UNDER THE PUMP
CITY GYMS RACING TO REOPEN
TO go, or not to go? That’s the question the estimated 40 per cent of adult Queenslanders who frequent gyms will be asking themselves as fitness centres prepare to reopen.
But it will be a changed industry. Vigilance about wiping down equipment will be paramount, and numbers will be limited to 20 at first. Some gyms will introduce booking systems and others will not offer shower facilities.
Research by Bastion Insights shows about 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.
Fitness enthusiasts who spoke to the Bulletin this week said they had paid as much as $5000 to set up their own home gyms.
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.
Gold Coast bodybuilder Marlette Le Feuvre said she had been able to continue her crucial training at home with a mix of bought and borrowed equipment, but she was looking forward to getting back into a gym.
“As a bikini bodybuilder, I have to train in a specific way to manipulate and grow my body. I can manage (at home) but I definitely would prefer to go to a gym,” she said.
The 27-year-old paramedic competed at the Arnold Amateur bodybuilding event in March, but the threat of the virus was by then already forcing events to be staged without spectators.
Despite winning the champion novice title at that event, Ms Le Feuvre said it “wasn’t the full Arnold experience”.
Ms Le Feuvre said she wasn’t worried about returning to the gym.
“I’m very well aware of the precautions I need to take to protect myself and others, so if everyone washes their hands, cleans the equipment and adheres to the distancing rule, there should honestly be no reason why that won’t suffice,” she said.
Others have made use of online fitness platforms during lockdown. Subscriptions to Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app reportedly jumped by 300 per cent, and last week former Bachelor star Sam Wood revealed sign-ups to his app 28 increased by 258 per cent leading up to May.
I HAVE TO TRAIN IN A SPECIFIC WAY ... I CAN MANAGE (AT HOME) BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD PREFER TO GO TO A GYM MARLETTE LE FEUVRE