Did 2020 change the fitness industry for good?

“I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward” 
David Livingstone 

The world is a different place but, here at EVO, we’re positive about the future of fitness.  

Change is often evolutionary, but the impact of the pandemic has led to revolutionary change. Even fitness clubs with safe and sustainable systems in place before 2020 have had to re-evaluate models moving forward. 

So how has coronavirus changed the way we exercise? And what can you expect from your own fitness club in a post-COVID world?  

HOW 2020 CHANGED THE FITNESS INDUSTRY 

1 – More relaxed member experience  

To adhere to social distancing measures, fitness clubs all over the World are spacing out equipment and staggering member arrival times. The good thing is that by lessening capacity and maximising space, fitness clubs are actually doing more than ever to improve member experience. 

Sometimes it seems that EVO’s concept has been designed with a pandemic in mind — so to speak. To avoid crowds and long waiting times for equipment, we at EVO have always had a limited number of memberships.

Additionally, our digital approach allows us to have clubs without almost any staff. Entering, exiting and the amount of people in the club is controlled by an electric turnstile. To guide our members during training we have a special workouts app — EVOmove Workouts.

Our spacious and boutique design is offering our members a safe and unique training experience. Over the last months, as an additional safety precaution to help guarantee social distancing rues, we have installed plastic shields between the cardio machines.  

2 – Extra flexible routines 

Are you an early exerciser or a sunset sweater? We all have different schedules, obligations and preferences, but your fitness club shouldn’t impact them. The pandemic has forced many fitness clubs to offer more flexible opening hours, so member training times can spread out throughout the day.  

EVO is open from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year, even on holidays. To guarantee a safe training experience and to help you avoid the busy hours, we are offering an online capacity checker. Plan your training time in accordance to current and expected numbers in your club. 

3 – Increased sanitation 

There’s no doubt about it – the fitness industry is a sweaty one. Which means sanitation is more important than ever. Disinfecting has become second-nature to everyone since the pandemic began. 

At EVO, we’ve always strongly reinforced an etiquette of cleanliness with our members, such as encouraging cleaning of equipment after usage and leaving outdoor shoes by the entrance. And – to be able to call ourselves a boutique fitness club – a rigorous cleaning and hygiene routine is our standard. However, our brilliant teams have stepped it up a notch. You are seeing now and will continue to see an increase in cleaning hours as well as numerous hand sanitising and equipment disinfecting stations available throughout your fitness club. 

4 – Online and virtual fitness 

Taking fitness online has been a hot topic for years (our blog is full of free functional fitness workouts) and the pandemic has pushed the fitness club industry to do so as well. 

While fitness clubs offer many things that people can’t achieve at home, there are still ways to keep your workout routine going even during a lockdown. To help our members stay healthy, moving and focused, they have access to our EVOmove Workouts training app and our PT’s have been delivering free live workouts on our Instagram channel.   

We at EVO believe that in our modern World, fitness clubs will have to learn to offer their members both experiences — in club and online. After all fitness EVOlves…