Forever Fitness opening delayed as they get ready to open later in the week in the brand new facility!
Gyms and exercise services can reopen on May 18 following Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan for reopening businesses with restrictions that he detailed in a press conference Tuesday.
According to the state, gyms, exercise facilities and exercise classes may also open on May 18, but must operate at 25% occupancy. Locker rooms and shower facilities will remain closed but restrooms may open. Employees and contractors of the gym or exercise facility are not counted towards the 25% occupancy limitation.
Here is a list of recommendations from the State for gyms:
- Space workout equipment to provide for at least 6 feet separation between patrons.
- Regularly and frequently clean and disinfect any regularly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, tables, chairs, and restrooms.
- Disinfect any items that come into contact with customers.
- Provide equipment cleaning products throughout the gym or exercise facility or class for use on equipment, including dead weights.
- Make hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap and water, or similar disinfectant readily available to employees, contractors, and customers.
- Place readily visible signage at the gym or exercise facility or class to remind everyone of the best hygiene practices.
- For facilities with more than 10 employees and/or contractors present at one time, consider having an individual wholly or partially dedicated to ensuring the health protocols adopted by the facility are being successfully implemented and followed.
- Train all employees and contractors on appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
- Screen employees and contractors before coming into the gym or exercise facility or class
- Have employees and contractors wash or sanitize their hands upon entering the gym or exercise facility.
- Have employees and contractors maintain at least 6 feet separation from other individuals. If such distancing is not feasible, other measures such as face covering, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.
- If a gym or exercise facility or class provides a meal for employees and/or contractors, the gym or exercise facility is recommended to have the meal individually packed for each individual.
- Consistent with the actions taken by many employers across the state, consider having all employees and contractors wear cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth). If available, employees should consider wearing non-medical grade face masks.
Locally, BRMC’s Cardiac Rehab and Fitness Center will be opening up at 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning. Center Director Michael Lee stated, “We are excited to be opening up, finally. We have 200 people that are used to coming into our facility regularly, and they have been missing that routine. We are ready to get back to work.”
The fitness center will be running regular hours of 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday -Friday. They will have to run at 25% capacity which means about 10 people only in the facility at any one time. “We seldom have that many at once anyway, so for the most part, people will not see a change in that.”
Your temperature will be taken at the door before you are allowed in and those running a fever will, of course, not be allowed inside. “Masks and gloves will be available, but we understand that it is hard, if not dangerous to work out with a mask on. As you are breathing out CO2, it becomes a problem trapped inside a mask.” Lee stated that all safety and hygiene precautions will be taken. All machines and weights will be sanitized between users. And, someone will be there at all times to monitor the facility.
Lee stated that a membership is $22 a month for a regular membership, and $20 for a Senior. There are also couples and family rates available. The facility is also a member of Silver Sneakers and Renew Active. County employees also have a membership paid through the County they can take advantage of.
The YMCA closed permanently during the shut-down, and they currently have no plans to reopen the facility, but there is a “new” gym opening soon, although it will not be opening on Monday, May 18.
Kristin Dill, owner of Forever Fitness and Nutrition, began work on a brand new facility late last year, with hopes of being open in possibly April of this year.
In October 2019, a metal building began to rise up on an old, empty parking lot that has been vacant for years. That was the time Forever Fitness 3.0 began. Kristin stated, “For months, I was asked ‘when is the new gym opening?’ This highly anticipated, new facility was set to open at the end of March. For the past 8 weeks, we have been pushing through to get the project finished. The delay in finishing has come from the shutdown, lack of businesses open to order special materials, and quite frankly, some people not wanting to come to work.”
There are still a few more things to finish at the new facility, so Forever Fitness will not be able to open May 18, but are looking forward to opening the doors, possibly by the end of the week , or Monday May 25 at the latest.
Kristin stated, “I know everyone is beyond ready to get back to the gym, but I know our members will understand that opening the old gym for a few days just does not makes sense. The equipment is not placed six feet apart and we want to be able to adhere to those guidelines Governor Abbott has set forth for re-opening. We have been packing up boxes and getting prepared to move, so our current location is in no shape for patrons at this time. With the new guidelines given to us, plus all of the inspections that go into opening a new business, we have so much criteria to meet before opening day. Keeping the current gym closed will allow us time to move, prep, clean and get everything perfect for our members. “
At the new gym, there will be posted signs to explain the new guidelines on cleaning, disinfecting, and helping each other out. There will also be eight sanitizer stations set up throughout the facility, as well as disinfectant spray and disposable towels for members to clean their equipment before and after use. Kristin stated, “We will have staff members around through the day to help clean and disinfect, but our members know it takes all of us to keep out facility clean, sanitized and fresh. We are sad our locker rooms will have to be closed in the beginning stages of Phase 2 to Re-Open Texas, but we will have toilets and sinks available for use. We encourage members to wash their hands before and after their workouts, and utilities the sanitizer stations during their workout.”
Like Lee, Kristin doesn’t see the 25% occupancy rule as being a problem, as people come in throughout the day to work out and there are just not that many there at any one time. She says if you want to wear a mask while working out, that is your choice, but do remember the hazards of working out with a mask on. Gloves will also be optional.
(LOOK FOR MORE ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW FOREVER FITNESS AND NUTRITION NEXT WEEK ON TOWNTALK RADIO!)
We can finally go workout and get rid of the “COVID 19”, as opposed to the Freshman 15, we have all packed on during these last weeks. Get out and get back in shape and remember to be safe!
