Lockdown lift off for gyms
Many fitness fanatics had become tired of home workouts and couldn't wait to get back to the gym.
Gyms and fitness centres were given the green light to reopen this week after almost five months of enforced idleness. Fitness enthusiasts were delighted with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement last Saturday that restrictions were being eased in line with the country’s move to Level 2 lockdown from Tuesday this week.
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Many had become tired of home workouts and couldn’t wait to get back to the gym. Mark Lawlor of Superbodies Health and Fitness Centre in Port Shepstone said lockdown had done much damage to the economy and people’s lives. “For gym owners this period has been very stressful as we had zero income and no help from government’s TERS fund.”
Mark added that Superbodies gyms were following government’s safety regulations to the letter, only allowing 50 people on the premises at any one time. “We have also implemented extremely strict sanitising measures and our staff will be cleaning the equipment throughout the day. “Certain equipment has been blocked off to allow for social distancing,” he explained. “People are encouraged to come and train during the day to avoid overcrowding during peak times, and to wear their masks.”
Dominique and Jared Read of Superbodies Margate said the last five months had not only been financially stressful but also mentally draining. “Both Jared and I are not only passionate about the gym industry but have been in the game for years. It was extremely difficult to sit at home and not come to gym. As new gym owners we felt all our hard work before lockdown had gone to waste.” Having said that, Dominique added that there was one positive about lockdown. “It did give us time to re-look at things, get in touch with our members and make some new and exciting changes to the gym.” Owner of Body Harmony Gyms Imran Khan explained that although the hygiene and cleanliness standards at both gyms had always been high, an extra effort was now being made to ensure that Covid-19 protocols were in place to ensure the health and safety of staff and members. Measures, he said, included providing hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant throughout the gyms, limiting the number of people using the facility at any one time, spacing out equipment or taking some equipment out of service to maintain social distancing, enhanced cleaning, ensuring adequate ventilation and of course, compulsory masks for all staff and clients.
“We’re in this together,” said a confident Imran. “We need to work together to keep everyone healthy and safe. “By taking care of ourselves, we are also taking care of our community, and ultimately our country. We look forward to welcoming our members back.” Carmen Jesson of Umtentweni said opening the gyms was “the best decision government has made in months”. Christelle Rana of St Mike’s agreed, saying she was ecstatic to be back at gym. “The gym is my happy place. Training at home is certainly not the same.” Edward James, a grade 10 pupil at Port Shepstone High said he missed the atmosphere, people and the routine of training. “While the gym was closed I did body weight training at home, but it was not the same.”
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