Hong Kong’s fitness industry forced outdoors as trainers push Covid-19 restrictions
- As outdoor group sessions remain a common sight, personal trainers admit they are pushing social-distancing rules to stay afloat
- The industry has been financially starved by government restrictions, say fitness instructors, forcing them into difficult situations and decisions
Ozgur “Ozzy” Irier runs a very specific type of personal training session. The Turkish expat regularly yells at his clients, swears and takes their phones away when they are slacking off during exercising.
His hardline stance, which includes no room for excuses or “babysitting”, is also a huge hit with Hongkongers. Irier, who has worked in the fitness industry for 14 years, calls himself a “life coach”, usually works 12 hours a day and is booked solid weeks in advance.
Irier is also one of an estimated 25,000 part- or full-time personal trainers and fitness instructors in Hong Kong who work as independent contractors and have had to deal with a stark new reality that started early in 2020, and has now carried into 2021. To make ends meet, they have had to choose if they want to adhere to the government’s strict restrictions, or break them and stay afloat financially, which could land them fines or even jail time.
Gyms and workout studios have been closed for more than 120 days and counting because of Covid-19 restrictions, yet there has not been a reported case tied directly to the fitness industry. While some gyms have received financial relief from the government, personal trainers have been left to fend for themselves, and they have pivoted outside to local parks and green spaces.
It is a common sight in almost every neighbourhood enclave, personal trainers holding group sessions, breaking social-distancing rules, which cap groups at two and require people to be at least 1.5 metres apart. Irier said he understands both sides of the argument in fighting the pandemic.
