When times are tough, people get sicker. They are stressed, more inclined towards depression and anxiety ? and to relieve this they often turn to medication.

This helped Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, Aspen Pharmacare, release a healthy 68 percent increase in headline earnings a share for the year ended in June.

Some people prefer to self-medicate in a different way. And gyms have proved more resilient than most industries in the recession.

Despite the tough economic times, most gym-bunnies have held onto their membership or downgraded to more affordable options.

The two big gym chains, Virgin Active and Planet Fitness, continue to open more clubs, though at a slower pace than before. And "low-frills" operators, such as Zone Fitness are gaining momentum.

Virgin Active will open its fourth club for this year, taking the total number of clubs to 91.

500 000 Virgin memberships

Since 2006, the group has opened 16 clubs and grown overall membership by in excess of 20 percent. Membership stands at 500 000.

Ross Faragher-Thomas, managing director of Virgin Active, says they have to work harder for the business in the tough times.

"However, we have seen more people use our clubs than in prior years."

Clubs have become a social environment for members, and growth in the younger children's base is stronger than ever with families spending time together in clubs.

Planet Fitness has 180 000 members and opens its 24th club this year.

Manny Rivera, chief executive of Planet Fitness, says that despite the recession there's been growth in membership at his clubs.

"We've found the membership base very resilient during these tough times.

'People want to release stress'

"People are no longer buying the new car, not going out once or twice a week and not going away on holiday but are training.

"They want to train, release stress, live the healthy lifestyle.

"In a funny way, people seem to need us more than ever.

"We're not shooting the lights out but we're maintaining our growth and still open clubs."

He said that, over the past 18 months, banks have been conservative in terms of loans but have recently shown a renewed appetite to fund growth.

Planet Fitness is considering expanding into other countries in Africa, such as Nigeria.

People want a more cost-effective route

"No frills" operator Zone Fitness, which has been operating since January 2002, has 45 000 members in eight clubs across the greater Cape Town metropolitan area and one in Johannesburg's CBD. Prices range from R99 to R129 for a two-year membership.

Herman Blackie, senior business director of Zone Fitness, says the recession is affecting the business in both positive and negative ways.

On the upside, people who have been paying more elsewhere have scaled down and want a more cost-effective route and, on the downside, unpaid membership is up from one percent to two percent.

Blackie says an advantage of his group's target market is that many members aren't bonded with monthly repayments.

"Lots of members rent houses, use public transport or have cars that are paid for."

The group is opening another club in Cape Town and considering further growth in Lenasia, Edenvale and Sunninghill, in Gauteng.

Business Times