Exercise Equipment at Home: How Covid-19 Has Transformed Home Workouts

Whilst the pandemic has caused gyms across the country to close, lockdowns are inspiring a new fitness revolution. Following the first U.K. lockdown last year, Zoopla published an article about how Covid-19 has changed what we look for in a home. Outside space and home office areas were popular must-haves, but now we are witnessing an increasing demand for home exercise space too.

It’s become apparent that renter’s attitudes have changed since the restrictions were introduced, with lockdowns and gym closures driving the shift. Despite the circumstances, it’s quite possible that we’re actually becoming more fit and active during these strange times.

We’ve witnessed increasing tenant demand for home exercise space, whether that be an area for a yoga mat, Peloton bike, or cross trainer. And you don’t just have to take our word for it; Yahoo Finance reported an exercise equipment sales spike of 5,800% in the U.K. as Brits begin to lose confidence in the future of gyms.

Could it be possible that we’re in fact now exercising more than ever before?

The evolution of home exercise

Lockdown may have forced us to exercise indoors, but home workouts have been around for quite some time. Some of you may recall memories of Jane Fonda gracing your screens with her at-home aerobics, or if you grew up in 90’s Britain you might have become accustomed to home workout  videos.

One thing’s for sure, home exercise has been a part of our lives for quite some time. That said, the pandemic has seen it take on a new role in recent months. From virtual exercise classes on Zoom, to panic-buying free weights and treadmills, many of us are seeking new ways to make space for home exercise within the confined areas of our homes.

What renters want from a home

People are seeking space. Even those searching for one-bedroom flats are considering how they will factor in an area for their yoga mat or running machine. Living areas are being organised and divided to accommodate a sofa, dining area and home workout space.

The combination of remote working, furlough and lockdown restrictions has defined our perception of property, and this change in lifestyle has caused home-hunters to reconsider what they value most in their homes.

Staying healthy at home

Homeworking and home-schooling are prompting people to adapt and innovate, and to also realise the significance of mental health. As new routines are established and more time is spent indoors, we’re all realising the importance of breaking up the day with some exercise. And exercise is becoming not just a need for fitness, but a necessity for mental health and mindfulness.

The fitness industry is quickly innovating. Instructors have been quick to take things virtual, causing a ‘Zoom fitness boom’, fitness apps are more popular than ever, and the sales of exercise equipment have skyrocketed. Could this be the start of a new home workout trend?

This isn’t the first time the fitness industry has produced home fitness quick fixes either. In the 50’s and 60’s an array of products was introduced to a very similar demographic, offering home exercise equipment with promising results. We later took fitness outside with the rise of the jogging culture, before VHS home workout tapes became popular soon after.

Could Covid-19 shape the future of fitness forever, or will we cycle back to outdoor exercise and gyms if and when the ‘old normal’ returns?