5000 good reasons to work out at home
Gyms across South Australia are set to open their doors this week – but bodybuilder Abozar Faizi is one of many who say they are happy to keep working out at home.
Fitness
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TO go, or not to go? That’s the question the estimated 40 per cent of adult South Australians who frequent gyms will be asking themselves as fitness centres reopen their doors today.
It will be a changed industry. Fitness classes will have a maximum of 10 participants, and vigilance about wiping down equipment will be paramount. Some gyms will introduce booking systems and others will not offer shower facilities.
Research by Bastion Insights shows around 40 per cent of Australians have been exercising less during the lockdown period, while one in four are exercising more. And many of them may now simply prefer working out in their own home or at a local park.
A spokesperson for fitness retailer rebel said that in April, weights were being sold at four times the rate they did in April 2019, and demand for pilates and yoga equipment was more than twice the usual weekly average.
“More Australians are turning to home workouts. We noticed the trend as soon as authorities started talking about social distancing,” a rebel spokesperson said.
Gawler-based personal trainer Abozar Faizi estimated he spent $5000 on home gym equipment when lockdowns were looming.
“I know it’s big money but I had to do something,” Mr Faizi – Abz to his friends – said. “Bodybuilding is a passion for me and I want to take it further and turn pro.
“People were like ‘Why are you doing this, the gym’s going to open again and things will be back to normal’, but I can’t afford to lose the time. I can’t just sit back.”
“I started working at home using rubber bands and two dumbbells, and the second week I
started buying equipment … a chest press, shoulder press, Smith machine, lat pulldowns, a few dumbbells.
“Ninety per cent of whatever I was doing at the gym I can get done at home.”
The 25 year old, who came to Australia from Afghanistan with his family 14 years ago, has his sights set on state bodybuilding championships in October or November and the national titles in Melbourne shortly thereafter.
Asked whether his physique had declined during the lockdown period, he said it had actually improved.
“Maybe when I was at the gym I was getting distracted by my friends or other things,” he said. “Right now when I (work out) all my concentration is on me. There’s no one to distract me.”
The father of one said he missed the fun of the gym, and he would return once they opened to work with clients, but he was happy to continue with his home workouts. Concern about the virus was another factor that made home workouts more attractive, he said.
Other gym goers have turned to online sources to maintain their fitness during the lockdown.
Subscriptions to Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app reportedly jumped by 300 per cent, and this week former Bachelor star Sam Woods revealed sign-ups to his app 28 increased by 258 per cent leading up to May.
Snap Fitness CEO Ty Menzies told News Corp that online fitness classes would continue to be popular even after gyms re-open.
“There will be a number of people who will still feel anxious about coming back to the gym,” he said. “Or they may only want to do a couple of days a week and potentially work out at home to limit any sort of risk, so those virtual workouts will give really handy tips for them to supplement their workouts.”
Snap would be arranging for increased cleaning, sanitation stations and barriers between equipment when its 207 Australian centres re-open, Mr Menzies said. Users will be reminded to bring their own towels and told to wipe down all machines after use, while shower facilities would not be accessible at first, he said.
Social distancing requirements might force some franchisees to implement booking systems for users, Mr Menzies said, but Snap’s 24-hour operating model would actually work to their advantage, with a more even spread of gym-goers throughout the day.
Mr Menzies said he was encouraged by the opening of Snap Fitness centres in New Zealand, where outlets were reporting patronage at 90 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
“There’s significant consumer sentiment in New Zealand to get back to the gym, and I have no doubt that getting out of the house and back to the gym will be something that Australians will be very eager to do,” he said.
A spokesperson for Fitness First said their procedures for reopening were still being finalised, but they would include social distancing, increased cleaning, staff training and the provision of hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes for all gym users.
Originally published as 5000 good reasons to work out at home