European Fitness Market
Over the last decade, the fitness industry across Europe has exploded. A comprehensive Spanish report from the IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) highlighted that Spain alone had 4,350 health clubs averaging over 3,000 members with an estimated 5.5 million members total.
By 2019, 9.4% of the population aged 15 and above in Europe held a fitness club card. In the UK, over 200 new health and fitness facilities were added in 2019 alone. Germany held the highest number of health club members at 11.7 million members, followed by the UK with 10.4 million members, France with 6.2 million, and Italy with 5.5 million members.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced major changes within the fitness community. The abrupt closure of gyms and fitness clubs brought a meteoric rise of home workouts and virtual communities to the living rooms of millions of Europeans. Even as Covid restrictions start to loosen and gyms begin to open, the trend is clear that many people are preferring home workouts due to the ease of working out in your house and the significant cost savings.
While many people are discovering new fitness communities and equipment, they are also researching what products and supplements will help them train not just better but smarter. It has become important to people who have turned their homes into classrooms, work offices, and gyms that their workout time be used as effectively and efficiently as possible. This is just one of the many reasons why kratom has become a growing trend in the fitness community from novice gym goers to active bodybuilders.
For those active in the kratom community, certain strains such as Bali have been commonly known for their mood enhancing effects for decades. Other strains such as red veins have also been hailed as a great way to help alleviate aches and pains. With this combination, many have found that finding the right strain during their pre or post workout routine has helped tremendously.
On the media site Reddit.com, there are countless testimonies to the effectiveness of training with kratom. On the reddit community r/kratom, reddit user kretek-garing says:
“Kratom is great for running! I increased my mileage by 50% and my 10 km time by 5 % since I started using it 5 months ago.”
There are many comparisons of similar effects with coffee and kratom. There is, however, one distinct difference that gives kratom the advantage when seeking an energy boost. While both can help your body feel less tired and increase your energy levels, kratom offers this same boost without the jittery effect of caffeine. Another reddit user Sn2100 explain another advantage for kratom over caffeine:
“I always take a few grams before working out. Not only does it improve my mood which in turn motivates me to actually go to the gym it seems to improve my endurance as well. Another added bonus is the endorphins that exercise releases increases the mild euphoric feeling kratom can cause.”
Kratom For Pre Workout Or Post Workout?
While there are advantages to using kratom both pre and post workout, some have cautioned that kratom has allowed them to push themselves too hard during their workout. Reddit user pifcollector says:
“I’ve been using kratom for 6 months working out almost everyday, today had a very good workout and I think I might have hurt my back! My worry is that I pushed myself too hard and might have done damage not feeling it because of the kratom masks pain.”
For those who have any pre existing injuries or areas of concern, we recommend that you use kratom as a post workout recovery. This will allow you to fully be aware of any pain points you may be hitting while working out but have a vastly improved recovery experience to get back out and train the next day. Many also report the added benefit of an improved mood which is a priceless benefit during a global pandemic.
In 2021, people are slowly starting to go back out into the world and return to their gyms while others have found great comfort and convenience with their in-home fitness equipment. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca are stepping up supplies of the three vaccines currently approved in the EU and U.K. With the second half of 2021 looking better and better with each passing month, getting back into shape is going to become a priority for millions of people quarantined for a year. Regardless of where they do it, the one thing everyone can agree on is that kratom will remain an essential part of their exercise routine that is sure to outlast Covid.
