Gyms across Wooster are kicking into gear again
Longtime member Jack Iliff went through a recent workout at the Wooster YMCA with no worries about COVID-19.
Gyms across Wooster are really coming back to life, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
At the Wooster YMCA, located at 680 Woodland Ave., longtime member Jack Iliff went through a strength-training workout with no worries last week.
“I love coming to the Y,” Iliff said. “The people here are very nice. It’s got good machines, a good workout facility. It’s a clean environment. You see the people cleaning the machines, and it seems like everyone who works out here is also conscious about wiping down the machines.”
Depending on who you talk to, there are wildly different viewpoints on COVID-19 and what kind of social distancing protocols people should follow.
After an extremely rough two months for gyms that were closed earlier this year by Gov. Mike DeWine, a sampling of gym usage and COVID-19 safety measures being used at the Wooster YMCA, Declaration Fitness and Planet Fitness bodes well for things to come.
Representatives from each of the gyms mentioned increased cleaning and sanitizing, as well as spacing out members and removing equipment to spread things out.
Wooster YMCA associate branch director Nikki Fehrenbach estimates about half of the nearly 4,000 members have returned since gyms were allowed to open back up in Ohio in May.
“We had to change the spacing of our equipment and reduce class sizes to follow the social distancing protocols,” Fehrenbach said. “Extra staff has been hired for cleaning and temperature taking. The YMCA has purchased foggers to sanitize all of our locations.”
Fehrenbach said members have been fine with following safety precautions such as getting their temperature taken upon entering the building and wearing a mask when coming or going.
“There have been no complaints,” Fehrenbach said.
The Y offers something for just about everyone. There are a variety of fitness classes, a state-of-the-art fitness center, basketball and racquetball courts, and even babysitting available.
It also offers youth programs such as gymnastics, sports and swimming. Members have access to the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium, the Orrville YMCA branch and Wooster City Pools in the summer. Scholarships are available. For more information visit Facebook or www.ymcawayne.org.
At Declaration Fitness, located at 1909 Old Mansfield Road in Wooster, co-owner Samantha Stine is grateful nearly all of the approximate 200 members have returned.
“We have some members who continue to take advantage of our at-home programming, but I think we can say close to 90% have returned to classes,” Stine said.
The “community feeling” that Declaration Fitness has with its trainers and members in group classes made it especially hard for them to be separated during the shutdown.
“Everyone is just thrilled to have their happy place back in their daily routine,” Stine said. “For so many people, our gym is their escape and the place they go to relieve the stress from their usual hectic-filled life. The worst part of the shutdown was that most people's lives were turned upside down, and the state government forcefully closed any place that is considered a healthy place to cope with stress."
Stine explained how other problems can arise when the gyms are not available. "When healthy coping options are gone, unhealthy coping mechanisms take their place. Right now we are helping our athletes regain their ownership of their lives so that they feel more in control of the direction they are going. We are truly a family atmosphere where any person is welcome; no judgement is placed — no matter your age, your abilities or where you are at in your own journey.”
Maintaining a clean gym has always been one of Declaration Fitness’ biggest points of emphasis, but Stine said they’ve taken it to the next level.
“We now have a cleaning solution that is sprayed all over the gym and equipment that kills all viruses and bacteria called BioVex,” Stine said. “It’s approved by the EPA on the N List.”
Visit www.declaration.fitness or check out their Instagram or Facebook pages. They are getting ready to start a $1,000 Holiday Transformation Challenge beginning Sept. 28.
Planet Fitness, 2075 Portage Road, has had more cancellations than new sign-ups, but assistant manager Jordan Ray-Rogers said the summer was a slower time even before the 2020 pandemic.
“It’s probably 60/40 cancellations compared to new sign-ups to replace them,” Ray-Rogers said. “We absolutely took a hit due to COVID, but that's also typical of this time of year because it's summer. People go outside for their exercise. We’ve also had new sign-ups from people who say, ‘This has made me very aware of my health, and I want to get back into the gym.’"
Ray-Rogers said things may get better as the weather cools. "I'm predicting once the winter comes, that's when we always pick back up. I think people will really be ready to get back to normal and be back into the gym. We have a great place here where we know our members by name, and people like that familiarity, especially in a time of uncertainty.”
Planet Fitness employees have been using an ionizing spray backpack to clean more efficiently.
Planet Fitness is open and staffed 24/7 and offers some of the lowest monthly pricing for memberships in the industry, Ray-Rogers said. In addition to fitness equipment, they have tanning and hydro massage beds, as well as massage chairs. To learn more, visit www.planetfitness.com.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronDorksen.