ALLOW US TO SAFELY HELP OUR COMMUNITIES BECOME HEALTHIER.

Now is the time to begin reopening small, independent fitness facilities, while taking care to mitigate risks. Danger is not gone, it is now manageable.

We believe that as smaller, independent facilities, we can take the appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our employees and customers, follow strict social distancing recommendations, and fall in line with local, state, and federal recommendations.

We can open safer, cleaner and follow the CDC's and governor's guidelines better than any large retailer.

We propose that you make a separate classification for small, independently owned fitness facilities that operate primarily as one-on-one and small group personal training studios. Our small businesses are a completely different model than the mainstream “large box” gyms that many are accustomed to.
 
Small fitness studios have the advantage of being able to adjust their day to day operations for the safety of our members, staff, and community.

We are appointment based.

We control who comes into our facility.

Our staff can make sure no one has any symptoms.

National home improvement chains, state liquor stores, restaurants, and other businesses currently allowed to operate can’t do that.

Smaller facilities have the ability to strictly regulate the number of people in the facility at any given time, the duration of their stay, and other measures required to ensure that their members are protected, while providing them the opportunity to perform physical tasks that will ultimately improve their mental and physical health as well as immune function.

We understand that if we are to open in Phase One that we must do so in a limited capacity and with strict guidelines to keep our members, clients, and staff safe.

We propose the following:

- Restrict facility access to appointment based, one trainer to one person training only and limit facility occupancy to 25 percent of capacity as dictated by fire code;

- Limit sessions to 50 minutes to allow for 10-minute gaps for cleaning and decrease congestion. There will be no overlap between members’ reserved time slots.

- Staff to conduct regular (after each session) disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, equipment and common areas of the facility using disinfectant cleaning supplies according to CDC guidelines;

- Adjust equipment layout and close or restrict access to equipment to maintain at least 10 feet of distance between equipment;

- Close showers, locker areas, and lockers. Members should report in a ready to train condition, previously dressed and with a labeled bottle of water and no excess belongings;

- NO open gym

- NO group fitness classes

- Screen members for illness upon entry to the gym;

- Require all employees and encourage members to wear PPE where applicable, and recommend that members wear a face covering;

- Keep doors and windows open where possible to improve ventilation;

Research has shown time and time again that exercise strengthens our immune system. It lowers the effects of depression. It protects us from many of the same things that lead to more serious complications from COVID-19. And most importantly of all right now, it gives our community an outlet to cope with the stresses we're all battling.

ALLOW US TO SAFELY HELP OUR COMMUNITIES BECOME HEALTHIER.