We're all feeling the pinch right now, as the cost of living crisis means that disposable income is now at a record low.

Households have even less cash to spend on anything that they deem non-essential beyond food, childcare and transport.

As a result, many individuals are turning to home workouts over pricey gym memberships in a bid to save money.

This move away from using gyms is making it harder for fitness professionals to make money, but it doesn't have to be that way. By pivoting to a new business model that's less focused on traditional gyms, you could make the most of this new development in this exciting market.

For those who own or operate gyms, moving to a new operation might not be an option, but personal trainers and others who work in gyms can explore new opportunities, as we've outlined in this article.

Offer Online Tutorials

Many fitness fans who want to work out from home don't know where to start, so offering your expertise digitally could be an ideal opportunity. You could develop an online platform for virtual workouts and classes that members can access from home. This can cater to those who can't afford gym memberships or prefer to exercise at home.

To monetise this enterprise, you can provide video tutorials, live-streaming workouts, and personalised fitness plans through a subscription model. Alternatively, you could provide your workout expertise for free to the general public but then charge businesses to advertise on your platform.

Take Your Work Outside

Alfresco workouts can be fun and feel much more informal than indoor physical activities, so you could try offering virtual workouts for those who want in-person training, but don't want to go to a gym. These classes can be held outside in the open air, or you could use a outdoor gym.

If you need outdoor gym equipment to create the perfect private space for open-air workout sessions with paying clients, you could check out the range from PlayEquip. They offer a wide selection of products, so that you can create an outdoor gym for any clientele, whatever their aptitude or preferred workout style.

Create Fitness-Themed Content

To make the most of your fitness knowledge, but without having to do too much physical work, you could consider creating content on areas where you have the most skill. For example, if you're a certified yoga instructor, you could create a podcast, video series or blog on how to practice yoga at home and the different types of yoga you could try.

Unlike running a digital gym, becoming a content creator means you don't need to do any physical exercise, making this a great solution for those who are recovering from an injury. You can make money from this through advertisements or sponsored content from big fitness merchandise and equipment brands.

Adapting to economic challenges is crucial for the survival and growth of any fitness business. By implementing these strategies, you can continue to provide value to your members while navigating the cost of living crisis.