Fitness Clubs Feel the Burn
With heated competition from budget chains and luxury boutiques, traditional gym operators need to tone up or rethink.
Gym chains are being stretched in many directions.
Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg
Hitting the gym to lose a few extra pounds? It’s likely you’re not alone. Lapsed fitness-club members typically return in January, with new sign ups in February, much to the annoyance of those workoutaholics who turn up whatever the season.
But they may have less to complain about this year. There are more and more fancy classes to choose from. Boxing is so hot right now that French fashion house Balmain, Puma SE and model Cara Delevingne have created a clothing line inspired by the ring. At the other end of the spectrum, workouts that are more Primark than Prada have rocketed.