Gyms, yoga centres turn cautious while reopening
The Covid-19 Unlock 3.0 could not have come at a better time for fitness enthusiasts in the city with the government providing relief to gyms and other fitness facilities, including yoga centres, allowing them to re-open from August 5.
Fitness enthusiasts, as well as those running such centres, are gearing up for the new normal.
Many who are serious about their physical wellbeing and fitness have been lamenting over the past few months that ever since the first phase of the lockdown, they have missed out on their daily regimen.
The re-opening of fitness and yoga centres could not have come fast enough for those dependent on the fitness industry, such as yoga instructors, gym trainers, along with maintenance and housekeeping staff, who were not paid for all these months.
Amit Goenka, a fitness enthusiast, said, “The news has given new enthusiasm to me and my friends. We all had a daily routine of going to the gym every morning. During the lockdown, we tried to work out at home but that was not the same as working out at the gym. These past five months have been difficult for all of us. Now as the pandemic is all around, our first priority is a gym that is safe and secure for everyone. Though we have membership in a premium gym, we will make sure that if it fails to implement adequate precautionary measures, we will look for another where we will feel safer and get back to our daily fitness routines.”
Kiranmayee, who heads operations at Golds Gym, said that “the gym has come up with a smartphone app that enables a client to book a workout slot 24 hours in advance. We plan to allow a very restricted number of clients to ensure social distancing. Apart from that, showers will be closed as will the steam bath. But the airconditioning will be switched on.”
Gandhi Gyan Mandir Yoga Kendra, which used to witness a daily attendance of close to
500 people from early morning till evening before the Covid-19 crisis erupted, is also planning to cut its hourly attendance by more than half. “Our hall which used to accommodate 100 participants at a time will, from now on, have 30 to
40 participants to maintain proper social distancing. The carpet in the hall is coming off and individuals will be required to bring their own mats and towels.”
Director, Ravindra Kapadia, said the institution suffered losses over the past five months and employees could not be paid. “However, since the building itself belongs to the trust, we have been spared of the burden of rent,” he said.
Anthony D’Mello, of Johns Gym at Ramkote, said “This is a small gym, furnished with basic equipment keeping middle class users in mind with minimal fee structure. For our six instructors, the re-starting of gyms has given us hope. We now look forward to slightly better times.”