The hold on my gym membership is up on the 30th. The gym recently reopened and they gave put safety measures in place (mask requirements and reservations). They have classes available, but I would not consider any group classes right now. I’d just be exercising on the equipment as far away as I could get from others with my mask on. I’m fully vaccinated , but I’m still a bit on the fence.
I would go for weights and machines if you’re vaccinated and cleaning protocols are in place (I’d prob carry around wipes too). MH started back (planet fitness) bc they have mask mandates. He’s actually reminded people to pull theirs up! I’ll prob join too just for the weights since my gym went off the rails with Trump and COVID hoax and nO maSkS aLloWeD heRe!?!?! Nonsense.
Returning to the gym was the best choice I could have made for myself, all safety measures in place. No regrets. I think this is a very personal decision.
Post by outnumbered on Apr 14, 2021 18:38:33 GMT -5
I returned to the gym last summer. Group classes were held outside until it was too cold. Even outside we were all masked. Mid-October group classes moved inside onto the basketball court (huge area). There were only 9 people allowed per class so we were very spread out in a huge space with high ceilings. Masks were always required. We had to sign up in advance. I felt very safe.
Gym goers had to sign up for specific equipment (treadmills, bikes, weights etc) in advance. Recently the restrictions lifted a bit and you sign up to go in the cardio room or the weight room. You no longer have to sign up for a piece of equipment. There is spacing and plexiglass between everything.
The gym (a YMCA) has been very quiet and clean. I see the same people every time. It is very quiet.
ETA: They updated the HVAC systems in the basketball court and the gym to get adequate air exchange and filtering.
Leaving the gym was the one thing i really struggled with at first. My gym is more like a club, with a bar and restaurant, salon, and Friday night BBQs with live music in the summer. Ive worked out with the same group of retired guys there for 10 years, and ive really missed them!
Now, after investing in a home gym and getting used to working out alone at home, im not sure i will go back. I might keep my membership active just for the BBQs, the occasional visit with my old guys, and the off day when i need access to an indoor gym since mine is outside, but i can't see ever going back 3-5 days/week like i did before.
I was just debating this today now that I'm fully vaccinated. I've been paying this whole time (it's the local Y so I felt bad canceling and also didn't think the pandemic would last this long at the beginning 😭). I might look into what they're doing for classes.
Can you ask and see if you can pop in to assess your comfort level? I’d be ok returning if I could ensure that the list of safety protocols is being followed and enforced. I’ve heard some horror stories of people not wearing masks or wiping equipment in gyms, and the employees are turning a blind eye.
We will not be returning to regular gyms until we know more about the vaccine efficacy and length of coverage. It’s sad because we love the gym, but I don’t trust people. We’ve got a pretty killer setup in our basement that’s working for now.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Apr 14, 2021 19:07:27 GMT -5
The gym I used to go to is a HIIT bootcamp class, and I will not be going back until my kids are vaccinated. Do you have kids? That is my biggest hold-out.
Post by Leeham Rimes on Apr 14, 2021 19:31:21 GMT -5
I decided I’m not going back until my kids are vaccinated. My gym doesn’t require masks and it’s a small boutique gym (kinda like Orange theory) so you’re pretty much on top of people going back and forth between equipment constantly so no cleaning between people other than hoping the person sharing your equipment wipes it down sufficiently.
Last Edit: Apr 14, 2021 19:31:50 GMT -5 by Leeham Rimes
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Post by shamrockshake on Apr 14, 2021 19:35:21 GMT -5
I’m going back next week. My gym is all classes. I’m fully vaccinated, they have 8 foot squares taped out and when I look at the sign ups it’s like 5/6 people in a space that usually fits 30. I need to get back to it for my sanity
Post by edwardo123 on Apr 14, 2021 19:41:52 GMT -5
My husband and I both have been vaccinated, so I’m considering the same. I just called Orangetheory to ask about COVID precautions. I am signed up for two classes and will see how it goes before officially reactivating my membership.
Precautions include, limited to 18, masks when not on a machine, extra cleaning, and supposedly improved hvac. I’m willing to try on class. I’ve gained close to 30 pounds and my recent blood results were not great. I need to make some changes.
I’ve been going for a few months. I go once or twice a week. Masks are required at all times and they have little “pods” set up that are separated by plexiglas, every other machine closed that sort of thing.
As long as I go off peak times it’s been quiet and I feel safe. I haven’t gone back to any classes yet though.
It’s a risk but It’s a risk benefit analysis I guess .. exercise is important for my mental health and I decided to take the risk for that reason (we don’t have home equipment or space and in winter outdoor exercise is tough)
I also recently began swimming at the indoor pool. Now this is a little riskier as of course you take mask off to get in the water. But I don’t think the virus can survive in chlorine, so it’s more those moments of breathing in the air?! Ack I don’t know. But I find swimming calming, they have reduced capacity and 1 person per lane .. I guess I decided once a week I’d take that risk for an hour.
Post by goldengirlz on Apr 14, 2021 21:08:36 GMT -5
My H said he would and he’s one of the most Covid-conscious people I’ve met. So I’d say yes.
I’m jealous of all you fully vaxxed people. My state has been so slllowww (though I guess I should be grateful for my relative youth, good health, and WFH job.)
goldengirlz it’s funny my husbands sales territory is California and he was recently going on about how everyone he talks to is vaccinated and CA clearly has it all dialed in on the vaccines front!
