Going back to the gym post COVID lockdown

[Cezanne]

My gym, Bannatyne, has everything pretty much open, except Sauna and cold rooms.
You don’t need to book a slot to use the gym (machines, weights etc) and classes are accepting fewer bookings. They will check your temperature upon arrival, you’re asked to be ‘gym and pool ready‘. You need to wear a mask at all times unless you’re exercising. Incredibly, the pool is also open with lanes and children swimming time.

I’m going back on Saturday. I’m desperate to return. Although I have a spin bike, weights, steps etc...I’m simply not motivated enough to regularly work out at home and after foot surgery I can’t run on pavement. Strangely, I’ve always socially distanced at the gym anyways. I’m sweaty and look like shit so I keep my head down and get on with it. I truly don‘t care about shops reopening, pubs, restaurants etc but I NEED THE GYM for my sanity. It’s MY time away from the kids, work, husband. I won’t use the pool and most likely will cancel the children’s memberships because I draw the line at joining them in the pool.

 

[Chum]

Even with all the precautions and safety measures, I won't be returning to the gym until next year. Pre-lockdown I had a 4/5 times-a-week gym habit but I've managed to stay in shape at home with weights, resistance bands, HIIT etc. Knowing how the gym bros huff and puff at the best of times, I feel my safety trumps my need to use a leg press

 

[Platypusfattypus]

I think I'm going to wait for a while. Wait for it all to settle down a bit. The thing I miss the most is the pool

 

[openbook1]

Ours is allowing an hour at a time, they have also opened up the pool and hot tub (30 mins). The did say in their emails you didn't have to come back and at £83 a month I am not happy to go back under these rules. Every other machine is not for use, limited number and it's a really small gym anyway. I haven't even tried to book on as they opened them today. There are some people who used to go everyday and I doubt there will be any slors left.

I'm going to contact mine about putting it on hold as I am not happy to go back.

I did have mine on hold and then cancelled it this month as I don't see myself going back this year.

 

[Youre a wizard Harry]

Mine is reopening Saturday but I don’t know whether I will go back at all, I have got on so well with working out at home and I’m working out more now than I ever did at the gym (even now I am back working at the office and busier in general.)I think I’m going to freeze membership for another month and decide after that.

 

[Yel]

Should have had two options for going back, straight away and in a bit!

I think hour sessions are fine, the 45 mins here then a 15 min clean between sessions is over the top. I doubt they'll actually keep that up for long.

I'll be back in as soon as the pools reopen which they're still not giving a date for here. My back needs it!

 

[Giddyasaschoolgirl]

I'm a 6x a week regular gym goer so was desperate for them to reopen. I only live 6 mins jog from it and since we didn't know how long gyms were going to be closed for, I didn't want to spend lots of money on free weights etc in lockdown (they went up in price anyway!)

I wasn't going to rush back on the first day as I thought it would be manic, but they decided to put the yoga class on so I DID NOT want to lose my space in the class if it was full (it's a great class and always has a waiting list, plus it's done as a block so once you've lost your spot it's 6 weeks before you can try again). Only 5 people came for the yoga (out of 15) and the room was really spread out.
Saw one of the HIIT classes, that was a bit dodgy as people were sweating all over each other and very close at times during exercise.

Most people in the main gym are clearing things away and being decent- there's a 50 person cap in the gym and each session is for 1 hour. You can't book more than 1 session a day and have to clean down your equipment.

Lots of people aren't coming back just yet, I don't blame them but the gym seems to be doing as much as it can to keep clean and safe.

I've never been a good home fitness person, I just don't enjoy it and have been looking forward to going back. Telling though how loads of people on the gyms FB page were banging on about going straight back and none of them have.......

 

[JoeBloggs]

I did have mine on hold and then cancelled it this month as I don't see myself going back this year.

I want to go back to work and if I get it or have to isolate because of the gym I won’t be happy. I’m going to call them tomorrow about the options, I’ve not done my 12 months yet but I guess this is exceptional.

