By Sarah Trauner
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Cathy Hirsh is a long-time member of the ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center in Timonium, but you won’t find her in the gym.
Although ACAC has instituted several safety procedures to protect members from the coronavirus – such as spacing equipment farther apart, frequently sanitizing workout statins and requiring masks – Hirsh says she is not comfortable working out with so many other people in the gym.
“I had been going to the ACAC in Timonium for about eight years before it was shut down by COVID,” Hirsh said. “It re-opened just a few months later, but vaccinations had not been rolled out at that time. Now that I am fully vaccinated, the idea of wearing a mask while exercising is the main reason I don’t go back. Plus, the Delta variant has complicated everything.”
Hirsh’s reluctance to return to a fitness center may worry some gyms, especially the facilities that have struggled through the pandemic.
Sami Smith, the communications and public relations assistant for IHRSA, The Global Health & Fitness Association, said gym and studio usage declined by more than 50 percent throughout the pandemic.
“This number is based on survey results of U.S. residents ages 6-plus,” Smith said. “It’s important to note that the survey does not gather data on membership interruptions/suspensions, freezes, or cancellations.”
Smith said one survey found that 95 percent of gym-goers missed at least one aspect of going to their gym in person and 94 percent of people said they will return to their gym in some capacity after the pandemic.
This is good news for gym owners.
Ally Vitale, the owner of The Bar Method in Baltimore, said her studio first opened in June 2020 and she is still trying to gain some of her clients back.
“Overall, the pandemic has flatlined us,” Vitale said. “Many of our clients have kids and since kids are not able to get vaccinated right now, they are more cautious about coming into the studio to work out. Also, since we are in Baltimore City, and the health mandate came back this past August, it scared a lot of people.”
The pandemic has been especially tough for small business owners because of the financial losses that were out of their control.
“We all know that it is no one’s fault for the situation that we are in right now, but as a business owner and team member we all get what is going on, but obviously don’t want it that way,” Vitale said.
F45 Fitness Timonium hasn’t had a problem getting members back into the gym.
Kate Grevey Blankenship, who is the owner and head trainer at F45, said her fitness center had its grand opening in the middle of the pandemic.
“So, funny story, we opened in December 2020 and had no issue for people to come to class. People were so ready to come back and get out of their homes,” Blankenship said.
Part of the reason F45 may have had an easier time getting customers back than The Bar Method is because it is in Baltimore County, which has no mask mandate.
“So, we do not have a mask mandate, but we have an Electrostatic fog in the room and clean the room each time before a new class comes in,” Blankenship said.
Franchises like Planet Fitness must follow the guidelines of their county.
Josh Gerber, Planet Fitness Towson’s chief marketing officer of franchise of PF Growth Partners, said each franchise owner had a different experience.
“The percentage of members who came back ranged by club, but for us when we first reopened was about 50 percent to pre-covid,” Gerber said. “Also, it depends on the area. PG [Prince George’s] and Montgomery district always have a mask mandate, but the rest of the clubs do not. It all depends on the local jurisdiction.”
Gerber said that while there is no capacity limit for his fitness center, he is taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“We put new cleaning protocols into place once we reopened and have continued to make sure we continue to have a cleaning team at all times,” Gerber said.
Another problem gyms have faced is keeping or hiring employees during a pandemic.
“Despite our best efforts to keep all of our employees, our club is currently experiencing staff shortages,” Clark said. “Our personal training team and our service desk team have reduced in numbers; however, we are hiring for both positions.”
Not all clubs have the same trouble, though.
Seth Hardy, a manager at the Merritt Clubs Towson, said his company isn’t having any trouble retaining workers.
Hirsh said she would like to go back to the gym, but only if she feels safe.
“I kept my membership for more than a year after COVID hit but finally cancelled it at the start of summer,” Hirsh said. “I hope to be able to reinstate it at some point.”
Instead of hitting the gym, some people feel more comfortable with virtual training or working out outside or in their homes.
“I have a personal fitness trainer who works with me via Zoom twice a week for an hour,” Hirsh said. “I have weights, a yoga ball, resistance bands, a step with risers, and a mat, and my trainer is very creative about coming up with complete workout routines using that equipment. I do prefer working out at a gym over working out at home because of the variety of equipment there and the social aspect, but staying safe and healthy is worth the trade off right now.”