Gyms in Bengaluru see 50 pc drop in admissions due to Covid scare

BENGALURU: In the wake of a threat of a Covid surge, gyms and fitness centres in the city have seen a 50 per cent drop in admissions.

Gym owners say are facing losses after investing huge amounts of money due to the prevailing Covid scare as they were closed during the last three Covid waves as per government guidelines. People are refusing to take annual memberships and many gyms and fitness centres have shut down since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lalitha owned a gym before Covid Pandemic.

“Due to Covid waves, people have declined to take annual memberships because they think it may go waste. Without income, it’s difficult to meet expenses, as we have to maintain the gym and pay rent. Landlords forced gym owners to vacate and many of them closed their gyms. Almost 40 per cent of gyms in the city have closed. We can’t run a gym without money”, said Lalitha, who previously owned a gym.

Joshua, a gym owner.

“Many people have not returned to the gym after Covid. Because of the Covid scare, people have begun to believe that an annual gym membership is a waste of money. Even the state guidelines during Covid required gyms to close for six months. At that time, people found alternative ways to do exercises and their habits changed. During the New Year, people joined gyms, but that number is down. Many of my friends have closed their gyms during the lockdown due to lack of income”, said Joshua, a gym owner.