Rebooting workout: Exercise, sanitise, mind the gap, repeat!

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 10

The good news for fitness freaks was announced as early as August 5 when the government allowed gymnasiums to operate. However, the scenes witnessed are no more the same as before the pandemic. Thermal screening, limited entries and regular sanitisation of equipment are some of the mandates being strictly covered not only by the owners but also the members enrolled.

Ever since the government allowed opening of gyms, we are taking every precautionary measure as per the guidelines to ensure safety and security of our clients. We have even lowered the number of clients in each batch. Earlier, around 35-40 people could workout at a time. Now, it is half the strength for a 60-70 minute shift for a batch. The exercise regime of each member has also been tweaked so that necessary physical distance is automatically maintained. Even the number of equipment was also reduced.- A gym owner

“It seems odd but we know it is for our safety and now we have to live with this,” says Gurpreet Singh, a regular at Fitness Hangover, a gym located on GT Road in Chheharta area here. “During the lockdown, we dearly missed gyming even as we continued to exercise at home to remain fit,” he is relieved.

Manjinder Singh Gill, owner of the gym, says, “Ever since the government allowed opening of gyms, we are taking every precautionary measures as per guidelines to ensure safety and security of our clients.”

To tighten the screws more, he has lowered the number of clients in each batch. Earlier, around 35-40 people could gym at a time. “Now, it is half the strength for a 60-70 minute shift for a batch,” he tells, adding that the exercise regime of each member has also been tweaked so that necessary physical distance is automatically maintained. Even the number of equipments was also reduced for the similar reason.

Moreover, every client has also been advised to bring their own water bottle and a small towel. “We don’t allow entry to a client with towel nowadays,” he quips.

Sanjiv Kumar, head trainer, emphasises that the body temperature of every customer is checked besides thorough sanitisation through fogging. “The machines are sanitised after every single use,” he says, before drawing an example, “if a customer uses treadmill for 15 minutes, our workers keep a check and sanitise it before the other client uses it.” Unsurprisingly, not many were interested in returning to gym even as restrictions were lifted by the government. So, what was his move? “In order to motivate people, we have reduced our annual and monthly packages,” Manjinder says.