REPORTER: WHETHER PUSHING, PULLING, OR JUMPING, PEOPLE ARE BREAKING A SWEAT FOR THE SAME REASON. >> OVERALL, IT IS LIKE FOOD FOR ME. >> IT IS LIKE THERAPY. I’M SURE IT WILL HELP ME LIVE LONGER. REPORTER: DESPITE COVID-19, THEY ARE STILL DEDICATED. >> BASKETBALL SAVE MY LIFE, I USED TO WEIGH 400 POUNDS. I LOST 150 POUNDS PLAIN BASKETBALL. >> ALMOST LIKE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AT FORGETTING TO BRUSH HER TEETH, SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT. REPORTER: A KEY PIECE TO WORKING OUT IS MISSING. DO YOU MIS THE GYM? >> I THINK ABOUT IT EVERYDAY. >> YOU CAN’T BEAT THE EQUIPMENT, A WAREHOUSE WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED. REPORTER: CALIFORNIA FAMILY FITNESS AND IN SHAPE HEALTH CLUBS ARE LEADING THE CALIFORNIA FITNESS ALLIANCE IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. DO YOU THINK GYMS ARE READY TO REOPEN? >> IF THE COMMUNITY IS READY TO REOPEN, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO OPEN IN A SAFE WAY. REPORTER: THE GOAL IS COMING UP WITH SAFE SOLUTIONS TO WELCOME BACK MEMBERS. >> I AM REACHING OUT TO BE PROACTIVE AND HELPFUL IN SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE THINK WOULD BE BEST, BUT WE ALSO STILL WANT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS IN THOSE COUNTIES TO BLESS IT. REPORTER: SOME OF THE ALLIANCE’S STANDARDS, EMPLOYEE TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND MASKS, RESERVATION SYSTEM, CONTINUING VIDEO CLASSES, PHYSICAL DISTANCING OF EQUIP ME, MEMBERS SIGN A CODE OF CONDUCT, AND RECOMMENDING MEMBERS GET THERE TEMPERATURE CHECK. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN WORK OUT ANYWHERE, BUT A GYM PROVIDES SOMETHING MORE THAN EXERCISE. >> MOST GYMS ARE PRETTY FRIENDLY, SO THAT’S HOW MOST PEOPLE INTERACT WITH OTHERS. >> IT’S LIKE IF YOU DRIVE A CAR EVERY DAY, AND THEN YOU ARE TAKING A MOTORCYCLE. YOU STILL GET THERE, BUT THERE
California gyms form alliance to reopen sooner amid pandemic
California Fitness Alliance comprises more than 1,000 gyms
Gyms across the state have formed the California Fitness Alliance to find solutions to safely reopen during the novel coronavirus outbreak. California Family Fitness and In-Shape Health Clubs are among the alliance’s board members. “I think the way we think about it is: if the community is ready to reopen, we believe we have done a huge amount of work to open in a safe way,” said Francesca Schuler with In-Shape Health Clubs.In-Shape Health Clubs span from the Central Valley to Yuba City, including Stockton, Woodland and Shingle Springs. “I don’t think we should lead, but I don’t think we should be the last to come. Honestly, I’m really worried about the physical and mental health of so many of our members,” Schuler explained. “I mean, we’ve done 40,000 outreach phone calls to our senior members just to check in on them and they are having a hard time.”California Family Fitness has 19 locations across Sacramento and Placer counties. “I have sent individual to both county board of supervisors in Placer and Sac asking for their support,” said Randy Karr with California Family Fitness. “We also shared the letter we sent to (Gov. Gavin) Newsom’s office, as well as our standards. I’m reaching out to be proactive and helpful in saying, ‘This is what we think would be best.’ But, we also still want the public health officers of those counties to bless it.”Some of the alliance’s standards include temperature checks and face masks for staff, a reservation-only system, physical distancing equipment, increased sanitization, slowly opening portions of the fitness center, offering video workouts for at-risk members, having members sign a COVID-19 code of conduct and encouraging members to get temperature checks as well. “We would love to open together with those standards rather than someone doing something on their own, a mistake happens, or someone gets sick, and then all of a sudden every gym is responsible,” Schuler said. Although a timeline is unclear, both Schuler and Karr are hoping to reopen in counties with state approval to loosen restrictions — such as El Dorado, Placer and Sutter counties. “I say all the time I am in the motivation business, not in the gym business,” Schuler said. “Because honestly, it’s hard to motivate by yourself.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Gyms across the state have formed the California Fitness Alliance to find solutions to safely reopen during the novel coronavirus outbreak.
California Family Fitness and In-Shape Health Clubs are among the alliance’s board members.
“I think the way we think about it is: if the community is ready to reopen, we believe we have done a huge amount of work to open in a safe way,” said Francesca Schuler with In-Shape Health Clubs.
In-Shape Health Clubs span from the Central Valley to Yuba City, including Stockton, Woodland and Shingle Springs.
“I don’t think we should lead, but I don’t think we should be the last to come. Honestly, I’m really worried about the physical and mental health of so many of our members,” Schuler explained. “I mean, we’ve done 40,000 outreach phone calls to our senior members just to check in on them and they are having a hard time.”
California Family Fitness has 19 locations across Sacramento and Placer counties.
“I have sent individual [messages] to both county board of supervisors in Placer and Sac asking for their support,” said Randy Karr with California Family Fitness. “We also shared the letter we sent to (Gov. Gavin) Newsom’s office, as well as our standards. I’m reaching out to be proactive and helpful in saying, ‘This is what we think would be best.’ But, we also still want the public health officers of those counties to bless it.”
Some of the alliance’s standards include temperature checks and face masks for staff, a reservation-only system, physical distancing equipment, increased sanitization, slowly opening portions of the fitness center, offering video workouts for at-risk members, having members sign a COVID-19 code of conduct and encouraging members to get temperature checks as well.
“We would love to open together with those standards rather than someone doing something on their own, a mistake happens, or someone gets sick, and then all of a sudden every gym is responsible,” Schuler said.
Although a timeline is unclear, both Schuler and Karr are hoping to reopen in counties with state approval to loosen restrictions — such as El Dorado, Placer and Sutter counties.
“I say all the time I am in the motivation business, not in the gym business,” Schuler said. “Because honestly, it’s hard to motivate by yourself.”
