Most
of us have never seen anything like this in our lifetime!
Due to this COVID 19 pandemic, all
non-essential businesses throughout much of the world are closed. People are
being ordered to self -isolate. The closed businesses
include fitness centers, private fitness training studios, aerobics
classes, and indoor spin and cycling clubs. They are not considered essential
services.
All businesses are affected but Fitness Trainers are
especially vulnerable. What are the possible options for Fitness Trainers to continue
plying their trade?
Fitness
centers: Most
are closed for an indeterminate time in much of the civilized world. This
option is a no go for the present time! Given my experience with fitness center
chains, they are unlikely to continue paying their trainers while they are
closed.
Personal
Fitness Training studios: If the business is registered and incorporated it is likely
closed. To try and sneak in clients on the sly could earn a Fitness Trainer
some stiff legal consequences or at the very least, some public shaming as a
COVIDIOT.
Visiting
the client at their residence:
There are Fitness Training companies
that specialize in this specific business plan. The client would need
workout equipment, the Fitness Trainer would need portable fitness
equipment; or the Fitness Trainer would need to improvise using body
weight exercises or aerobic activities such as running. Personal
distance precautions would be prudent and wise.
Meeting
the client at a park or other convenient neutral place: Again, there would be a need for portable exercise equipment
or to improvise using body weight exercises or playground climbing bars, hills,
running or bicycling. Social distancing is still a necessity.
Train
your clients interactively online:
This can be done using skype,
digital cameras or even just e-mailing or messaging the client. The online
training phenomenon is currently exploding. YouTube has no shortage of
online fitness gurus pedaling training packages. A Fitness Trainer without a
place to work with their clients may be tempted to try this. Such a personal
training route could have some underlying issues.
·
The online
field may be already saturated. The
newcomer will be jumping in against established online trainers. There are possibly
more online trainers than the market will bear. It could be a slow, uphill
process rather than a quick financial solution.
·
Does the
client really benefit? Internet training takes the ‘personal’
out of Personal Fitness Trainer. I
tend to share a view held by Edmonton Fitness Trainer Greg Harvey “There
are visual cues that you can only pick up by being physically present while the
client exercises.” However, it
might be a good way to keep the client engaged and in contact until the health
crisis and lock down is over.
·
Could there
be legal issues? There are potential safety and
liability issues to consider when pushing a client through a strenuous workout
but not being in attendance with that client. Some sort of waiver form should
be a requirement but even that might not protect totally against a lawsuit for
negligence.
·
Fitness Trainers should absolutely have a website to promote and market their
services. However, earning a living strictly online might arguably prove to be
a difficult, if not questionable, undertaking.
| Workout center patrons were greeted by signs like this in mid March of 2020. |
This current world health crisis leaves
the Fitness Training industry in a crux. If the above options are
not feasible, what is a Fitness Trainer to do? Some may qualify for employment
insurance. Many are private contractors and may or may not have paid into the employment
insurance plan. Government emergency payouts are possible but it would mean
navigating through a bureaucracy in which civil service employees are working
from home.
There is certain to be a culling of those
that work in this industry! This crisis seems to be
growing by the day. No one can predict how long it will continue. There are
many possible outcomes and questions to the aftermath:
·
Can the Fitness Trainer recover? “When
the immediate threat has passed, how many personal trainers will be able to
pick up where they left off? How many will even want to?” asks fitness
guru Greg Harvey.
·
Will the client return to the fold? Does
the client want to start up again paying a Fitness Trainer, especially if they
have just finished an extended period of reduced income? If deferred bills have
piled up, hiring a trainer could be very low on the priority list.
·
What will happen to Fitness Trainers
that have fitness studio rent, warehouse leases, equipment and staff pay? According
to Harvey, many personal training studios open and then go bankrupt within a few years year even in the best of times. “How many can weather the storm through
this type of catastrophe?”
·
It seems probable that only the strong
will survive. Fitness Training is close to a saturation point. There is a
growing population of Fitness Trainers, but the growth of the client base is
questionable. Screen time on a phone or computer appears to have the
winning hand for people’s attention.
·
Expect a weeding out in the fitness
industry. Harvey forecasts rough times ahead! I agree. Many
full-time trainers could move on to other careers. Some might seek other jobs
and keep the Fitness Training as a sideline part time gig.
·
Home exercise equipment is certain to
have a resurgence when emergency health measures end and the economy begins to
recover. Expect companies such as Peloton, with its interactive fitness guide, to
explode with sales. I predict that the rise of the machines
may sadly make Fitness Trainers obsolete. The new world order may be upon
us! Please let me be wrong!
| Will this become a common sight in the future world of fitness? |
Until next time
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