Amidst several sectors that are affected by the pandemic, gym and fitness clubs are also heavily affected. Though life is slowly returning back to normal and gyms are back in business, they still remain emptier than usual. This may be a good thing according to the pandemic but unfortunately not for the gym owners.
Owner of Shankhamul Health and Fitness, Sanam Duwal says, “Though it may look like things are getting back to normal, the pandemic has placed a fear in people’s hearts and that has changed everything”. He further explains, “People are still hesitant to participate in activities like they did before the lockdowns. We used to receive about 150-200 members on a daily basis before the pandemic hit, but now we hardly get 50 members coming to the gym.”
Uddav Manandhar, owner of City Health Studio confirms this by saying, “For example, if 10 regular members used to come to our gym before, now we hardly get 2-3 of them coming regularly after the pandemic.”
Both gyms strictly follow precautions against Covid-19 as advised by the government. Social distance is always to be maintained and masks are mandatory. “We check our members’ temperatures and get them sanitized before entering the gym”, says Duwal. “Meaningless physical contact with other members is avoided, so is sharing their personal utilities such as towels and bottles”, he adds.
“We have been extra careful with the Covid protocol and made masks compulsory throughout their stay at the gym along with other protocols. We made sure all our staff members are vaccinated and follow the protocols strictly”, says Manandhar.
Both the owners share their woes regarding a huge decline in their business during the pandemic. “We had to pay huge amounts of money for the rent. Paying our staff some if not their complete salary was another responsibility. With no business, it was difficult to make ends meet”, says Duwal. With not even 50% of the members returning back after the lockdowns, it seems like better days are still not here.
“I personally think that people should start making extra efforts to stay fit and healthy now more than ever. If our body gets the necessary amount of physical and mental exercise that it needs, it will drastically increase our immunity against not only Covid but for any other diseases that might fall upon us in the near future,” says Duwal.
The lockdown did not just affect gyms and fitness clubs but also affected fitness enthusiasts. Kshitij Regmi, a member of City Health Studio, who recently started going back to the gym says, “I lost weight during the pandemic because of the change in my diet and lack of exercise that I was getting regularly. I was lazier and lacked motivation to do anything”.
With the safety protocols being followed strictly and the lack of crowds at gyms, members who are visiting gyms feel safer. “I feel safe at the gym seeing it being sanitized regularly. We are not allowed to visit for at least a week even if we have a mild cough or cold”, Regmi says. “Lack of crowd adds on to the reassurance”, he adds.
City Health Studio
Instagram: @city_health_studio
Phone: 01-4009067
Shankhamul Health and Fitness
Facebook: Shankhamul Health and Fitness
Phone: 01-4793718
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