© Richard Ramos
Wellness
From virtual coaching to an increased focus on mindful workouts, here’s the expert-approved forecast for your workouts plans this year
Any other year, the onset of January would have witnessed a horde of conscientious resolution-makers hitting the gym floors to make good on their well-intentioned fitness goals. However, with the world grappling with newer mutations of the ongoing health crisis, consumer confidence in physical fitness spaces appears to have plateaued—only 31 per cent of gym-goers have chosen to continue their memberships post lockdown, according to global studies. While the queue at the gym shower may look a lot different this year, we’ve never been more acutely conscious of our fitness levels, believe the top trainers in the business. If you are wondering what the year ahead will look like, here are all the ways that the world of fitness has transformed, evolved and adapted to fit the new normal in 2021.
With gyms and fitness centres shuttered, fitness enthusiasts continued to find newer ways to get a sweat sesh in—this included making the transition to a virtual medium of coaching. There were challenges on both sides, believes Sohrab Khushrushahi, founder of Sohfit and go-to trainer for Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and others. He says, “When the lockdown first started, people were initially hesitant about virtual coaching, and justifiably so. When you are carrying something heavy, you always prefer to have someone around monitoring your movement and watching your form.”
However, as the lockdown went on, both sides worked on adapting to the new medium and he predicts that its popularity will continue to soar in the new year. “Virtual coaching has helped people train beyond barriers and geographical boundaries, and this has helped the trainer as much as the ones being trained. I always believe that you get your energy from the people you are training with and that is what gives any workout a different touch altogether,” he explains.
Shwetambari Shetty, fitness expert at Cure.fit, adds that the practical benefits of virtual training sessions can be overlooked either. “Beyond just being easy and convenient with a lesser commute, virtual sessions are also less intimidating which makes the barrier for entry lower for beginners. On the other side of the table, this also works well for trainers as they can coach without a physical space,” she says.
Celebrity fitness trainer Namrata Purohit believes that the corresponding increase in home gyms isn’t unexpected either. Having trained the best in the biz, from Kareena Kapoor Khan and Malaika Arora to Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan, she has now observed that everyday enthusiasts are investing in their fitness as well from within the comfort of their homes. She says, “Over the course of the lockdown, people started collecting simple pieces of equipment that they can use at home, such as dumbbells, resistance bands and foam rollers. For people who don’t have access to a gym or want to fit in a quick workout and skip the commute, home gyms will be a great option in 2021.”
Shetty seconds the notion, and adds that the pandemic has played a significant role in providing impetus to home gyms. “In the pre-pandemic world, home equipment was an unheard-of occurrence. Only the very motivated would invest in equipment to be kept at home for a quick workout on busy days. However, we are now seeing people investing in equipment that is being recommended by their trainers, including kettlebells and shorter barbells with plates, and this will only continue to rise this year,” she explains.
While footfall is still trickling back in gyms, all trainers are in unanimous agreement that outdoor workouts will witness a spike in demand as a safer alternative to closed, cramped spaces. Khushrushahi says, “People have grown tired of working out by themselves indoors during the lockdown of the past year, and they are now taking to open spaces that allow the mandatory six-feet distance and can serve as the canvas for a wide array of workouts, such as functional movement, lunges and even cycling.” While outdoor workouts are nothing new, Purohit adds that the switch could make for a welcome change. “This will serve as a golden chance for people to enjoy the weather outdoors and experience something new. If you’re tired of running on the treadmill, opt for a brisk jog around the park instead. A fresh breath of air is always necessary, along with the freedom to try something new which you may not be able to do indoors.”
In the wake of an unprecedented year, Shetty also believes that people will now be turning to exercises that can boost the mind-body connection. “This pandemic has also left us with a greater focus on mental fitness. As work-from-home continues and the future continues to look uncertain, there will be increased demand for mindful exercises, such as meditation and yoga. The mood-enhancing properties of dance fitness will also make it the go-to stress buster during this period of uncertainty,” she says.
The events of the past year have conspired to leave us with a greater appreciation for fitness, and Khushrushahi believes that the results are already visible as people look to more productive, results-driven workouts. “Despite being faced with a never-seen-before lockdown, people have become more conscious about their health than ever before. I’ve observed this change now in the fact that people are valuing their time more. Earlier, gyms were something of a social ground with a lot of socialising taking place in between sessions. I have now noticed that people are valuing their time more and are devoting every single minute spent to getting the most out of their workout and making their time there as productive as they can,” he says.
Ultimately, it was the prospect of a nationwide lockdown that enabled people to value the importance of fitness, believes the Mumbai-based celebrity trainer. “It was when we were confined within the four walls of our home that we truly appreciated the value of movement and its benefits. I feel that we’ll come out of this with an increased focus on fitness, with more people resolving to keep their momentum going, such as taking up a sport, once things open up,” he concludes.
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