MANY LARGE FITNESS FACILITIES READY TO GET BACK IN WORKOUT MODE
Things will seem a little different at some friendly neighbourhood gyms when doors open later this week.
With the Alberta government incorporating gyms and fitness centres into Stage 2 of its relaunch strategy on June
12, there has been a lot of work behind the scenes for some bigger players in the game preparing to reopen.
GYMVNT and HER GYMVNT, which have nine clubs in Edmonton and 10 in Calgary, will reopen on Friday, with certain modifications to make things as safe as possible.
“Obviously, the health and safety of our staff and our members is priority No. 1, so we’re taking all the appropriate precautions,” said Scott Wildeman, senior vice-president of fitness and operations. “We need to train our staff on all our new procedures, our cleaning procedures as well as our new technology to assist us.”
To maintain a safe workout environment while maintaining social distancing, gyms will limit the number of members allowed in a club at one time. Members will have to book an appointment through an online app and are encouraged to arrive in proper attire.
There will be limited capacity in the change rooms, but wet areas such as showers and hot tubs won’t be operational.
“The workout blocks will be 75 minutes in duration, so we’ll be able to accommodate basically full-length workouts,” Wildeman said. “They can also request additional time if there’s availability. If they need a bit more time, they can request that through the app, and if there is availability, they can have it.
“They can book seven days in advance and have three active bookings.”
Staff will be cleaning and disinfecting the club throughout the day, and members will be encourage to wipe down equipment before using it. There will be plenty of hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes throughout the club, according to Wildeman.
Gyms and fitness centres in the city closed in mid-march as COVID -19 spread through the province. Some smaller gyms have opened since the province announced they were entering Stage 2 of the relaunch. Bigger gyms such at GYMVNT, which was rebranded in December, bringing World Health and Spa Lady brands together, needed more time to train staff and put personal protection measures in place.
Capacity will be determined in a club-by-club basis as all facilities vary in square footage.
“It’s all based on being sure we can accommodate the two-metre distance and three-metre distance for high-intensity exercise,” Wildeman said. “Each club is a little different, so there will be different capacity and restrictions that vary from location to location.”
While the club is doing all it can for a successful and safe relaunch, there is still a high onus on members to follow proper protocols and procedures.
“The week leading up to the closure, we put a lot of these protocols in place,” Wildeman said. “We didn’t have the markers on the floor, but we had hand sanitizer, we had the wipes available and we were rolling out social distancing in group classes and the members really did a great job following suit. I believe the members want this to work; everybody wants to do a good job with us. I know our staff are committed to it and I do believe our members are committed to it, as well.
“The best thing about it is that you are empowered to sanitize something before you touch it, which is really different than any other industry. You don’t go to the grocery store and sanitize the cereal box before you touch it.” Members will not be required to wear masks during their workouts, as the guidance by Alberta Health is geared more toward maintaining social distancing in the facility. When social distancing cannot be maintained, then staff will be required to wear masks.
A big part of the fitness industry, particularly in bigger facilities, are personal trainers. They will still be allowed to work with clients but must adhere to social-distancing practices.
“We will be sure to set up stations to make sure personal trainers are not sharing equipment,” Wildeman said. “If a trainer has to be within that two-metre bubble, they will need to wear a mask, for example, if they are spotting their clients. But if it’s more in a group session, we’ll be able to accommodate that distancing.”
It has been a tough three months for the entire industry and, unfortunately, some smaller facilities have not been able to make it out on the other end. It may take time for facilities to get back to where they were before the pandemic. GYMVNT was able to develop online services with remote classes to help get through the shutdown.
“I think it’s been tough for everybody,” Wildeman said. “We’ve been in conversation with all of our partners and our landlords and a lot of our members continued to support us during the shutdown. It’s been a tireless effort by a lot of folks and a lot of our partners and we’re very appreciative of everybody’s efforts.”