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It’s been a challenging year for fitness studios and gyms to stay healthy.
Adapting to coronavirus pandemic-related capacity restrictions has been as up and down as a yo-yo diet, and Boulder County on Nov. 20 being elevated to red status on the state’s COVID dial meant another round of change as gyms and recreation centers limit operations in indoor spaces to 10% of capacity not to exceed 10 people, exculding staff, per room.
“Like the rest of the world, we have had to adapt. Things don't look like we imagined but, instead of resisting, we’ve accepted it and moved forward,” said John Espinoza, owner and instructor at Full Circle Yoga.
The impact of COVID-19 on the fitness industry has been uneven across the world, with some regions bouncing back successfully after the initial surge at the onset of the pandemic, according to a Glofox report. However, in the United States, uncertainty and recurring local lockdowns are having a “major impact on fitness businesses,” according to Glofox, a consulting group that works with boutique, group-focused fitness studios and gyms to keep members engaged.
In Longmont, fitness businesses are finding ways to remain afloat in the face of restrictions. Here are five stories of how they are doing so.
Adapting to a virtual world
Throughout the past nine months, Espinoza has had to evolve his classes from in-person to a hybrid online format.
“It’s been tough. We started off with having to limit how many students could be in our site, we started with nine (people) and then it got stricter so we dropped to seven and now we are down to four,” he said, adding about two-thirds of students are taking classes at home via Zoom.
“People have been responding well (to Zoom classes). They get to be on their mats and keep their practice,” he said.
And while Espinoza knows the pandemic is taking its toll on everyone, he advised people to go with the flow.
“Take care of yourself, your mind, your body… there’s nothing we can do to change (the situation) right now, no point in resisting, just be present and at some point we will all get past this,” he said.
Redefining success
Monica Fitzpatrick, owner and instructor at Elevated Yoga Studio, said she has had to redefine success in a year in which business finances have become secondary to being there for people.
“Are we reaching people where they are at? Are we providing a service that is accessible, that is helping people find peace and relaxation in a breath within themselves?,” she said. “At the end of the day,I want to be able to pay my rent but want to maintain quality services while also bringing the community peace.”
Throughout the pandemic, Fitzpatrick had to move to a hybrid model and, most recently because of added restrictions, has remained solely in the virtual space to ensure the safety of her clients.
While all classes are online, Fitzpatrick said she has strived to maintain the spirit of Elevated’s micro-studio concept with small size classes.
“Even before the pandemic, we had a class of two to eight people in each class, during the pandemic we are maintaining a low teacher-to-student ratio even virtually, that's something our community has always been drawn to,” she said, adding in a post-pandemic world people will likely continue to gravitate toward small group activities where they feel safe.
Monica Fitzpatrick, owner and instructor at Elevated Yoga Studio, waves to participants in an online class Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.(Photo by Matt Maenpaa)Monica Fitzpatrick, owner and instructor at Elevated Yoga Studio, waves to participants in an online class Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.(Photo by Matt Maenpaa)
Staying connected
For Yvette Galindo, owner and Zumba instructor at Noa Noa Fitness Club, transferring her classes to an online format is not an option since many of her clients are parents with school-age children who are using household devices to connect to online learning.
“In my class yesterday morning only one person showed up,” she said. “All of this week since Monday only one or two people have come to morning classes because the clients have kids that are not going to school right now.”
Beyond restrictions and remote learning, Galindo said people’s fear of getting sick has created big trouble for her business.
“My clients are still scared, they don’t want to go out because lately there have been so many cases,” she said.
But she has continued to find and promote ways to engage the community she serves, including a donations-based class on Sunday mornings for those with no or limited means to pay and a remote Christmas gift exchange.
Ana Laura Hernandez, Zumba instructor, leads a class in Noa Noa Fitness Club on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020.(Photo by Silvia Romero Solis)Climbing through it together
With more than 15,000 square feet, Bryan Hylenski, co-owner of the Longmont Climbing Collective gym and climbing aficionado, said indoor capacity restrictions have become challenging.
“Squeezing 10 people in here is nothing compared to a Lifetime Fitness (gym) that is 3,000 square feet, so it’s not really fair,” he said of the additional space of which he is unable to take advantage. “We are asking to just let us comply with the 10% number (for capacity restrictions).”
Hylenski and his team have built temporary walls to divide the large space, creating four rooms that allow more people to make reservations and visit the gym.
“About 70% of our members have stuck with us … we care about our community and our key was keeping the staff in place so (we) had no layoffs, the staff wasn’t paid as much as they could but we talked to everyone and we all agreed to stay.”
Not only has the local community rallied to ensure the survival of the space, climbing gym owners around the state have organized meetings and advocacy efforts to work together. Hylenski has taken part in that activism, trying to bring awareness at the county and state level of the impact restrictions are having on climbing gyms.
“As soon as this happened and we all had to shut down in March, there was no more competition between us,” Hylenski said. “It’s all about joining together and trying to get these facilities back open.”
Taylor Rimmer trains at the Longmont Climbing Collective. (Photo courtesy of Longmont Climbing Collective)Supported by community
For Chrysti Flores, Zumba and Insanity instructor and owner of Burn&Tone fitness center, using outdoor space for classes served a lifeline during warmer months.
Since the start of the pandemic, she has had to go from a rented space to giving classes at a park and back to the same indoor space.
“We had to leave the space for about three months, had to go to a park, people would give me donations … they were lending me money for rent,” she said, adding she has relied on support from her clients and has done her best to support them in return.
“I never raised my fees. I would never do that in times of crisis,” she said. “If people want to come and cannot pay, that’s OK. The most important thing for me is my people. I know that when they can, they will be there, and they have been there for me helping with the rent.”
Flores said she knows people, including family members, who have battled and survived COVID and understands the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle.
“There is so much need, a lot of pain. COVID affects people who have not taken care of themselves a lot,” she said. “I really wish I could share all that I have learned about fitness and well-being.”
