1,000 gyms in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad on verge of shutdown

PUNE: Around 1,000 gyms in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are on the verge of shutdown, a month after reopening, as they struggle to attract new patrons even after offering huge discounts.
With old patrons staying away due to restricted timings, and many not renewing their memberships, those in the fitness industry are in dire straits. Many are considering selling off their gyms in desperation.
Nilesh Kale, president, Pune Fitness Club Association, told TOI that the situation has become very difficult for those involved in the fitness business.“I am desperately trying to sell my gym. There were around 3,500 gyms in both the corporation areas and around 1,000 of them had permanently shut down after the lockdown since last year. Close to another 1,000 are on the verge of shut down,” Kale said.
After the second wave, permission was given to the gyms and fitness clubs to reopen from June 10, with caveats such as prior appointment before coming, vaccination and closure at 4pm.
“The restricted timings have become a bane for us, and we are hardly able to get new patrons. Most gyms have announced lucrative discounts and are offering admissions on half or even less than the stipulated fee, but in vain. Most people are working from home and they want flexible timings. The morning time is not suitable for most of our patrons and gyms are closed in the evening. Most gyms function from rented spaces and with little or no income, paying the rent as well as staff salaries have become an impossible task for many of us,” Kale added.
“We had six branches in Pune and presently while five of them are closed, the last one is temporarily shut for two months. We have had hardly any patrons since one-and-a- half years,” said Madhukar Talwalkar of Talwalkars.
The owner of a Kondhwa-based gym said, “The patrons who are coming are mainly old members who had paid their membership fees in early 2020 before the pandemic but couldn’t use the facility as gyms were closed. Moreover, around 60% of our old patrons are not turning up. They have bought some basic equipment like treadmills, cross trainers and weights and are using them at home,” he said.
“Sales of small equipment is booming. People are buying weights, iron rods, curl rods, dumbbells for muscles,” a representative of Arun Sports in Shivajinagar said.
In fact, with gyms shut, many have taken to cycling. “Each month, we sell around 30 to 40 cycles. The sales increased right after the first lockdown and have remained the same almost,” an official of Bikes and Bikes, Pimple Gurav, said. “The demand of high-end bikes has also increased,” Bakshish Singh Talwar, owner, Surender Cycle Store, Karve Road
Suraj Joshi, a working professional and a fitness enthusiast, said he does not find the timing of the gym suitable. “I have to attend the morning meeting from 9am till 10:30am after which I have to catch up on work. Before the pandemic, I used to be back from work by 5pm and then hit the gym for an hour. Now, it is not possible due to restricted timings. So, I bought an exercise bicycle and a few weights at home and take the help of YouTube to follow the instructions and diet,” Joshi said.
Kale said that they would approach deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for relief. “The state government must help us,” he said.