May 15, 2020

Mayor Cooper, 

We are writing to you today, representing an important branch of the Nashville small business community: Private Fitness Studios. Collectively, we propose that you either make a separate classification for small, locally owned personal training, yoga, and Pilates studios that operate primarily in a one-on-one and small group format, or include us under the "Nail Salon, Hair Salon, Massage Therapy” classification. Our small businesses are a completely different model than the mainstream “large box” gyms that many are accustomed to.

Just like Nail Salons, Hair Salons, and Massage Therapists, small Personal Training, Yoga, and Pilates Studios have the advantage of being able to adjust their day-to-day operations for the safety of our members/clients, staff, and community in the following ways:

• We operate as appointment-only facilities; therefore we control the number of clients coming into our space. (Most have10 or fewer clients in the facility at a time. Plus, the numbers can be adjusted by limiting class and client/trainer ratios.)
• Studio equipment setup can be modified by designing workout stations (or pods). This gives each client personal space, with equipment, thus maintaining social distancing and decreasing the risk of cross-contamination.
• Our training spaces are smaller than the large operations, allowing us to easily maintain high sanitization standards throughout the day, on top of after-hours deep cleaning. (Most of our businesses are 2500 square feet and under.)
• We always operate with a small staff, which naturally decreases the risk of spreading of Covid-19.
• We provide a service without physically touching our members. (Beauty salons, nail salons, and barber shops all MUST touch their clients to perform their service)

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

We propose the following:

• Institute a separate classification for small, locally owned Personal Training, Yoga and Pilates Studios to distinguish them from large gyms, or include these businesses under the Nail Salon, Hair Salon, Massage Therapy classification.
• Session (or class) sizes to be limited to 10 people or less (or half capacity, depending on the size of the facility). 
  All staff must wear face masks and gloves during operating hours.
• Equipment must not be shared during sessions and will be cleaned and sterilized after each use.
• Facilities will be fully stocked with proper cleaning supplies, masks, and gloves for staff use. Hand sanitizer will be placed throughout the studios for regular client/member and staff usage.
• Facilities will clearly mark off workout areas so proper social distancing standards may be observed.
• Temperatures of clients/members will be taken upon entry. Anyone showing signs of illness will be denied entry and sent home. Staff will also take a daily temperature read and stay home when showing signs of illness.

As business owners and members of our local communities, we take the health and safety of our members, clients, and staff very seriously. We are confident that we will be able to operate our businesses in a safe and responsible way that will meet the standards that you have laid out to a fully reopened economy. We are also willing to meet any additional standards you feel will help us keep our communities safe if we are allowed to open in Phase Two of your plan.

Please allow us to do our part by serving our communities and allowing us to open in the second phase of your plan. We are eager to get back to work to keep Nashvillians healthy and maintain the success of the businesses we’ve created.