When the first "shelter-in-place" took effect, I was, like most business owners, concerned about how the "new norm" would affect my fitness and wellness business. I was overjoyed when my clientele rejected the notion of pausing their workout regiment during these disruptive times. My biggest challenge was offering the renowned Lyfe2U service while keeping everyone healthy and safe.
One-on-one personal training was in demand; in fact, I was seeing as many clients as before the pandemic started. The most affected service Lyfe2U offers were the group fitness classes. People were hesitant to workout in public areas with little social distancing opportunities. I can't blame them; sweat next to someone else for an hour and reaching out for a high five violates every recommendation provided by doctors. However, other adverse effects of Covid-19 began to rear their ugly heads in people's lives.
Most people began to notice the mental effects of being isolated and experienced bouts of depression and increased anxiety. The impact of staying locked in place and remaining inactive brought about effects like the "covid-19 pound" weight gain. As I saw the impact the virus had on my community, people were gaining weight, suffering from depression, feeling emotionally and mentally drained, and losing what motivated them to get out of bed in the morning- I knew I needed to find a solution.
I tried to make the most of a bad situation and turned to my business element that took the biggest hit at the beginning of "shelter-in-place." Corporate wellness programs started to occupy the most considerable portion of my time by companies who wanted to help their employees stay healthy and engaged while working from home. Organizations began to see the immediate positive results of happier and more productive employees when they engaged in a virtual group exercise class.
As I continued to provide clean, safe, and socially distant group workouts - people felt confident to come out to the park and engage in group fitness classes, no high fives, of course. These classes build motivation, inspire competition, push results, hold people accountable, inspire social community building, and are cost-effective for the community. When people saw participants exercising outside while smiling, they felt the urge to join in and share the best of what a group workout has to offer.