Town centre favourite
Classes for its members
An East Kilbride gym will be closing its doors after 12 years, and instead, it’s owners will be welcoming members in to their living room.
Gordon and Lee Whiting who run The Studio EK are having to close the fitness centre’s doors in September, moving all of their classes to an online platform due to the ‘uncertainty” the coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry they have worked in for over 20 years.
Speaking to the News, Gordon said: “We locked down just a few days before the initial announcement in March and we immediately gave all our equipment away to all our members to allow them to continue working out from home.
“But as time has gone on and with little to no guidance from the government we have had to start taking classes virtually in our living room.
“They are a huge hit so far, and both Lee and I are enjoying it more than we thought.
“We are having to give up the building due to the landlord not allowing us to take a shorter lease, and with the unceranity of when gyms can reopen, we can’t take the risk.
“That combined with the lack of guidance gyms are being offered aswell as the fears people have about doing daily activities, we are leaving the building and will continue the business online.
“Online and virtual classes seems to be the way forward now for us. We love our group sessions but this is how we are having to adapt.
“They are the new normal, and for the time-being, it is the safest way to conduct these group classes.”
The spin and weights class gym based down in the Kelvin will now be taking all classes from their living room, but this is something Lee thinks might be an advantage for others.
She added: “Nothing beats getting your team together and working out together.
“But working out from home cuts out the commute to the gym and for some that’s a big reason not to make a class, especially in the winter.
“For others, doing a class at home is more comfortable and less intimidating.
“We always say, get your ass to class. And we would love to have everyone together again, but for just now we are turning that on it’s head and encouraging people to do the class at home.”
The fitness couple aren’t ruling out that they may look to hold physical classes further down the line.
“For just now, virtual is the way to go. There is nothing better than a physical group class, but for us this is just what we have to do just now” said Gordon.
Lee added: “Further down the line we may look in to touching base with our members to see if a weekly class in a community hall would be worth while two or three times a week.
“We have a great following, our members are great and they have supported us for years, we are focused on making sure we are now there for them and their fitness needs during these uncertain times.”
• To keep up to date with The Studio, visit them on Facebook.com/TheStudioEK/ or visit their website thestudioek.com
There is nothing better than a physical class, but for now virtual is the way to go...