As a gym owner, I’ve been targeted with lots of social media advertisements selling their online programs for coaches to train clients online.
It often reads – “The gym is dead, learn how to train clients online in 5 easy steps and print money”
Even in my own circles I have seen and read of lots of owners closing their gyms and taking their clients online.
I get it, running a gym is hard – like, a thousand times harder than I thought it would be. There’s also a lot of risks too!
But let me tell you – THE GYM IS NOT DEAD
We have been open now for a couple of weeks. August is always a quiet month with people taking cottage trips and vacations (camping this year). However, people are craving the gym.
Lots of my members have said “this is not like being at home” – these people did constant zoom and online training with us but being in the gym is different.
Here’s the thing – you can absolutely be successful with an online coach. I have had an online coach for years and probably always will do. I also always had access to a gym. 95% of the time I’ve trained alone and I’m ok with that.
I can still push myself when I’m alone. I’m very competent with the technique required and I can video and correct myself if needed. Owning or working in a gym for the last 10 years has also meant I’ve had access to a full gym at any time.
The gym is not dead because the majority of people don’t have this. The majority of people need a coach to correct their technique and a lot of people struggle to workout alone. We have some people currently training at home with limited equipment and they are doing really well – but this isn’t the majority.
Defy Functional Fitness is a boutique gym. We know all of our members by their first name and most people know each other too. In this environment, everyone is respecting social distancing and ensuring they clean all their equipment because they know their friend will be using it next.
As for a large chain gym. I’m not so sure. The conversations I have had suggest people aren’t so comfortable returning to this environment right now which is understandable. I don’t know what it will look like for these facilities in the next few months.
The good news for people is that a gym like ours will likely get you more success. Your goals are cared about, you will be coached and you won’t have to figure it out for yourself. You get coaching rather than access to equipment.
While training at home with a remote coach is possible, it’s certainly not the way everyone wants to go or will be able to get the most success. If you need a coach to help you train at home then we can help you if you need a gym to get the most from your training – then we have that too.
Everyone has their own journey and we can help you navigate yours.