Leading a healthy lifestyle is something that most people dream of, though not everyone can make it a reality. Everyone knows that a balanced diet and regular exercise are vital to staying fit and health. For many people, the local gym is the easiest and most convenient place for them to visit to take part in some form of exercise.
Gyms are usually open from very early in the morning till late at night. This means that even people who are working all day long can pop in during the early hours or later in the evening, at least a couple of times a week to work out.
The Covid-19 Pandemic
2020 was to be the glorious new decade for people all over the world. It was to be the year that changed things for the better with people all over the world looking forward to what 2020 would bring. It’s no understatement to say that things have certainly not panned out how anyone expected.
The outbreak of the coronavirus and the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees. Nationwide lockdowns were happening all over the world, with people also being placed in quarantine and self-isolation. Our everyday life was turned upside down, and simple things that we took for granted such as eating out at a restaurant, socializing with friends and family, or even visiting the local cinema or gym, suddenly became things that we were forbidden to do.
The Lockdown effect
The Covid-19 lockdown affected people all over the world in many different ways. One of the main things that was really difficult for people to accept was being told to stay home, with it only being permitted to step outside if you had to work, visit the doctor or go shopping. For people who were always visiting their local gym or taking some form of daily exercise, they were now being told it was no longer allowed.
The home gym business literally exploded, with people buying gym equipment so that they would be able to work out at home. You could find all types of fitness products and equipment being sold online as well as available for rent. Things such as exercise bikes and treadmills are available for hire from a number of fitness companies operating around the world.
Sales in fitness equipment went through the roof
After the first few weeks of lockdown, it became apparent for many people all over the world that this was a situation that wasn’t going to be resolved quickly. It would take a lot of time for things to get back to normal. And timelines were created which shows the different stages of how things would start getting back to normal.
For the dismay of many, things such as gymnasiums were one of the things that was concerned not too important, with things such as getting people back to work and children to school being the main priorities.
This led to a huge surge in people going out and purchasing fitness equipment and setting up their own home gyms. It was reported that in the United Kingdom, home fitness equipment sales spiked by more than 5000%.
The demand for all types of fitness products was far outweighing the available supply. And as usual when demand is greater than supply, the prices start to rise.
Gym equipment gradually started to become more and more expensive. And even the most basic type of rowing machines, exercise bikes and treadmills were becoming simply too expensive for many people to afford. Especially when no one knew if they would still have a job in the near future.
Renting fitness equipment
Due to the high prices of purchasing fitness equipment, a number of stores and businesses switched business models, and began renting out the equipment instead of having it for sale. This immediately made it much more affordable to everyone. People were soon able to continue working out from their homes, but with professional machinery and equipment.
Treadmills for example were one of the most popular pieces of equipment to be hired out, simply because of the ban placed on people leaving their homes. Though many governments did allow people to go outside for daily exercise, there were time limits placed on many, and a lot of people were unable to complete their full workouts.
Hiring out equipment instead of having to purchase it was a huge relief to many households, especially during those days of uncertainty. It also served as a way to get other family members interested in working out and getting fit. Whereas in some families, just one member was visiting the gym for exercise on a regular basis, now with the equipment available at home, other family members were also using it, with many enjoying the home workout procedure.
Benefits of regular exercise
Everyone knows that frequent exercise is key to enjoying a healthy life, and this was just as important, if not more so, during the Covid-19 lockdown. Exercise became a way for people to bring a sense of normality into their lives, even if it meant working out at home, by purchasing or renting fitness equipment.
There are a number of benefits from working out, including physical and mental ones. If you are trying to lose weight, then frequent exercise in combination with a balanced diet can be very effective. It can also help you increase your energy levels and be beneficial for your muscles and bones.
Many people often find themselves in a happier mood when they are exercising. It’s a great opportunity to escape from the stress of everyday life, especially more so now with the coronavirus situation, and provides people with a brief escape, even if only for an hour or two each week.
Some final thoughts
2020 has been a very tough year for everyone. The Covid-19 outbreak was something that affected everyone on all corners of the globe. The pandemic is still very much among us. But gradually, some aspects of our daily lives have slowly started returning to normal.
No one knows what the future will bring when it comes to the coronavirus. Many countries across the world are already starting to experience the second wave of the virus. No one wants to have to go through the tough lockdowns again, but it might be the only way to help combat the spread of the virus. In the meantime, people are still being able to stay healthy and workout, especially those who have been fortunate enough to buy or rent fitness equipment for their homes.
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