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Things are going to be a little different at health clubs for a while. No matter what guidelines look like after reopening, it’s important you ensure a safe and healthy environment for your staff and members. Although reopening should provide your members with positive benefits like exercise and much-needed distraction from the virus, the execution of the operation is unfortunately not that simple.

Social Distancing In the Gym

How do you manage to keep your members distanced? Ensure a minimum distance of at least six feet (likely more depending upon local guidelines) between fitness equipment. Also, consider using plexiglass dividing walls or folding screens. You can also use stickers or barrier tape to prevent members of using specific machines when moving them is not an option. Close the locker rooms and showers as it’s very difficult to maintain and check strict sanitation measures in them. This also applies to the swimming pool. Close or limit accessibility to areas where members tend to congregate.

Rethink Your Equipment Layout

Temporarily expanding your gym floor space might be a great solution if it’s possible. Try to create workout spaces from areas that are unused. It might be worth it to reevaluate the current use of group class studios. If you have multiple studio areas, one may be sufficient for now, while the others can be used for cardio workouts. Moving some of your cardio equipment to group class studios results in more space on the gym floor. Basketball courts, if your facility has them, provide plenty of space and are a great secondary cardio room option. 

Designate New Traffic Patterns

Create one-way traffic lanes to control the flow of members in your gym. This can easily be done by using arrows and stop signs. The key is to be very clear when creating routing and ‘one-way traffic’. If possible, try to create a separate entrance and exit. This makes it possible to easily oversee the facility and regulate your capacity. 

Communicate with Members

Clear communication is essential. The only way to manage a successful and safe reopening is with 100% preparation and cooperation from both staff and members. Safety is not only a concern for your staff, members are equally as responsible when it comes to their own health and the health of others. Inform your members in advance about rule changes and the importance of following new guidelines. Let them weigh in on their concerns, so that you can provide them with solutions and peace of mind.

Set Up a Booking System

During the first months after reopening, it’s likely that there will be capacity limits. It’s important to prepare and have a seamless solution to manage this. One obvious solution is to adjust the current group classes booking tool or other digital systems that you have access to – this also to make the lives of your members easier. If you don’t have a booking tool for your group classes, or this tool isn’t sustainable, there are plenty of other fairly cheap and simple (online) tools available. Consider a limited amount of bookings per member per week to give all members equal opportunities.

There are lots of new considerations to think about in the post-shutdown world. But with thoughtful execution and planning you can create a welcoming environment for your members.

Source from: https://blog.lifefitness.com/ideas-how-implement-new-guidelines-your-fitness-facility

There’s no doubt that fitness facilities have been hit extremely hard during the outbreak of COVID-19. The popular belief is that health clubs are places where the virus easily spreads. But, if proper safety protocols are followed, this might not be true.

Recent research out of Norway has found that fitness facilities are at no higher risk of spreading COVID-19 as long as proper hygiene and social distancing measures are followed. The study, recently featured in an article on ClubIndustry.com, aimed to find out whether gyms were at an increased risk of spreading the virus.

How the Study Worked

Researchers looked at a randomized group of 3,764 people across five gyms. Their ages were between 18 and 64. Half of the participants trained at their gym, while the other half did not. The gyms were opened only for these select participants. Regular services at these gyms were available, including group fitness classes.

Exercisers had to abide by social distancing and increased hygiene practices. This meant keeping at least three feet between members on the gym floor and six feet between members in classes. Additionally, all workout stations required disinfecting after use with hand and surface sanitizers provided by the facilities.

Encouraging Results

At the end of the experimental period, participants were offered a COVID-19 test. Out of the 80% who consented to testing, there was only one positive test. This positive test was from a member assigned to the training group but who had not yet attended the gym. After contact tracing, it was found that this member had been exposed at their workplace.In addition, the 91 staff members from the five gyms involved in the study tested negative for COVID-19.

The researchers concluded that: “If hygiene and distancing measures could be achieved, we assumed it would be safe to open gyms and training facilities. As our results show, there was no increase in COVID-related disease due to the opening of gyms and training facilities.”

Although the study only ran for three weeks, it provided evidence that gyms are no more prone to COVID-19 exposure than other places where people frequently gather.

Provided appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures are followed, gyms should be able to operate safely. Luckily, these measures are relatively inexpensive to implement, but they require vigilance from staff to ensure members are following safety protocols.

Source from: https://blog.lifefitness.com/one-covid-19-study-thats-good-news-fitness-industry