REVEALED: AUSSIES' BIGGEST GYM ICKS DRIVE PEOPLE TO HOME WORKOUTS
From sweating on machines to loud grunting, new research has uncovered Australia’s biggest gym icks—and it’s driving more people to ditch the gym altogether.
The study, commissioned by Powerade, found that 64% of active Aussies face barriers to exercise, with time (28%) and affordability (21%) topping the list.
But it’s not just logistics keeping people away. One in eight Aussies (12%) admit to experiencing "gymtimidation"—feeling too self-conscious to step foot in a gym or fitness class for fear of being judged.
Meanwhile, everyday annoyances are also testing gym-goers' patience, with the top frustrations including:
Sweating on equipment (34%)
Machine hogging (25%)
Not putting weights back (21%)
People playing music out loud (19%)
Loud grunting (18%)
Fitness icon Kayla Itsines is stepping in with a game-changing solution as home workouts make a significant comeback.
Teaming up with Powerade Active Water, Itsines offers Australians a free 6-month subscription to her Sweat fitness app, providing access to 60+ training programs, 18 world-class trainers, and thousands of workouts—all from home.
"We know life is busy, and not everyone feels comfortable in a gym environment," Itsines says. "This partnership is about making fitness more accessible—whether you’re training at home or hitting the gym, we want to support you every step of the way."
With the rising cost of gym memberships and more people prioritising flexibility, the home workout era is officially back—and this time, it’s here to stay.
