Departures yes, new members no
However, that could not stop a decline in membership. While entrances and exits are balanced in normal times, things looked different during lockdown. The recruitment of members was largely idle. Because anyone who registers in the gym also wants to train there and not receive a correspondence course on the laptop. “For the moment you can hold people with it,” says Ulbrich. There are now hybrid courses that can be used on site or remotely. “It works at the beginning. But then it runs out at some point. Local sport is more important,” he concluded.
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There were 169 fitness studios in Thuringia in 2020, some of them spread over several locations. 170,000 people are members of a fitness club, reports the employers’ association of German fitness and health facilities. By the first quarter, however, the association expects a decline of 25 percent in Germany, according to the association when asked by MDR Thuringia. Ulbrich does not want to put a precise figure on the decline, but it is clearly noticeable.
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Those who trained outside had an advantage
Erik Eichholz experiences a completely different situation. The personal trainer cannot complain about the lack of demand at the moment: “We almost only work outside,” reports the owner of the “motion detector” from Erfurt. He offers running training or strength training under supervision in cooperation with doctors, physiotherapists and masseurs – in some cases for targeted preparation for competitions. “And we’re not talking about VIPs, but also about students or nurses,” he says. The training in the fresh air gave a boost – some had contact with his offer for the first time during the lockdown.
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“Because of the high demand, we sometimes have scheduling problems,” he says. And that although training camps or events, for example, could not take place at all. On the other hand, individual training outside was never a problem. Here, work is carried out in a targeted manner to avoid injuries and to increase stress in a targeted manner. “The only thing that can stop us is a thunderstorm.”
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Customers could sell tests that are subject to a fee
The fitness studio in Jena would also be happy to hear such a demand. It is hoped that there will be no excessive restrictions in autumn so that the economic situation can improve again. The immediate help could have plugged holes and therefore made sense. But permanent membership losses cannot be compensated for. The people of Jena would rather do without. Because October is actually the best phase with the highest demand for the industry.
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