A pan-India study of over 1.06 million people, conducted by Gympik, revealed that 68% women in India believe that Virtual Gyms are the future.
There are many reasons why people in India get discouraged to go to the Gym. From having to wade through the traffic, late working hours, family commitments to just not wanting to get out of the bed, people tend to skip gyms or regular work-outs, despite the growing health concerns.
However, things are changing! The growing influence of the digital world can be seen in the way we conduct ourselves, right from seeking information online, to buying products and socializing. Virtual Gyms are part of the same transition we’re witnessing in our lifestyles. Online gyms are making health and fitness resources available to the consumer in the comforts of their home or wherever they are!
Meanwhile, like any other challenges that come with internet, experts caution, online videos can lead to injuries or other adverse health outcomes, if the instructors are not certified or the source of the information is not genuine. In fact, eexercises featured may not be suitable for novices. Hence, it’s extremely imperative to make sure the online instructors are certified by some of the best certifications such as NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), ACE (The American Council on Exercise), AFPA (American Fitness Professionals and Associates), NSCA (The National Strength and Conditioning Association), NFPT (National Federation of Professional Trainers), IFPA (International Fitness Professionals Association), and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).
Commenting on the research, Amaresh Ojha, Founder and CEO, Gympik, said, “With current lifestyle and changing trends it is important to adapt modifications that will make a healthier and fitter India. Having said that, one should also make sure they are following credible and certified instructors online. While, workouts such as full body training, abs workout, cardio, HIIT, spinning, sprinting etc. can be mastered through online classes, weight training requires learning the proper techniques and postures and hence, it is recommended that it should be performed under the supervision of an expert trainer.”
“The accuracy of the classes can be determined by doing a little research on the certifications of the online trainers, the institution that is organising such online classes and their reputation or client satisfaction. These are the few areas that may help you determine the credibility of the online classes or sessions you are spending your money on. In fact, looking at the growing trend, Gympik will also be launching its virtual gym and workout classes very soon.” Amaresh added.
A few examples of gyms and certified instructors who already have their popular videos online are Cult fitness, Raghav Pande’s Xcell fitness, Guru Mann’s Health and Fitness channel, and Shilpa Shetty’s yoga, among others.
Gympik conducted the market research – Weighing up fitness – mainly among the age group of 20-35 years in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad to find out the current fitness trends and habits among Indians. Gympik study found that 52% do not find time to exercise, while 36% lack the motivation to join a fitness centre. In fact, 14% claim to be absolutely clueless about where to begin their fitness journey from.
While combating stress (33%) was among the top five reasons to workout, according to the survey, reducing health-related risks (53%) was the biggest draw, especially among professionals. Improving energy levels (46%), losing weight (42%), increasing functional strength (37%) and building muscle (18%) were the other popular motives. Interestingly, men were three times more likely to work out to build muscles, while women considered weight loss more important.
According to the study, there’s a sizable population that preferred activities such as walking (30%), running (24%), cycling (11%), swimming and sports (18% each) to hitting the gym. When it came to diet, 48% of the respondents said that they eat healthy. However, women (54%) tend to be more mindful of food as compared to men (29%).