A woman exercises at home with an online course.
Thomas Trutschel / Photothek by Getty Images
The fitness industry was set in motion in 2020.
As the Covid pandemic entered the United States in March, Americans quickly realized that their gymnastics routines would no longer be sustainable. Fitness studios, from New York sports clubs to SoulCycle, held the last group classes as they were forced to close to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus. And their users have been forced to look for alternative ways to sweat in basements or bedrooms, in an attempt to alleviate Covid-related anxieties.
Sales of health and fitness equipment doubled to $ 2.3 billion in March-October, according to The NPD Group. Tread sales rose 135 percent, the group said, while stationary bike sales nearly tripled. Retailers from Target to Dick’s Sporting Goods could hardly keep items such as 10-kilogram weights and jumps on their shelves.
Now, companies from Peloton to Lululemon to Apple are betting that the Covid pandemic has permanently changed the way people exercise at home. And so far, the numbers seem to support their bets.