Fourman explained that up to 100 people are allowed to be in their gym at one time to ensure social distancing guidelines. She said they are letting members come in for one-hour shifts and then cleaning for 15 minutes before the next one-hour shift is allowed to come in.
“It has not been overcrowded,” Fourman said. “We have been fortunate enough to have a large gym.”
Matt Garrity, owner of Champion City CrossFit on Upper Valley Pike said, “People are excited. They are ready to be back.”
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He explained that the new guidelines did not make much of a difference at his gym because classes were smaller and cleaning procedures were in place. Classes are now limited to 10 people with online registration, sanitizer and disinfectant is near each station and each station is pre-set with workout equipment to make sure “everything is more contain.”
Garrity said the biggest challenge for members during the pandemic was not being able to workout with other people.
“Removing that part hurts the motivation a little bit,” Garrity said.
Brit Insley, a member at Champion City CrossFit said she enjoyed the virtual workouts Garrity provided, but didn’t have the motivation to do them.
“I need actually coming to the gym,” Insley said.
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Gloria Stir, another member at Champion City CrossFit said she was glad that gyms were allowed to reopen.
“I’m really glad, but I still think people need to be safe and distance yourself and take precautions because I don’t want this flaring back up,” Stir said. “We do have to be careful, but we have to workout. Like me, I have to keep pushing myself to be strong.”
Other precautionary measures gyms are taking include tracking who comes in, keeping showers closed, having members enter through one door and leave through another and limiting members to being in the gym for one hour at a time.
“We are keeping up with the protocols and it is a good, wide-open environment that people can feel welcomed in,” Fourman said. “The healthier you are and the more active you are, the better your immune system is going to be.”
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