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This Week in Fitness: 3rd-17th July

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Fitness Industry Experts Discuss COVID-19 Impact on the Industry, the VR startup set to disrupt the future of fitness, and becoming stronger together: restoring the boutique fitness industry.

The latest fitness news from around the world:

Becoming Stronger Together: Restoring the Boutique Fitness Industry

CEO and Co-Founder of Studio Three, a community-based, first-class fitness company with a core of interval, cycle and yoga.

As our ability to return to our emblematic fitness routines is almost within reach, we’re all considering what we need to do in order to stay safe. This pandemic has changed how we experience almost every facet of daily life, forcing us to make choices to better protect our health and safety. In many instances, we are reliant upon others to control an environment for us, placing now even stricter protocols in place relating to sanitizing surfaces or the occupancy of areas. Without question, fitness facilities present special challenges.

Via Forbes. Read the full article here.

Fitness Industry Experts Discuss COVID-19 Impact on the Industry

As our ability to return to our emblematic fitness routines is almost within reach, we’re all considering what we need to do in order to stay safe. This pandemic has changed how we experience almost every facet of daily life, forcing us to make choices to better protect our health and safety. In many instances, we are reliant upon others to control an environment for us, placing now even stricter protocols in place relating to sanitizing surfaces or the occupancy of areas. Without question, fitness facilities present special challenges. 

Via Longevity Live. Read the full article here.

Coronavirus: How Gyms Are Working Out Social-Distancing Rules

After several months of closure, gyms will reopen their doors with new measures in place such as using tape as markers to ensure social distancing and sanitising exercise equipment after use.

Other changes, like booking systems and an enforced maximum number of people allowed in a gym at one time, will also be in place to reduce any spread of the virus.

Better Gym (Better), which operates in nine of the 15 leisure centres in Belfast, will not be opening its facilities until 14 July.

They will carry out a phased reopening starting with the larger facilities at Brook, Grove, Lisnasharragh, Olympia, Falls, Better Gym Belfast, Better Gym Connswater, Andersonstown and Shankill.

A Better app will be available for users to book gym slots, and could also assist in tracking and tracing any potential outbreaks of the virus.

With new sanitary measures expected to be in place across all facilities large and small, responsibility may fall on both the gym user and employees to ensure equipment is properly cleansed.

Via BBC News. Read the full article here.

Consumer Use of Fitness Apps Is Surging Among Americans, New Survey Results Show

Video-conferencing services like Zoom Video Communications Inc. ZM, -1.45% aren’t the only tech tools seeing a rise in use since the outbreak of COVID-19. Some 41% of Americans used a fitness app for the first time during quarantine and over half (56%) are so confident in their home workouts that they plan to cancel their gym memberships, according to a survey of 2,000 people from Freeletics, a provider of AI-based fitness and lifestyle coaching. The survey was conducted by OnePoll. The average American used two fitness apps and took four online fitness classes during lockdown. The exercise-at-home movement is reflected in the stock performance of leading fitness vendors. Peloton Interactive Inc. PTON, +0.28% shares have soared 119% this year, while those of Fitbit Inc. FIT, +1.46% are up 5%. By comparison, the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.90% is down 0.4% in 2020.

Via Market Watch, click here to go to source. 

Crossfit Has Announced 2 Major Changes Since Former CEO Stepped Down

In the month since Greg Glassman, founder of global fitness brand CrossFit, stepped down from his role as CEO, the brand has rolled out two major changes.

Glassman announced he would be relinquishing his role as CEO on June 9. The move came after he tweeted a comment about George Floyd on June 6 that was met with widespread backlash. Glassman has since deleted his Twitter account.

Via Business Insider. Read the full article here.

Brrrn Expands With Launch of At-Home Fitness Offering, the Brrrn Board

The Brrrn Board will offer a slideboard experience complete with programming, a variety of workout genres, recovery and ‘brrreathwork’ content.

As part of plans to tap into the booming at-home market and to create a new, affordable category within the sector, the Brrrn Board will be made available for US$399 (€349, £316), with a monthly content subscription of US$19.99.

Brrrn has partnered with UltraSlide to manufacture the branded, 6ft x 19.75-inch slideboard.

The subscription service will give members access to eight categories of total-body, on-demand workout videos – Slide, Core, Cardio Sculpt, Bootcamp, Recovery, Brrreath and Brrrnouts (do-it-yourself daily challenges).

Via Health Club Management. Read the full article here.

This Startup Just Raised $7.5m to Disrupt the Future of Fitness

LONDON, United Kingdom — Virtual reality (VR) fitness company FitXR has raised $6.3m in funding as futuristic fitness concepts continue to garner interest from investors.

At a time when the fitness industry is experiencing exponential change, with connected and at-home fitness rising to prominence, FitXR is banking on its virtual reality headset becoming the next ‘Peloton’. And Hiro Capital, which led its latest raise, is confident the startup has what it takes.

“With the tech acceleration that has been happening in 2020 and the big changes in exercise and sports, FitXR is perfectly positioned to lead fitness in the Metaverse,” Luke Alvarez, founding managing partner at Hiro Capital commented.

Via Welltodo Global. Read the full article here. 

Rainer Schaller Buys Gold’s Gym for $100m

Rainer Schaller, the founder of budget gym megabrand McFIT, has added iconic franchised chain Gold’s Gym to his portfolio of fitness businesses.

The deal, worth around US$100m, will see Gold’s Gym join the Rainer Schaller Global Group (RSG Group), which already owns and operates three fitness chains – McFIT, John Reed and High5 – and a number of other lifestyle brands.

RSG was selected as the winning bidder in a court-approved auction process held yesterday (13 July).

Via Health Club Management. Read the full article here.

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