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Upcoming Fitness Industry in India
The minute we come across the this sector stand in the overall Indian market?
term ‘fitness’, we think of men According to many studies and articles by eminent
and women of almost all age fitness cognoscenti, in India, the total market for
groups sweating it out in the fitness is valued around Rs. 4,670 Cr, growing at
gym, with their personal 17-19 per cent and was estimated to cross Rs. 7,000
trainers, yoga sessions, Cr by 2017. Modern retail is estimated at 28 per
aerobics, Pilates, and so much cent of the total market and is expected to grow by
Noopur Bhonsle more. The fitness industry, in 24-30 per cent. Fitness centers are increasing
India and in the overall global context, has evolved rapidly due to the increasing incomes of people and
and expanded to great horizons in the past few years their increasingly sedentary lifestyles which lower
and will continue to do so in the coming years. the immunity of today’s youth. Body Building
Fitness enthusiasts have been offered lots of new training has increased amongst men and aerobics
opportunities and trends to look forward to, which and strength training amongst women.
have helped in making it, grow further. We can Another question is that, how has it increased so
definitely say that the fitness sector in India has rapidly in the past couple of years? The Indian
come a long way from the local ‘akhadas’ to fitness industry is going through a revolution
swanky gyms, yoga studios and posh health & spiked by the increasing number of cases of
wellness centers. Today, fitness industry in India is corpulence, diabetes and many other lifestyle
going towards health, well-being, good looks and diseases. If you look around, you will find that
confidence. Resistance training, aerobics, Zumba, weight loss advertisements are everywhere. This is
aerial yoga, Pilates, MMA, kickboxing etc. have one of the reasons why health clubs and gym
become the fitness trends over a few years in India. memberships are increasing. Spending on gym was
The market is looking up to India with today’s fast earlier seen as a luxury, but now it is a way of life.
and hectic lifestyles, which allow a person to work Also, in tier 2, tier 3 cities, people are increasingly
out actively or follow a fitness routine. Nowadays, going for wellness and fitness. Today’s generation
gyms, fitness studios and also brands such as Nike wants to look and feel good at any cost, also with
have their own workout apps. This has made it the rise of ‘Instagram models’, fitness blogs are
possible for people to work out anywhere and at any providing the readers with a great deal of
given time, in order to keep themselves fit. Apart ‘fitspiration’, this is further fueling the overall
from physical activities we can also see a positive growth of the fitness industry.
shift in the food industry, with the advent of newer Careerwise too, the fitness industry provides
concepts relating to nutrition such as protein myriads of opportunities to the youth. Many are
shakes, pre-workout drinks, energy bars and using the franchising model to enter the market and
supplements. Muscular & toned physiques of also to tap into a larger client base. Apart from
celebrities and fitness icons mixed with healthy individual freelancers and start-ups, big fitness
lifestyles are making Indians embrace fitness. The chains and gyms are also expanding their products
trend is making people take out time from their and services to tap into the market in each and every
busy schedules and visit the gym and take personal way possible and reach out to potential customers.
training services. Also, a study states that people Overall, the Indian fitness industry seems to be
who exercise regularly are happier and healthier doing just great at the moment. It is vital now for the
compared to those who don’t. Also, regular whole industry and the government to come
workouts help in reducing stress, anxiety and together and catapult the industry to a stage where it
depression and keep away from many maladies. can flourish even more. Due to its vast potential and
There is also an increase in strength, energy and ample opportunities, the fitness industry is a sunrise
stamina that come with working out regularly. sector and is here to stay.
This brings up the question of where exactly does
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