Floors should be marked so members can see where to space out to work out.
TOPLINE Gyms should be making modifications to check-in, floor layout, available amenities and cleaning procedures. Patrons should wear masks, stay six feet apart and take a long walk away from gyms that aren’t enforcing those rules.
- “Gyms do tend to be places where we do see a lot of germs,” says Dr. Amanda Castel, professor of epidemiology at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. “People are sweating, they’re breathing hard, and there are a lot of physical things to touch. They are considered to be somewhat inherently dirty.”
- Gym owners should make sure there is space to socially distance by spreading equipment, such as treadmills and weights, six feet apart.
- Gym owners should be mindful of ventilation and airflow. Doors and windows can be opened to help air out facilities.
- Gyms should regularly screen employees and patrons for coronavirus symptoms. An online reservation system can help monitor and limit the number of people allowed in at a time. This system can also be used for contact tracing to determine who may have been exposed if someone tests positive for the virus.
- Gyms should limit group exercise classes, particularly aerobic activities and hot yoga classes. The virus doesn’t spread through sweat, Castel says, but it does spread through respiratory droplets. Cardiovascular exercise makes people breathe more deeply, or cough more, which presents a greater opportunity for transmission.
- Gyms should close locker rooms, saunas and bathrooms, which have many high-touch surfaces.
- Patrons should wear a mask while working out. “We know it’s harder to breathe with the mask on,” Castel says. “If you want to go to the gym and can’t effectively wear the mask, I would suggest another activity. Maybe an activity outdoors or online at home, rather than in a gym. You can hike, run, jog, have an exercise class outdoors which is lower risk for spread of infection.”
- Patrons should be aware that while workout gloves can be protective, if the wearer touches a surface with the virus and then touches their face, nose or eyes, there is the possibility of infection.
- The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association says it is important “to keep members from congregating at any point—on the fitness floor, at the front desk, in locker rooms or other communal areas, in the pool area, and around group exercise.”
- Floors should be marked or signs posted so members can see where to space out to work out.
- Instructors should follow and enforce social distancing. No high fives, no postural adjustments, no walking the room. Personal trainers should use verbal cues during individual sessions and members should set their own treadmill speeds, retrieve their own weights, and set up their own workout space.
- Gyms should have members bring their own towels and mats during the early phases of reopening.
- Hard-to-clean items like bands, hand weights, yoga blocks, and foam rollers should be removed from use.
- Cleaning alone won’t cut it. Gyms should put steps in place that disinfect and sanitize equipment, door knobs, and other high-touch areas.
“The fitness industry has been mandated to maintain a sanitary work environment for years,” says Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano. But in response to the coronavirus pandemic, he had every employee in his club go through re-certification to ensure they abide by industry standards for cleanliness. Members are encouraged to wear masks which, along with gloves and hand sanitizer, will be available for free at every club. He also added touchless entry for members, placed hand sanitizer at every workout station, reduced class sizes, and closed locker rooms. Some locations are even offering outdoor classes.
For members who still don’t feel comfortable returning to the gym, Retro Fitness offers a free app that features live workouts and cooking classes focused on nutrition.”We wanted to go beyond the brick and mortar and be seen as an all-encompassing wellness platform for members,” Alfano adds.
Do not enter gyms that have ignored limited capacity rules or failed to implement six feet social distancing between gym equipment and members in open workout areas. Avoid gyms lacking single-use, disposable cleaning supplies to wipe down equipment. Closed door aerobic fitness classes should not be offered.
Many gyms are only accepting reservations for set workout times in order to ensure they limit capacity, and spacing them far enough apart in order to be able to thoroughly clean in between. If you are unable to get a spot, Castel recommends participating in livestream fitness classes and at-home challenges, which most gyms are offering their members at no extra cost. Many classes meet at a set time to help members keep a fitness routine but then offer recordings for those who may want to give a new class a test run at their own convenience.
What To Expect From Luxury Gyms And Fitness Studios As They Reopen (Forbes)
High Intensity Fitness Classes Linked To Rapid Coronavirus Spread (Forbes)
