‘Don’t overextend,’ gym owners say as fitness buffs return to indoor workouts in Michigan

Brandee Rogers felt great walking out of the Jackson Planet Fitness for the first time in more than six months on Thursday, Sept. 10.

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Ken Jakubowski works out at Planet Fitness while wearing a mask and on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow how I’m feeling,” Rogers joked.

Rogers had been a regular attendee, going to the gym five times per week before she caught pneumonia in February and then the gyms were closed for COVID-19 starting in March.

Thursday was her first day back, as she tries to get back in a routine. All Michigan gyms were allowed to reopen with precautions for the first time on Wednesday, nearly six months after first being forced to close.

Gym-goers are required to wear a mask while working out – a precaution that wasn’t included when northern Michigan gyms were allowed to reopen earlier this summer. It takes a bit of getting used to, Rogers said.

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Derryl Shelton works out while wearing a mask at Planet Fitness while wearing a mask on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

Is it safe for athletes to wear masks while exercising?

“(It was hard) at first. But once I kind of relaxed, then no, not at all,” Rogers said. “Give it time for you to relax with the mask and not to go in full-fledged.”

Between the newly required masks and the long break people have had from their routines, gym-goers recommend not trying to pick up where you left off in March.

“Ease into it, just so you don’t overextend your body and end up getting an injury,” said Chris Woods, owner of No Limit Fitness in Kentwood.

Like many other gyms, No Limit Fitness has a different vibe than it did six months ago. Not only did Woods take the time to make upgrades inside, but the equipment is also more spaced out to allow for social distancing and strict cleaning protocols have been added to protect customers from the virus.

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Planet Fitness gym reopens with social distancing set up and other coronavirus precautions on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

Employees clean every hour and do a deep clean twice per day of the entire gym, Woods said. Despite all the new rules, Woods is excited to open the doors again – financially and otherwise.

“(It’s) a breath of fresh air after six months. It’s been a long mile,” Woods said. “We needed it.”

Most of Michigan’s nearly 70 Planet Fitness locations were ready to reopen Wednesday, as the company had a reopening playbook ready in the spring.

They were prepared to open June 25 after a court ruling indicated Michigan fitness centers could reopen – but that ruling was overturned just hours before midnight struck.

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Ken Jakubowski works out at Planet Fitness while wearing a mask and on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

“We’re so happy to be back. It’s been a long time coming,” said Mary Scott, Director of marketing for PF Michigan Group, a franchisee of many Planet Fitness locations in Michigan. “We heard from lots of customers during the shutdown just constantly asking for updates when we were going to be back. They really miss the routine that the gym offers.”

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Joey Radio walks on the treadmill at Planet Fitness while wearing a mask on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

Besides the normal precautions, Planet Fitness also has a “crowd meter.” This shows members how many people are inside a given gym compared to what the capacity limit is – as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order limits gyms to 25% capacity.

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Derryl Shelton works out while wearing a mask at Planet Fitness while wearing a mask on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

The crowd meter is part of the Planet Fitness app, measuring when people check in and leave the facility. It’s helpful for people trying to get to the gym at a quieter time, Scott said.

Wednesday’s reopening of gyms wasn’t a big change for Old Town Gym in Bay City, said Owner Ray Neering.

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Planet Fitness gym reopens with social distancing set up and other coronavirus precautions on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

That’s because the gym reopened in June – under a structure outside. The gym had moved workouts outside in the past under a large tent, but built a space three times the size this spring to allow more people to exercise.

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Planet Fitness gym reopens with social distancing set up and other coronavirus precautions on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

Strength equipment, free weights and group fitness classes were moved outdoors. Even though Old Town Gym can move things back inside, they don’t plan to yet, said Owner Ray Neering.

“The consensus with the members so far (is), they feel a lot more comfortable being outside doing classes and working out,” Neering said.

So for now, everything at Old Town Gym will stay outside – where distancing is still required but masks are not. Activities will move inside once the weather worsens, Neering said.

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Planet Fitness gym reopens with social distancing set up and other coronavirus precautions on Wednesday Sep. 9, 2020 in Warren.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.

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