The recent COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way we interact with the world outside our homes and subsequently changed the ways that companies interact with us. Even as some places start to open back up, many individuals are still uncomfortable with the idea of gyms and in-person interaction that comes with many fitness classes. The pandemic has left individuals with a longing for real experiences, which has prompted companies to capitalize on Virtual Reality (VR) as a new medium for prospective users to experience their services. This new shift in VR is seen as an opportunity to extend through the digital world, offering a number of classes available both by live stream and on demand at all times. This essay will explore the advancements of live streaming services as well as the future of fitness with virtual workouts and classes. In particular, it will analyze the industry, infrastructure throughout its various systems including online gaming and smart devices, and its place in employment for the future.
Benefits of Live Streaming Fitness Services
– Economical In today’s world, many at-home workout solutions involve purchasing high-priced workout equipment or pre-recorded video sets. Live streaming fitness classes offer real-time instruction with minimal or no equipment required. This is a more economical alternative to both gyms and at-home workout DVDs. It’s been found that the average cost of a gym membership is about $55 a month, but depending on the location it can be much higher. A set of workout DVDs can cost anywhere from $60-100, and in-home workout equipment can get extremely expensive. Most live streaming fitness services offer unlimited access to classes for a small monthly fee, in most cases less than half the cost of a gym membership. This is a relatively low price that allows the user to take part in live instruction from qualified fitness professionals without having to spend extra money on equipment or use gas to get to a gym.
– Convenience Many people find it difficult to schedule time for exercise. They may have work, school, family, or other responsibilities that take up a large chunk of their time. Live streaming fitness classes give people more flexibility by allowing them to take part in their classes when it’s most suitable for them. In a study done by the Huffington Post, it was found that 67% of people who don’t exercise regularly would like to, but they just feel they don’t have enough time. That’s a pretty big percentage of people who are very likely to take advantage of being able to make time for exercise with the convenience of live streaming fitness classes. Another advantage is that these streams can be accessed from nearly anywhere, given that there is a reliable internet connection. Users can participate in classes even when they are not able to make it to the gym, or if they are on break at work. This means less time spent traveling to and from a gym for a workout, and more efficient use of time overall.
Challenges and Limitations
An expansive limit ceilings from trainers and clients alike will need to be met and/or overwritten. Trainers will have to be more motivated than ever, essentially serving as their own boss while no longer having to report to a single site/location. This may be somewhat of a burden at first, but the implementation of creating their own brand can be significantly more beneficial in the long run. Considerable amounts of money can be saved by not having to travel to any specific locations and with limitations on the amount of equipment available, as some clients may expect trainers to possess the same type and/or variety of equipment used at a local gym. All of this can be a pretty heavy load on the trainers’ shoulders and they too can fall victim to allotting a workout session for another time.
A potential challenge could be the task of changing and/or expanding the mindset of present/future clients. In the event of signing up with a specific personal trainer at the local gym, they will frequently be skeptical and/or less inclined to follow that same trainer if they are now providing virtual services. Commitment levels can easily drop, as they are no longer physically engaged with anyone and no longer have access to a luxurious facility with top-notch equipment. The comfort and ease of copping out of a workout and simply stating, “I’ll just do it next time” is higher than it has ever been. This can lead to a subtle rise in client procrastination and possibly even some missed or skipped workout sessions.
Creating a virtual workout program presents new and unique challenges that may not be present in a standard gym setting. In fact, some can be very similar to the benefits, likewise with certain drawbacks that must be addressed.
The Future of Virtual Workouts and Classes
The age of the internet has brought with it digitized fitness content that is significantly reducing the need for traditional brick and mortar fitness facilities and is democratizing the fitness industry. The digital revolution is enforcing a simplifying of the fitness process for the consumer, as obtaining fitness content becomes more frictionless and connected. Whether it is leaving crowded gym facilities in favor of working out at home, joining organized group activities, or following along a personalized exercise plan, more consumers will seek to obtain their exercise content through a connected device. Step one in delivering said content is through offering it in a remotely accessible fashion. Live streaming is the perfect medium to deliver real-time, remote content – offering accessibility and connectedness heretofore unheard of.
The fitness industry as a whole is experiencing remarkable growth from a professional and consumer standpoint. It’s a nearly $100 billion industry in the United States that is attempting to serve the growing health and fitness concerns of an increasingly sedentary and overweight population. This population is also aging and seeks means to stay fit – this creates a need that extends across every demographic division. The fitness industry provides a wide array of activities, services, and content, a huge amount of which is now available online thanks to digital distribution. Consumers can workout in an organized gym setting, take some sort of group fitness class, follow along with a fitness app, or take part in an online workout program. Fitness equipment and apparel companies are taking advantage of this trend by offering content and experiences of their own. The concept of “working out” covers a broad spectrum of consumer intent and goals, and this is key in the wide array of offerings in services and products.
