Gyms Prepare To Reopen With Strict Distancing Guidelines

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Gyms are among the businesses preparing to reopen in Salt Lake County in the coming days, with strict guidelines that include enforcing 10 feet of physical distancing.

“When the athletes come in, they will actually go to their designated spots,” said Dan Adamson, owner of Point Fitness in Bluffdale. He learned about the new guidelines Wednesday and spent part of the day laying out what it would look like.

“People are really missing the gym. For the most part, my members are excited to get back,” Adamson said.

The setup is hardly ideal, but Adamson knew the only way to get closer to filling his CrossFit gym is to keep people distant — 10 feet apart during workouts, to be exact. And the normal six feet at all other times.

Adamson’s gym allows him to set up 19 of those spaces, although he said he doesn’t expect to fill all of those spots initially.

“Hopefully, they’ll come back and realize that one-on-one training is really helpful and having somebody program workouts for you brings them back,” he said.

Adamson said his members will each be given their own set of equipment to use during classes, which will end sooner than normal, giving his staff a half an hour to sanitize before the next group arrives.

And like all other businesses reopening, managers are asked to monitor employees for symptoms.

Salt Lake County officials also said Wednesday that gym employees “must always wear face coverings over the nose and mouth to effectively reduce the spread of respiratory droplets. Customers are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings unless engaged in heavy physical activity during which a face covering could adversely affect breathing.”

Even with the limits, having members back would be a nice change after a month and a half of online classes and untouched bars, benches and bikes.

“Zoom’s great and all, but when you see this little square of your friend, it’s not the same as coming and working out with your friend,” said Adamson, who has taught several classes online over the last six weeks. “It’s weird…it’s like you’re yelling at a screen in your garage all by yourself.”

And the online classes haven’t made up for the loss in members.

“Financially and economically it’s definitely had a big impact,” Adamson said. “It’s not like we have a big bankroll sitting out in the back for times like this. You try to but it’s very difficult in a small business.”

In a time when the state is so focused on health Adamson hoped people won’t forget about gyms.

“That’s what a gym is right? We don’t want to get sick,” he said. “Our goal is to make you healthier.”