![]() The women described experiencing some technological challenges, with an initial period of rapid self-teaching and upskilling to set up the online classes. Of the 17 women in our study, 13 pivoted to offering online classes (mostly free-of-charge or for koha). Before the pandemic, few were offering online fitness or coaching classes, but the first New Zealand lockdown prompted them to quickly transition to providing services through various digital platforms. ‘This has been a big life-saving thing to have these practices’ - Winifred, yoga studio owner.įor the women, digital technologies offered opportunities to connect with their athletes, colleagues and clients during a time of considerable disruption and uncertainty. Many of the women we spoke to had been exploring a range of strategies to respond to the challenges their communities were facing during the pandemic (ie loneliness, increased stress, financial and mental health concerns). I was mostly concerned for other people, those that had kids, and had a 9-to-5 job to do”. ![]() Joan, a running coach, become “really concerned”, recognising many in her community were “battling with mental health issues.” Similarly, Jolene, a personal trainer and studio owner recalled, “As time went on, I became less fearful for myself and my own business, but more worried about my clients, about how they were all going to cope with lockdown. Like many, they worried about their careers, their families, and their own health and wellbeing.īut they also became concerned about the impact of the pandemic on the health and wellbeing of their athletes, colleagues and clients. We use pseudonyms in this article to protect the identities of our participants.ĭuring the early stages of the pandemic, the women sport and fitness professionals were dealing with many personal and professional concerns. We were amazed to hear of their creative efforts to care for others - their sport and fitness communities - during this difficult time. We conducted interviews with 17 women working in the Aotearoa New Zealand sport and fitness sector about their experiences during the various stages of strict social restrictions throughout 2020. Recognising this gap, we wanted to hear the stories from New Zealand women working in the sport and fitness sector. While international research is revealing the impacts of the pandemic on women athletes, very little attention has been given to how other women working in the sport and fitness industry responded to the rapidly changing financial, social and emotional environment of sport in the pandemic. Similarly, many women working in the sport and fitness sector (coaches, managers, instructors, personal trainers, studio owners) lost their jobs, left the industry, or ‘pivoted’ to offer their services via digital technologies. Photo: Yulissa Tagle/UnsplashĮmerging research shows the devastating effects of Covid-19 on professional women’s sport, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic. Many fitness instructors have lost their jobs during the pandemic. ![]() Of particular note, the effect of the pandemic on the sport and fitness industry has been highly gendered. Similarly, in the United States, 17 percent of gyms and fitness centres closed permanently, and 44 percent of the fitness industry workforce lost their jobs. For example, a loss of 300,000 jobs in the sport and fitness sector was predicted in the United Kingdom. The international sport and fitness industries are among those significantly impacted by the pandemic. Through this project, we learned that, despite many personal and professional challenges, these women were responding with creativity, care and innovation - all in an effort to support their communities during times of uncertainty and disruption. In these conditions, women’s physical and mental health has been heavily impacted for both frontline workers and in the home.įor many, sport and fitness - particularly online fitness offerings - have been hugely important in helping women get through difficult times.ĭuring the early stages of the pandemic, I began a project (initially with Dr Allison Jeffrey and Dr Nida Ahmad, and later joined by Professor Simone Fullagar and Dr Adele Pavlidis) to understand how women sport and fitness professionals were being impacted by Covid-19. Women have also experienced the majority of pandemic job losses. Around the world and in Aotearoa New Zealand, women have carried much of the unpaid labour required to care for their families and broader communities, often while simultaneously managing paid employment (many on reduced hours or salaries). The Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women. The innovation, flexibility and kindness of Kiwi women has come to the fore, Dr Holly Thorpe has found, in her project to understand how women working in sport and fitness have been impacted by Covid. LockerRoom How women in fitness became lifesavers
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