Strong Adjustments as Local Gyms Reopen

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For months, local gyms and fitness centers have sweated out mandatory closures. In the coming weeks, these facilities will be sweating the details of reopening safely under the looming figure of COVID-19.

More than their chests, traps, glutes, and hamstrings, eager gym-goers will have to exercise patience as clubs adjust. Reduced occupancies and downscaled offerings will be part of the reality in the months to come, requiring individuals to allow for some flexibility in their previously strict training regimens. Meanwhile, on-site workouts will need to be treated as supplemental to or on equal footing with their virtual or at-home counterparts, with plenty of outdoor recreation and activity to fill in the gaps.

Slowly but surely, cautiously but confidently, you can whip yourself back into shape. Just follow the rules and don't pull anything. And regardless of where, when, or how you work out, never skip leg day.

Here's what you can expect at some of the area's most popular facilities:

Iron Oxygen Fitness/Level Red Boxing

Location: 2147 W. 12th St.

Reopening date: Friday, June 26

What's reopening: Everything aside from group fitness, tanning, and spinning (delayed one week)

New protocols/procedures: Masks must be worn when entering and leaving (may be off during the workout); staff required to sign a declaration that they are neither personally experiencing COVID-19 symptoms nor been around anyone with symptoms; deep cleaning and disinfection procedures thrice daily; additional full-time equipment and facility cleaning staff — members advised to use touchless hand sanitizer stations regardless; Level Red Boxing classes must be booked through LRB app (20 bag limit per class; 30-minute gap between classes to reduce crowding and allow for extra cleaning)

iRock Fitness/Fitness U

Location: 2312 W. 15th St.

Reopening date: Monday, June 29

What's reopening: Facility will return to regular class schedule with regular hours; swimming pool reopened; hot tub, sauna, aquatic and group exercise classes will remain closed

New protocols/procedures: Classes limited to 22 pre-registered participants; swimming pool limited to one person per lane; other advisories and plans mirror that of Iron Oxygen/LRB. 

YMCA of Greater Erie

Branch locations: 3727 Cherry St. (Glenwood); 2101 Nagle Rd. (Eastside); 31 W. 10th St. (Downtown); 12285 YMCA Dr., Edinboro (County); 8600 W. Lake Rd., Girard (Camp Sherwin)

Reopening dates: Monday, June 29 (County, Eastside, Glenwood); TBA (Downtown — expected September); outdoor pools at Eastside Y and Camp Sherwin already reopened

What's reopening: Cardio and strength training equipment, locker rooms, indoor tracks (Eastside and Glenwood); gymnasiums, exercise studios, playgrounds, and racquetball courts to follow on July 13; saunas, whirlpools, and steam rooms expected in September

New protocols/procedures: New memberships or guest passes will not be accepted in initial phase of reopening; currently active members will need to sign participation waiver on first return visit; entry subject to touchless temperature scan (less than 100.4 degrees F); masks to be worn in common areas when not in process of exercising; members must use signage and floor markers to physically distance; equipment must be wiped down before and after use with provided disinfectant (employees will assist); capacity limits in weight rooms and wellness centers (check ymcaerie.org for current occupancy percentages)

LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center

Location: 5401 Peach St.

Reopening date: TBA

What's reopening: Fitness floor, locker rooms, and bathrooms only; showers, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool not open

New protocols/procedures: Entry subject to temperature screening which must be scheduled in advance; rearranged equipment layout for social distancing; enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures; occupancy limits enforced

Planet Fitness

Franchise locations: 1950 Rotunda Dr. (Peach Street Marketplace); 972 W. Erie Plaza Dr. (West Erie Plaza); 4510 Buffalo Rd. (Price Rite Shopping Center)

Reopening dates: TBA

What's reopening: Unspecified

New protocols/procedures: Increased distance between equipment and machines (and in turn members); cleaning stations to be widely available

Matt Swanseger (mswanseger@eriereader.com) believes few fitness centers can stack up to his elite home gym setup that prominently features a partially-depleted jug of laundry detergent.