I told him according to the numbers we have vaccinated more of our population that CA (we are in MA) but he wouldn’t believe me ha.
goldengirlz it’s funny my husbands sales territory is California and he was recently going on about how everyone he talks to is vaccinated and CA clearly has it all dialed in on the vaccines front!
I told him according to the numbers we have vaccinated more of our population that CA (we are in MA) but he wouldn’t believe me ha.
Percentage-wise, we’re doing great, but eligibility doesn’t open to 16+ till tomorrow. And we’ve had more restrictive conditions than other states (unless you live in certain counties because many of them just started making their own rules.) Like NJ hasn’t opened eligibility to everyone either yet but I would have qualified in three categories if I lived there. Here? Nope!
goldengirlz it’s funny my husbands sales territory is California and he was recently going on about how everyone he talks to is vaccinated and CA clearly has it all dialed in on the vaccines front!
I told him according to the numbers we have vaccinated more of our population that CA (we are in MA) but he wouldn’t believe me ha.
Percentage-wise, we’re doing great, but eligibility doesn’t open to 16+ till tomorrow. And we’ve had more restrictive conditions than other states (unless you live in certain counties because many of them just started making their own rules.) Like NJ hasn’t opened eligibility to everyone either yet but I would have qualified in three categories if I lived there. Here? Nope!
Yeah it’s the same here I guess, 45% with first dose but it’s still not open to everyone. Monday the 19th it opens to all 16+!
Our gym turned one of their tennis courts into an outdoor gym last summer. Gym use is by reservation only so there aren’t too many people and easy to social distance. They also have a constant cleaning crew. I just use the pool mostly which also is by reservation only. DH has been using the gym since last summer.
Edit: DH and I and my parents who help most of the week with my kids are all fully vaccinated. We are in CA and where we are (central coast) it seems everyone I know is vaccinated or at least one shot in.
I think I am going back to my pilates class in person soon. It's the same building and equipment where I do my PT so I feel like the increase in exposure is pretty limited. I am vaccinated and everyone wears masks. I have been there a lot lately and think they are doing a pretty good job of keeping people apart and making sure everything is clean.
The gym I used to go to is a HIIT bootcamp class, and I will not be going back until my kids are vaccinated. Do you have kids? That is my biggest hold-out.
I think I will be going back to my little neighborhood gym soon. I'm lucky that I can go at off peak times and will most likely be the only person there. I miss having an actual weight room to use. I have dumbbells at home and also an exercise bike I use most days but anytime I attempt true weight lifting I hurt myself because I don't have mirrors or a bench.
Post by lilypad1126 on Apr 15, 2021 7:17:34 GMT -5
Now that H and I are fully vaccinated, I've slowly started going to the gym. I've gone 3 times in the last 4 weeks. I won't go during peak times - but even in the before times, I tried to avoid peak times. They put up plexiglass shields between each piece of cardio equipment. Which, i recognize, does very little, but it's a good visual reminder to people and helps them remember to clean better. Most people try to go every other machine, which is helpful. I really want the plexiglass to stay around forever - the cardio equipment is super close together and I appreciate having an actual barrier between me and the person next to me.
Also, my gym requires masks at all times. So no removing your mask once you get to a machine. And, while i wouldn't say the staff does a great job of enforcing it, I've seen very few (like, less than 5 people) who wore their mask incorrectly. So, given that my household is fully vaxxed, I feel mostly ok about going.
Post by seeyalater52 on Apr 15, 2021 7:30:24 GMT -5
We are in the process of trying to decide on this. My wife did orange theory and LOVED it for about 8 months before the pandemic started. It was a huge blow to have to stop and has had mental and physical health impacts on them. We are both fully vaccinated now and their OTF gym is very covid cautious but the amount of heavy breathing in an enclosed space (masks are required!) gives us pause. If it were just us it would be a no-brainer, but we have an infant at home too. It is going to be more than a year before they have a vaccine for kids this young so I’m inclined to figure out some form of group exercise that feels safe enough in the interim since it has been a real negative impact on my wife not to be able to go. Hopefully covid cases in our area will drop... things have not been great and that doesn’t help the calculus.
Post by runblondie26 on Apr 15, 2021 8:21:18 GMT -5
We’ll probably join a Workout 24/7 type place for the weights, now that we’re vaccinated. We used to belong to a full service gym, mainly for social aspect, and the parenting break the childcare room offered. I don’t see that coming back anytime soon.
We had a home gym setup prior to Covid, with all the cardio equipment we’d normally use at the gym anyway. However, our weight system is lacking, and we’ll never have the space to own the variety that a gym offers. As long as everything is being wiped down and there is good ventilation, I feel it would be safe to resume going.
I would do an outdoor class to supplement home workouts (peloton + some weights). But I'm not itching to return to indoor public workouts until our case rates continue to decline. While I'm fully vaccinated, my kids aren't, and 2 of us (one is due next week, so I'm counting him) have a high risk condition.
I find the classes, at least for me and my gym, better than the general "open gym" because it is limited in size, everyone has their own area so there is no cross contamination. Temps are taken, masks are worn and everyone has assigned equipment.
Since cases have been dropping especially for our city I have full intentions to return to group fitness two weeks after my second shot. I will only go to the smaller classes and I also plan to wear a mask even though I know many who don't while working out.
My husband and I are now vaccinated and our membership started up again this month. I don't want to work out in group classes with a mask, though. I might try the outdoor classes (they are doing 1-2 a day). He wants to go back for his aqua fitness class and I want to use the outdoor pool when it opens in May and slowly ramp up what I'm doing there after observing other things. My gym is huge, has a spa and restaurant, and also requires masks and pre-registration for classes.