 

[Gembo]

I want to go back but feeling really anxious about it. We’re still awaiting an email giving us all the details but so far I know it’s the same as a lot of you, 1 hour, book in advance, no showers. I thought I might wait a month and see what happens

 

[SpiceWeasel]

I've read the email from mine several times and as far as I can tell

No need to book
Keep distance from other members
Sanitizer throughout the gym
Wipe down equipment after use
Arrive/leave in gym wear ie. don't use the changing rooms
Not allowed to bring towels
They have a special 'electrostatic' gun which sanitises and creates an invisible barrier which they will be using regularly?! (in my head it has a laser )

It's a fair sized gym but they've posted pics up on their Instagram and none of the equipment is any further apart than normal.

I can't decide whether to go or not. My boyfriend is going when it opens on Saturday but I'm in two minds.

 

[openbook1]

I am not going. Gyms here have been reopened for a month now and already multiple have shut back down because of breakouts, whether at their own facility or a member/staff has been in contact with someone else who tested positive. Toilets, change rooms and showers etc are not allowed to be used.
I've got a home gym in the basement set up and am really happy with that.

 

[JoeBloggs]

Ours is allowing an hour at a time, they have also opened up the pool and hot tub (30 mins). The did say in their emails you didn't have to come back and at £83 a month I am not happy to go back under these rules. Every other machine is not for use, limited number and it's a really small gym anyway. I haven't even tried to book on as they opened them today. There are some people who used to go everyday and I doubt there will be any slors left.

I'm going to contact mine about putting it on hold as I am not happy to go back.

 

[JoeBloggs]

Is there any indication as to when pools will reopen?

Ours has a pool and it’s opening Friday. Showers can also be used.

 

[hiya_hun]

I do Hot Yoga and I can't see that opening back up any time soon. Too many bodily fluids and people on top of eachother at the best of times. No idea how it will be policed or even sanitised.

I considered joining a gym instead but if its gonna be that much faff there is absolutely no chance! ill stick to running for now :-(

 

[Platypusfattypus]

My local one is talking about restricting people to 10 mins on equipment which isn't very long at all

 

[Forfoxsake]

I'm a Pure Gym member and luckily they've given people the option to freeze for a further month if they don't feel ready to go back yet. I only really use the weights room and despite them taping out squares for workout space in there, I really can't get my head around how it will work in practice as I can't see everyone cleaning every single plate and dumbbell after every use. Plenty of people must disagree though as I walked past my branch yesterday around 5.30pm and the car park looked almost as busy as it would have been at that time of day in normal times.

I've surprised myself by being pretty motivated with home workouts during lockdown, thought I'd be lazy but I've been fairly consistent. I was lucky in that I already had a couple of kettlebells and some spinlock dumbbells though, I think I would have given up on purely bodyweight exercises by now. I have missed the heavy weights for lower body but I'm really not feeling ready to go back to the gym just yet just to use the squat rack.

 

[DigiDuino]

I paid a bulk 'rest of academic year' fee in January and they've just opened back up.
I've managed to push my restart until mid-September but I cannot imagine being back at all.

They say in emails that they've move equipment for it to be social distanced, but it isn't a massive gym! Maybe team sport rooms will have regular equipment inside for a while?
But at the same time I need the motivation of a gym personally! So I am looking forward to being able to go back safely.

 

[Titntat]

Were ready to re open Saturday.
1 hour slots for the gym (pre booked only). No changing facilities.
1 hour slots for swimming (pre booked only).
Limited classes due to cleaning in-between.

Half an hour between these times for cleaning equipment and changing areas (pool change).

Alot of customers are complaining Were offering free use until October and it won't be any extra when their payments re start.

Is there any indication as to when pools will reopen?

Were re opening saturday (England)

 

[They See Me Trolling...]

Actually my question wasn’t fair as everyone is taking a different approach. 1) I’m in Scotland so not the same timeline as England and 2) it’s the local authority swimming pool so likely to be longer than private ones

 

[OatMatchaLatte]

We have to book a session - it's an hour slot.
I don't know how many people can go at a time.
No changing room / shower facilities open.
There's no pool / extras at mine!

I'm looking forward to going But I'll see how it goes in terms of distancing etc.