New Year resolutions see boom time in city gym memberships

The New Year time is when gyms record the most number of memberships and sign-ups. According to S Vigneshkumar, general manager of Al Safa Fitness, a gym with seven branches in the city, they record about a 40 per cent to 50 per cent increase in business from January 1 to January 31.

“This is due to three factors. Firstly, many people make New Year Resolutions to come to the gym more regularly and to lose weight. Secondly, many gyms give attractive offers at this time of year to bring in customers. And thirdly, due to the increase in awareness of health issues like diabetes, many people decide to stay fit in the new year,” he said.

However, not many stick to their resolutions. Rajesh Ramanathan, chairperson of Pink Fitness, which has all-female and unisex outlets in the city and registers a 50 per cent increase in customers during January, said that most customers begin falling off their fitness schedule within a month. Nearly 75 per cent of New Year signees stop coming in after a month, he said.

“The reason for this is lack of motivation. We ensure that the trainers are constantly motivating and encouraging the client and giving them honest feedback so that they feel motivated and confident in their journey,” he said.

Many agree that customers look at four factors before selecting the gym of their choice - ambiance, facilities, trainers and location. “Maintaining equipment is something we do all through the year as this is a very important factor of choice for customers. Aside from the regular equipment that every gym must have, latest equipment motivates customers to choose one gym over another,” said Vigneshkumar.

According to Ramanathan, women look for safety and comfort when looking for a gym. “Women want to feel safe and at ease when working out. Their family members are also more comfortable with them going to such places. Most of them do not have the freedom to move about the city freely, and so location is another important factor,” he said.

With the influx of online training programmes and apps, there is all the more pressure on gyms in the city to focus on their services. Hiring professional trainers and ensuring that the ambience is trendy, modern and accessible is key to having a loyal and stable customer base through the year, they said.