Jeff Roberts used to watch people cancel their Renegade Fitness memberships because of the pandemic, but now he’s getting calls from people saying they need to get memberships because of the pandemic. increase.
Roberts, Renegade’s fitness director and general manager, says there’s been a trend among people to return to a community feel, as reflected in the growing interest in small classes. And then there’s the shift in focus that he can’t stress enough. It’s wellness.
While before the pandemic people wanted to workout “for a certain look,” Roberts said there’s more interest than ever in fitness to help with depression and anxiety today. I see that Renegade is starting to focus more on yoga and meditation.
Nearly three years into the pandemic, Renegade is back to its original numbers, with locations in Waterford, Pawcatuck, Groton, Norwich, East Greenwich and Rhode Island, “probably stronger,” Roberts said. . He estimates Jim reached that level last summer.
Other local gym and fitness studio owners share similar lessons. They have regained the position they lost during the pandemic, and we are seeing a shift in the main reasons our members exercise. However, as in any industry, hiring can still be difficult.
Roberts said Renegade’s price hike was due to the pandemic, not inflation, and he doesn’t believe inflation will affect membership numbers, adding, “People feel it’s an investment in health, not an expense. I think it is,” he said.
Kent Ward, owner of New London’s Whaling City Athletic Club, says that in addition to exercise and the science behind it, the “magic drug” is camaraderie. He spoke Thursday morning about the past three years.The groups most affected by the pandemic warmed up before hitting the punching bag, he said.Championship round class.
This is a program for people with mobility impairments. Most have Parkinson’s disease. Ward says that once you’re in the program, you have to keep working consistently.
The Whaling City Athletic Club has also brought back all other classes and programs such as jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. Ward said the center has launched a new senior fitness program, added noon classes, and has a growing “Mom and Me” program.
Ward says many good gyms haven’t worked out, which makes him feel bad.Twenty-five percent of the country’s health clubs and studios have closed permanently since the pandemic began, according to the National Health & Fitness Alliance. It has been. The Associated Press reportedbut data from location analytics firm Placer.ai shows a 32% increase in fitness studio foot traffic in the first two weeks of 2023 compared to 2022.
“It took forever to rebuild the membership. It took forever. They just kind of came in,” Ward said. However, he said: Anyway, that’s what you’re being taught here” and “Now it’s business as usual. People are back and more comfortable and confident.” Noting being a nurse, he knows “it’s not over yet.”
Gym-goers may no longer be wearing masks or socially distancing in general, but some changes remain. Hand sanitizer, red tape on the floor to separate spaces and her N95 respirator at the door are provided but not required.
Greg Drab, owner of Mystic’s Advantage Personal Training, said membership numbers will increase in 2022 and now has more members than before the pandemic. Like Ward, he said it will be “absolutely little by little” that people will return after gyms reopen in 2020.
Many switched to private training in 2020, but Drab has been steadily growing in small group training since then.
Advantage Personal Training continues its virtual programming. So people move and remain members. Drab notes that clients who live in Salem may not want to drive 30 minutes each way, saying that for some, wanting a virtual class was “actually as convenient as it is convenient for him.” I don’t think it’s about COVID,” he said.
Another change he saw was that as more people worked from home, more people went to work during the day and so on. He has also seen a significant increase in his 60+ clients wanting his program for general exercises such as “a combination of strength, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular training.”
People still want to lose fat, but Drab says, “I’ve noticed a trend that people are looking healthier overall and living a healthier lifestyle.”
Lindsi Bratland, owner of Pure Barre in Waterford, made a similar comment to Drab. Over the past three years, I think we’ve had the opportunity to really assess what’s important when it comes to the life choices we make. ”
During the conversation, she said the members are “really looking for long-term health goals. They want to keep their bodies stronger. They want to build endurance.”
Pure Barre transitioned to online classes shortly after the gym closed, giving members access to Pure Barre’s proprietary equipment. Most people are back in the studio, Bratland said, but some people still access classes online, and many say he sees them three to four times a week and spends one to four hours in person. I have been online twice.
She said numbers have increased since February last year and are “going back to pre-pandemic memberships.” Bratland also opened her CycleBar franchise in Waterford a year ago and installed hospital-grade air filters there, like she did with her Pure Her Barre before reopening.
She said the Pure Barre community’s support has given her “confidence that another boutique fitness opportunity would be welcomed.” I think it was scary, but it was a rewarding journey,” he added.
