Due to the pandemic, in 2020, digital workouts exploded in popularity. In 2021, Digital workouts will remain popular because of their convenience, but that doesn’t mean in-person classes have become obsolete. A survey found that 92% of professionals hope to return to fitness studios and gyms in 2021, with 40% planning to return exclusively to in-studio workouts when they feel safe to do so.
“The past year has shown us that digital fitness has its clear benefits,” says Sadie Lincoln, co-founder and CEO of Barre3, a fitness studio franchise and online workout platform. “It’s convenient and removes some of the financial and time barriers that we might face getting to an in-person class, as well as any self-conscious feelings about working out with others. “People are learning to be physically and mentally at home in their bodies and that’s a magical thing!”
This explains why half of respondents are planning a hybrid mix of in-studio and at-home workouts next year. The report found that members are booking equipment-heavy classes like HIIT, cycling, Pilates and boxing, surmising that members will rely on in-person classes for workouts that are tough to do at home.
“Our fitness communities are really vital to our physical, mental and social well-being and while digital options have helped us through the pandemic, they can’t completely fill that void of connecting and exercising with other clients and instructors in the studio,” said Lincoln. “The brands that will really succeed once we are vaccinated will be the ones that have both in-person and digital offerings. The omni-channel model will become the only way for fitness communities to stay dynamic and create innovative in-person and digital experiences. We’re entering a phase where the consumer will decide what works best for them and we need to meet them everywhere they want to be. We need to be able to seamlessly serve a client who still craves the community of their in-person classes, but has an irregular schedule and needs to do some classes online, too.”
Another bonus of increased digital offerings? Being able to tune into a workout happening anywhere. Your fitness options are no longer limited to what is in your own city. Between virtual reality and apps that provide live workouts, you can exercise anywhere in the world.
The ability to work out in another state, or even country, is a welcome escape during a time when travel has been placed on hold, and many of us are cooped up in our homes. And studios and gyms have definitely taken note. For example, “Barre3 is actively investing in growing our digital platform in a way that enhances the studio in-person experience and meets our clients at all times of the day and all stages of life,” said Lincoln. “We have over 300 classes in our digital studio and are just around the corner from our first all-digital, month-long January Challenge.”
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