FITNESS centres and gymnasiums are taking training sessions to homes through various online platforms during the movement-control order (MCO) period.

Coaches told The Malaysian Insight they started training classes online to help clients maintain their fitness and health levels.

In fact, they do high-intensity workouts, which are almost similar to training in a gym.

Fitness coach Muhamad Hakimee Mohd Isa said the gym where he works out in Bayan Lepas, Penang, instructed all personal trainers to conduct training sessions using the Zoom app.

The training is free and not limited to only gym members, it’s for everyone, said the 25-year-old Universiti Sains Malaysia sports science graduate.

“Our salaries are still being paid even though we don’t have to go to the gym to work. But every day, we have online training, including with non-members.

“We have 1,001 types of training methods to stay active. It doesn’t mean that you have nothing to do under the MCO.

“I have videos, too, on Instagram to teach my followers the types of high-intensity training with limited space and equipment.”

Hakimee said online training is now the “new normal”, which will replace the way people maintain their fitness.

“The gym where I work is figuring out how to keep a safe distance between customers when it opens, including limiting who can use the gym to keep it spacious.”

Gas cylinder ‘dumb-bells’

A fitness centre in Jitra, Kedah, meanwhile, organises group classes and monitors their trainees’ progress through WhatsApp, especially those with internet problems.

“We have a fitness test twice a week. After each test, we ask them for a video recording so we can monitor their progress,” said owner Siti Jameelah Md Japilus.

Their focus is on keeping customers active despite not being able to go anywhere because of the restriction order, she said.

Siti Jameelah, who is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Arau, Perlis, said her customers are trained to use household appliances in the absence of heavy equipment in home.

“Every three days, we challenge our members and they will follow what they are told. The virtual class is about 10 people per class.

“For exercises that need weights, we ask them to replace them with water bottles, gas cylinders or bags filled with books.

“There is also equipment in the gym that we lend them because nobody is using them now.”

Siti Jameelah said, however, such online training won’t help trainers who want to conduct one-to-one sessions, which are also a source of income for them.

“Under the MCO, there are no one-to-one sessions and that has an impact on us. For paid customers, we will continue their training after the MCO is over.”

Siti Jameelah has up to 20 clients seeking personal training during the MCO period.

“It’s hard to train with videos, they just don’t want to because the training requires careful monitoring and communication with the coach.

“We just replace it with some lightweight exercise videos that can be done at home.”

The MCO, which started on March 18, is now in its third phase which ends on April 28. It is to stop the chain of Covid-19 which, to date, has infected 5,182 and killed 84.

Fitness centres and gymnasiums are among premises barred from operating throughout the MCO.

Not the same feeling

Owner of a gym in Butterworth, Penang, Mohamed Thaufiq Ali said online training does not provide the same satisfaction as working out in a gym.

“It may or may not be up to the level of individual motivation. If you practise in a gym, the coaches are there, the motivation to practise is higher, and they also don’t want to lose anything because they have paid,” he said.

Throughout the MCO, Thaufiq is holding training classes although not many join in, and he also shares a simple workout video and healthy menus via WhatsApp.

“We still have to keep in touch with them (trainees). I want to ensure they stay healthy and fit. Most importantly, they must sweat.”

But the 38-year-old Thaufiq hopes that the MCO won’t be extended as his business is affected. He still pays for operating expenses even without an income.

“We have no direct income. I also have to pay salaries, rent, and pay members’ fees for training sessions.

“We do not have a refund system for our customers and perhaps, we will have to extend their membership after the MCO.”

Another operator in Sg Petani, Kedah, Samsul Hutha, 27, said his gymnasium is now relying on savings that can only last up to two months.

“We have to pay the salaries of workers like clerks and personal trainers. The rent is RM1,500 a month and we have four centres.

“If the MCO continues, we will be in big trouble.” – April 17, 2020.