Nearly 3 in 4 People Say At-Home Workouts Are Here to Stay Post-Pandemic, According to One Survey
When the pandemic closed gyms and made home fitness bigger than it had ever been before, people had to get a little bit creative to make do with workouts in small spaces, taking their exercise outdoors in all weather conditions, and using household items as fitness equipment to crush all those living room virtual workouts. Whether you’re someone who looks forward to rolling out of bed and onto your yoga mat or have trouble staying motivated for home workouts, it seems plenty of Americans actually prefer the flexibility of getting their sweat on at home, at least according to one new study.
According to a recent study commissioned by SWNS, a digital newswire service in the U.S. and the U.K., and conducted by research firm OnePoll on behalf of fitness app Freeletics, stay-at-home orders helped Americans realize they don’t actually need a gym membership to keep up a fitness routine. In fact, a whopping 82 percent of the 2,000 Americans polled appreciate that their new at-home workout routines have allowed them to find time for themselves away from their loved ones and other daily responsibilities.
But if it would seem that losing access to gyms and fitness studios makes it harder to fit fitness into your routine, think again. 78 percent of those polled said fitness has actually become more accessible to them, likely due to the ever-growing content on apps and social media by instructors and fitness brands alike. 72 percent of respondents think traditional gym models might go by the wayside as a result of the new offerings and the flexibility they provide.
If working out at home has inspired you to try things you might never have tried before, you’re not alone. In fact, 48 percent shared they have felt more confident to try new fitness activities, and nearly four in 10 respondents also said they have more motivation to work out since they began exercising at home. More than half noted that they have found motivation through improving their overall health, while 50 percent appreciated a boost in energy levels and improvements in their mental health. And it seems that the link between movement and mental health is even greater than that of physical health, with 78 percent of respondents agreeing that they have made their mental health more of a priority since the start of the pandemic, and 86 percent planning to keep it a priority once the pandemic ends.
Others appreciate the small but noteworthy parts of working out at home, including not feeling judged by those around them (43 percent), flexibility on the hours of day to squeeze in a workout (48 percent), and no more commuting to the gym (36 percent), seemingly proving that at-home fitness is here to stay long after the world opens back up.