Gyms reopen after 5 months

PATNA: Gyms and fitness centres in the city reopened after five months on Tuesday. Patna DM Kumar Ravi said the permission was given under the Unlock 4.0 guidelines.
Since the gym owners have to follow strict safety norms in view of Covid-19, they have taken several measures like repositioning of machines to maintain social distancing, limiting workout time, sanitisation after every session and capping the number of people in each session.
Sunny Singh, owner of a gym at Rajendra Nagar, said working out at a gym has many health benefits and so are the risks. “Gym could be an ideal place for virus spread. There are lots of people moving around indoors, sharing equipment and air, breathing heavily and precipitating. Keeping all these things in mind, we are sanitising our gym thoroughly after every two hours,” he said.
Some gyms have also overhauled locker room facilities and group sessions. Pawan Kumar, manager of a gym in Kadamkuan, said, “Our clients have been calling us to give advice on how to reduce the spread of virus inside the gym. Hence, we have shut down almost all additional services like spa rooms, locker rooms and cafeteria for the time being,” he said.
The new measures have increased the running cost of gyms and fitness centres. Additional staff members are required for frequent cleaning of equipment and to ensure that customers wear masks and follow the rules. “We have spaced out equipment and begun intensive cleaning. Our cost has increased. I am counting on new enrolments in the coming weeks,” said Abhinay Kumar, owner of a fitness centre at Patliputra Colony.
Smaller gyms are finding it more difficult to manage things in small space. “Spacing out the equipment to maintain social distancing has put a cap on our operating capacity. My gym can accommodate only 20 people at a time. This will reduce my revenue whereas the cost of maintenance has increased,” rued Chandan Raj, owner of a mid-sized gym in Phulwarisharif.
But, there’s no longer the usual morning ‘rush’ for workout. “I have been working from home since March. Unlike pre-Covid times, I have opted for a late evening workout session at my gym,” said Nikesh Singh from Patel Nagar.
Trainers are excited, too. “I was conducting online sessions but physically going to the gym is a different feeling. I saw my clients after five months today. A few of them have gained weight,” said Pankaj Kumar.
Fitness buff Piyush Shankar from Rajendra Nagar said the contents of his gym bag have changed now. “Other than my usual protein shake, my gym bag now has sanitiser, gloves, masks and face shields,” he said.