Gyms that could adapt and go virtual or outdoors were able to only generate less than 10% of their usual income.’
In The Sydney Morning Herald, there was an article from June 2020 titled ‘Will the crisis actually make us healthier in the long run?’ which was a very interesting read. It stated that ‘For most, it's been a time to focus on surviving and evaluating what is truly important to us.’
Many people have turned to outdoor activities dusting their old bicycles off, swimming or participating in group fitness classes, or attending online classes.
Exercise and nutrition expert at Queensland University of Technology Professor Remco Polman says it’s good to see “a lot more people starting to exercise as a family.
There’s a lot more parents playing with children, which means they’re having a lot more incidental physical activity, which is very important for our overall fitness levels,” he says.’
Polman continues to say “The good news is that during the pandemic, people have started doing exercise activities they probably enjoy doing rather than just going to the gym, which they probably felt they had to do. And when we enjoy something, we are more likely to adhere to it, long term”.
The article added that ‘And while we still have a way to go on many health fronts, experts are optimistic that the habits we’ve picked up while in lockdown just may make us healthier in the long run,’ which is a huge positive in my book.
The University of Sydney published a similar article in July 2020, titled ‘Has COVID-19-boosted interest in physical activity? As to ‘Why is physical activity so important?’ Associate Professor Ding recently co-authored a paper in The Lancet Global Health that suggests at least 3.9 million early deaths are averted worldwide each year by people being physically active.
“Based on these calculations Australia’s physical activity levels have averted 5,000 deaths among men and 2,800 deaths among women each year,” said Associate Professor Ding.
“Prevention is often not given credit because we hardly see its effects when it works, but this study clearly shows the importance of adequate levels of physical activity.”
Research shows that ‘Yoga, Pilates, and HIIT classes have been the most popular virtual offerings while people exercised at home during the lockdown...
Other ‘key findings from The Fitness Industry and the New Normal include:
Australians remain active during COVID-19 with 76% working out at least three times a week, and of these Australians, 15% are working out daily, or more.
Australians have drawn the motivation to continue their fitness journeys through COVID from having extra free time (49%), greater access to virtual workout content (39%), and as a means of coping with stress (36%).
Conversely, almost half (45%) of the Australian population have engaged in fitness less frequently, mostly attributed to a lack of motivation (58%).
Virtual fitness offerings are popular among and are likely here to stay, with over half utilizing live-streamed or pre-recorded workouts (56%), and anticipating to continue this routine at least once a week (51%).
Yoga (32%), Pilates (21%) and HIIT (14%) classes came out on top when assessing the popularity of virtual offerings, while Pilates (28%), strength training (26%), and yoga (26%) were the preferred in-person workouts upon reopening.’
In conclusion, there is plenty of evidence showing the benefits of exercising. I do understand that at times COVID has thrown a spanner into the works, so to speak, especially for those who depended upon fitness classes or instructors directing them on which exercise to and now no longer have access to those instructors.
But all is not lost. If you were a gym bunny and feel isolated or lost without having their guidance, fear not. Do what you can do with what you do have, go for a walk (within COVID restriction protocol), or attend an online class. There are plenty online.
If you are under restrictions and can’t leave the house, consider moving inside doing things like vacuuming, dusting, or mopping the floors. Put your favorite playlist on and move it.
If you love gardening, get outside and weed or start a veggie patch. ALL movement that you accumulate during the day contributes to moving.
.
Your body doesn’t know that you’ve done some gardening, some housework, and a walk around the block. It only knows that it’s moved, and feels fabulous.
Regardless of what you choose to do, the best exercise is the one that you enjoy and will consistently do.
So go on, get movin’
Watch our for our next blog we will be discuss ‘What exercises you can do at home during COVID.’
References:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30211-4/fulltext