Online Zoom Sessions Replace Gyms in the Lockdown

By: Mostafa Elmaghraby
@mostafamaghraby

As COVID-19 made its way around the world and the number of cases increased, the Egyptian Ministry of Health took several precautions shutting down cafes and public gatherings, including gyms.

This led to a change in the fitness culture and forced personal trainers to find their way to train and guide their clients through such social media apps as Zoom.

“In such tough times, I believe working out is the best solution, because generally, exercising enhances the immune system and one’s overall health. And as we are facing COVID-19, I believe everyone should take care of his own health,” said Omar Fouad, a nutritionist and fitness trainer at Pulse Fitness Studio.

Fouad also noticed that a lot of new faces signed up to take online sessions during the past few weeks, which he only sees as natural.

“During the lockdown, a lot of people naturally leaned toward fitness. Many people gained weight, others have free time. The people who are open to online communication have no problem taking online sessions. A lot of people signed to online workout for a period of one month at least,” said Fouad.

Fouad added that he’s noticed that many people are prone to fitness programs during the lockdown, but he believes that people’s physical activity went down the past weeks, which is harmful for general health.

“I believe this lockdown is an advantage for athletes, in matter of fact working out is only thirty percent of the whole process. The other seventy percent is what one does outside the gym, such as diet plan, sleeping routines, his whole lifestyle,” Fouad added.

And there are those who find it difficult to cope with the new training strategies; some can’t buy the needed equipment for home workout, others don’t have time or empty space.

“Actually I stopped working-out two weeks ago since the gyms are closed, and I tried to cope with online sessions on Zoom but I coudn go through it, I didn’t feel the same spirit I find in the gym. Even my personal trainer tries to motivate me but still I can’t workout from home because it has different atmosphere and also I did’t feel the same results,” said Mostafa Ashraf, an Accounting senior and ex-trainer at World Gym Egypt.

But Karim Hassib, also from World Gym Egypt, said the Zoom fitness sessions worked out just fine for him.

“The coach demonstrates what I need to do and how to do it briefly like he typically would physically. It saves me a lot of time and money actually and I can reach my coach any time.”

Hassib added out that after each session he would feel energized and refreshed, saying that working out for him is more fun during quarantine.

“Now I work from home, I spend all my time at home, which is hard and depressing. However, after my one-hour workout, I feel relaxed and my mood gets better,” Hassib added.

The online training sessions might change the workout culture forever. People might stick to the new training methods, other might get back to the old ways after returning to normal.

Fouad said that the most challenging thing for him is trying to assess the general morale of the clients.

“I always make sure to check on the trainees after each session I give, I’m trying to know how they felt, What was easy, What was hard to do I’m always trying to raise their spirits, to make sure there is always progress, as this is a tough time for us all,” he said.