Recent surveys show only 20% of Americans feel safe returning to the gym and 25% say they will never go back. The pandemic is not the only factor that has soured people from working out in gyms.

According to a survey conducted by Healthline, only a quarter of us actually miss our gym workouts while the majority say they are enjoying other options.

According to Time, digital workout classes are on the rise and many stores are completely sold out of exercise and fitness equipment. High-end fitness systems like the Mirror and  Peloton bikes are being installed in homes across America that offer individualized programs.

"There's a fitness revolution at work here," said Shanel Anderson, who teaches yoga digitally from her studio in Lynn, Massachusetts. "A lot of people ae reconsidering what works for them, and also becoming more flexible and more open to different types of fitness."

Running has regained its foothold in the workout world, and many people are enjoying old-fashioned daily walks around the neighborhood. But early data says exercise patterns dramatically decreased during the early days of the pandemic, with fewer people self-reporting the number of steps they took daily. A May study revealed preciously active adults in the U.S. said they exercise 33% less than before the pandemic, according to Time.

Anderson says for Blacks, taking one of her online yoga classes is less intimidating than showing up in a predominantly white studio.

"This virtual revolution is better overall for the conversation and accessibility," Anderson said.

Fitness experts point out Americans in general do not love to exercise. Only about 25% get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly and another 25% are content to sit on their butts all day, increasing their risk for chronic diseases.

Jacob Meyer, co-author of the May study, said, even though online classes are cheap and easily accessible, not everyone wants to work out. Studies have shown people who say they do not have time to work out actually do but are not motivated to use their free time for exercise. The benefits of any regular physical activity are worth the effort, however. Movement lowers your risk of disease and increases your lifespan, according to Time.

"If you only think of exercise as going to the gym, that's not reality for many people," Meyer said. "Reality for many people is, 'I could go for a walk or a jog or a bike ride.'" He says, according to his data, people are already spending more time outdoors than they did at the beginning of the pandemic.

According to Time, he sees this as a sign people are moving around more and might sustain their physical activity with or without a gym membership for years to come.