BODY BEAUTIFUL

MANSI Thakur, 31, a mother of two, makes it to her aerial yoga class at a swanky city gym in the nick of time. “I cannot afford to miss my class. One, because I’ve paid Rs 24,000 for it, and, two, I need to get into my designer dress for my brother’s wedding,” she runs her hands on her toned waistline. 

Thanks to celebrities (with tummies so flat that you can serve tea on them), who have created the need to look hot, sexy and fit almost mandatory. Plus, the hectic and stressful lifestyle has given fitness industry its healthiest phase today! 

Zumba, Pilates, Tabata training, Fitness Bhangra, Hot yoga... these fancy and modern forms are now a must in any fitness package offered to customers at various gyms across the country. Not just customized packages drafted in keeping a customer’s medical problem and defined requirements. Gymnasiums these days have also upgraded to wellness salons offering facilities such as hot sauna bath, hi-end foreign made fitness equipment, certified fitness trainers (fluent in English), dieticians and physiotherapists. But all that at a hefty price, that might speed up your heart rate before a fitness session!

Dr Simer, Maxillofacial surgeon and founder Oxizone Fitness & Spa, Zirakpur talks about the growth of the fitness industry. “This industry has an annual growth of 12-15%. Fitness is no more a luxury, it is a necessity. Lifestyle diseases are affecting one in every two individuals, and for the prevention and cure, fitness routine is essential.” 

Gyms too are upgrading their look and set up to match the demands of the consumers, who are well-read and well-travelled. A gym with crème de la crème clientele, foreign made fitness equipment, smart and beefed up trainers is likely to pull more customers than an average gym playing Yo Yo Honey Singh’s songs.

Gurmeet Singh Arora, managing director of a celebrity gym, Body Zone Fitness & Spa Pvt Ltd in sector-9 Chandigarh accepts the ‘celebrity’ tag smilingly. “It’s not just a celebrity gym; it is a legacy that we’ve been running for over 14 years now. We have VVIPs coming to our gym, and most actors or models visiting Chandigarh gym with us.” To Gurmeet, Chandigarh is as a hub of fitness freaks. “Everyone in this city wants to look fit, whether it is school going student, a homemaker, a doctor or a businessman. We have people from all age groups gymming with us.” In order to cater to the individual needs, gyms have a facility of customized services. 

“We also offer a variety of classes, something like six classes everyday, which includes Zumba, Pilates, Spinning, Fitness Bhangra and more. In fact, we are the only gym in the city that has a separate Spinning studio. Mind you, Spinning helps one lose 300-400 calories in 45 minutes. Great way to exercise,” Gurmeet proudly declares. 

Providing the customers, who already have a fair knowledge of which exercise is trending in the fitness segment, is just one aspect. It is the add-ons and state-of-the art facilities that the ‘fitness hungry’ costumer is interested in. This explains the growth of gyms and personal yoga and fitness trainers in the Tricity and Punjab. Not many people opt for personal fitness trainers as it is an expensive affair. But those who do cannot stop raving about the benefits. Nishi Singh, a personal yoga trainer from Surajpur, Haryana has recently shifted base to Chennai. She usually attends 4-5 clients daily charging Rs 5,000-6,000. 

Says Meenakshi Vinayak, one of the directors of Burn Gym & Spa: “Health awareness has gained momentum because of the ‘variety’ factor.” She says a customer can choose depending on one’s body type and medical problem. “Masala Bhangra is finding many takers in the North, followed by other dance exercises.”

The catchword is competition.  Prices of the fitness packages and popularity of the gyms make all the difference. While short-term packages are expensive, costing Rs 1,000 per day, yearly and couple packages varying between Rs 23,000-75,000 are preferred. 

Big business emerges

• In India the retail market for fitness stands at Rs 4,579 crore, growing 16-18%, and it is estimated to cross Rs 7,000 crore by 2017
• The business is faster in small town India. Private equity firms are cutting cheques for megabucks as are movie stars and sportspersons