Is Working Out At Home Here To Stay?

Before March, I never (ever, ever!) worked out at home. Anytime I tried I hated it. I’d get easily distracted by the pings of my phone or a stray dust bunny that had otherwise gone unnoticed. Of course, once I spotted it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I felt silly trying to let loose in a cardio dance class in the middle of my living room. But when I took a dance class IRL it felt like fun. More often than not I’d quit halfway through a workout because I wasn’t feeling it.

I wouldn’t say I’ve grown to love working out at home, but 10 months later I’ve grown to not hate it.

I appreciate the ease of rolling out of bed and walking 5 steps into my living room for a Bar Method class on Zoom. I’ve figured out the best way to move my furniture around my apartment for different workouts. I also invested in a few props for my favorite classes.

As an instructor, I’ve LOVED having the opportunity to teach my own yoga classes on Zoom (check out my February line up here!). Virtual classes have made it much easier to do your own thing as an instructor.

I’ve been thinking a lot, though, about what the fitness industry is going to look like when this is all over: Is working out at home be here to stay? I asked this question on Instagram last week and it’s been super interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

My Own Thoughts:

For me, once it’s 100% safe, I’ll definitely be back in the studio for things like barre and yoga. I SO crave the community, the accountability, and the lack of dust bunny distractions. After months of barely leaving my apartment, it will be such a treat to be with others. I’m also very fortunate that as part of my job, I get to work out for free at the studios I teach at. It’s both a great perk financially, but also makes it easy for me to work out before or after teaching my own class.

I do, however, think I’ll continue to do a few workouts at home during the week now. Not having to commute is a HUGE plus. I’ve invested in equipment for my apartment. I also hope my friends continue to offer Zoom classes as it’s been an amazing way to get to work out or do yoga with instructors from all over.

My Group Fitness Predictions:

A new hybrid model. Studios that are currently offering Zoom classes will continue to offer this as an option to clients. This might look like streaming live classes and having people tune in from home, which is already happening at some studios in states where fitness studios are legally open. Clients will have the option to sign up for both types of classes. Maybe on Mondays, you take class at home because your work schedule is too stressful, but on Tuesdays, you have a later start to your workday and can make it to class in the studio. Memberships will have this as an option.

Still Zooming. Some studios and instructors will still offer “Zoom-only” classes that cater to the at-home crowd and limited equipment. And of course, there are people like me that can teach their own classes from home, unrelated to a specific studio. I personally hope to still offer Zoom classes on my own, but some of that will also depend on my work schedule and if there really is still a demand for these kinds of classes once everyone is busy with life again.

Some people won’t go back. There will be some people that never used to work out at home but have now grown to love it and will stick to at-home workouts, especially if they invested in big-ticket items like a Peloton bike or treadmill.

But nothing beats IRL: People will be craving community when this is all over. Gyms and fitness studios are a community. While some people might blend both working out in studio and at home, there will still be a huge desire for working out IRL. In my opinion, you can’t totally replicate that energy. Even with a great product like Peloton, it’s not the same. There’s nothing quite like taking a class in a room with 40 others experiencing the same moment together.

✨

What do you think? Is working out at home here to stay? Has the pandemic shifted how you workout and what your workouts will look like going forward?