Gyms . . . What's the problem?

[AllesAusLiebe]

Just discussing this with DH and neither of us can understand why gyms cannot operate from mid June, along with non essential shops.

Am I missing something?

I think it would be pretty easy to restrict numbers, place additional sanitisers, make wearing face masks compulsory and close changing rooms/showers etc.

It would be a big help for those who are struggling a little with mental health and also, many trainers at my gym are self-employed so I'd imagine that they're under great financial strain at the moment.

I understand the concerns about sweat flying around but if users are all wearing face masks, I'd imagine it would be difficult to do intense cardio work anyway. It would, however, be very possible to still do weight training.

[effingterrified]

Oh FFS, if the government want to do focus groups or fly a kite, can't it bloody pay people to be in focus groups and not use MN for endless kite flying/water-testing?

It's so fucking obvious.

[B1rdbra1n]

I agree, I really miss my gym ☹️

[B1rdbra1n]

although I do think that lots of fitness facilities would find it difficult to operate without showers and changing rooms because conveniences like that are part of the package that people pay for.

[AHippoNamedBooBooButt]

Buy some weights, use them at home. There are plenty of government financial support schemes for the self employed atm.

Hth

[B1rdbra1n]

I will happily participate in a water testing thread if it gets gyms open 😊

[B1rdbra1n]

For people who are serious about strength training the weights that you can use at home really don't cut it!

[choosesoap]

because you sweat all over, touch all the equipment, heavy breath all in a relatively confined space. in my gym you would have to allow maybe 4 people in at a time to keep the appropriate distance,then thoroughly sanitized everywhere before they could move onto the next machine.

[Glittertwins]

Apparently it's the insurance with regards to changing rooms and the cleaning of them. Doesn't bother me as I live so close so always shower at home.
And it's been nigh on impossible to buy any kind of fitness equipment since March and where would you store it all ??

[GinWithRosie]

Eugh! I really do not wish to be anywhere near flying sweat particles thank you. HTH

[LilQueenie]

depends on the gym. as said above there is a fair amount of sweat to be cleaned off equipment. There are also gym mats and some types of contact sports which would be an epidemic waiting to happen.

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Think aboutvthe sweat everywhere and how much stuff you touch like weights and machines. As a cleaner at a gym I can tell you it is a constant job even when people are supposed to wipe their machines down. Quite a few people are too lazy to wipe down anything.

Machines were close together before they closed but they could be moved. Would mean less equipment available.

In theory can be done but may mean very limited amount of members allowed in on one go which may make it difficult for people who can only go at certain times. They'd certainly have to limit hours to staffed hours so no more 24hr gym as you wouldn't be able to keep an eye on whats going on and cleanliness etc.

[IcedPurple]

I couldn't be arsed paying for a gym if I had to wear a mask, couldn't shower and had to go home in my manky gym clothes. It might be different for real fitness enthusiasts, but personally, I'd rather just use my basic gym equipment at home for free and wait for the gym to reopen at full service.

[Liverbird77]

I can't see how gyms will work going forward.
At mine, you can get 30 members in a lot of classes. Spaces are booked up a week ahead and slots go within minutes.
I am not prepared to pay the high fees if I can't get a space in the classes I am able to attend. I am sure sizes will be halved at least. I understand why of course, but I am not going to pay for a service I can't use.
The same goes for the swimming pool. I just don't see how it can work.

[IntermittentParps]

I'm lucky enough to live close to my gym and would be happy to walk home for a shower, if it meant that my classes could restart and my teachers get back to work.

I do see the issues with heavy breathing/sweating/cleaning etc though, so unfortunately I think it's sensible that they stay closed.

Some gyms in my chain have, I think, been looking into ideas of holding classes in open spaces as some of them have playing fields and basketball courts etc. In fact, I'm going to investigate that more as I haven't heard any further developments.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Like any business if you have to limit numbers of customers it may just not be worth doing financially until things get back to normal. So decision is between operating at a loss but keeping some of your customers, and using furlough to offset costs while normal profitable operations are not possible.

[B1rdbra1n]

The gym business model relies on people having unlimited access in return for a membership fee
But gyms would have to limit the amount of people using them at one time
these two things don't seem compatible☹️

[CoronaIsShit]

I don’t get it either. We could book slots online, the same as classes, so there’s only x amount of people in at any one time. It’s rare that sweat is flying about , never seen that in my gym.

I don’t care about the changing rooms or the pool, I really need the lower back weights machine as I have disc degenerative disease and I was pain free until a a month or so ago when I started losing the back muscles I’d built up. No home weights will cut it as I was pulling 55kg on that and 100kg on the leg press. It’ll take me months to build back up to that again!

[Dancingalong]

I agree OP me and my DH are really missing the gym. I wouldn’t be too keen on wearing a face mask though as I struggle to breath when doing cardio though.
Our gym is really quite big and quite often less then a handful of people in there anyway so could easily distance. We were all wiping equipment down before and after each use and there is always a cleaner about cleaning it.

[Pacmanitee]

It's a perfect place to spread viruses, but weighed against the implications of people becoming fat and unfit meh I say open them. For many it's not the same working out at home or outside.

[B1rdbra1n]

If you're young then things like biking, running, body weight strength training, etc that you can do at home can be enough to keep you in good shape
But when you get into your 50s and 60s you have to be much more careful of avoiding injuries and you need access to a good range of professional gym equipment if you want to stay in good shape.
That's my take on it 🤷🏼‍♀️

[CoronaMoaner]

God I miss my weekly swim.

[profpoopsnagle]

I'd love to know how to swim with a face mask on!

[IntermittentParps]

The gym business model relies on people having unlimited access in return for a membership fee
My yoga studio is closed and is offering a limited selection of classes on Zoom. They've halved class prices and membership fees. This might be a way for gyms to go.

[Footywife]

@CoronalsShit Of course there's sweat flying around. You might not see it....but its there. I sweat buckets when doing a class, always have done. Do you think it just stays on me and doesn't fly off when I'm running around.

[IcedPurple]

I'd love to know how to swim with a face mask on!

Swimming itself is fine. The virus is not waterbourne and in any case chlorine stops it spreading. It's the changing rooms and showers that are the conundrum.