Gyms across New York state finally get the chance to reopen today, but not all of them are.

Gyms have a list of requirements from the state to fill before they can reopen. Many owners said they have added masks, sanitizer, and socially-distanced machines to fill regulations.

In Central New York, both Trillium Fitness and the owner of some Planet Fitness Clubs say they aren't quite ready yet.

"Our clubs, the ones we own, we will not open until Friday because we want to take a little extra time," said Dave Humphrey, the owner of select Planet Fitness locations. "It’s taken a little time to get the whole staff rehired and there’s a lot of training to do."

"It’s just easy to have. I've got the whole HVAC system been done and I just thought it would be easier to start on Tuesday," said Barb St. Perre, owner of Trillium Fitness.

 

 

In the Capital Region, Korey McCoy owns 21 Boom at Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany. He welcomed members back with a temperature check at the door and collected some basic contact tracing information.

“Getting individuals back into the fitness center is obviously ideal,” he said.

The new protocols did not deter Dara Blanchette from heading in for her first in-person workout in more than five months.

“It’s so nice to be in the club and not have a three-year-old climbing on my back while I’m trying to do push-ups or a kettle bell swing,” she said.

21 Boom instructors have offered virtual classes throughout the pandemic, which won’t change just because the doors are open.

“Having guidance, support and motivation is always healthy for all of us,” said McCoy. “And the online world is something that will not go away. We’ve really embraced it.”

The same goes for Jessica Fuller at The Hot Yoga Spot.

“People have different schedules. People have different abilities to pay for things just financially if they’ve lost jobs,” she said. “They have kids that are home from school, they might be working from home themselves.”

Fuller is adhering to all the state guidelines and has also installed air purifiers and UVC germicidal sanitation lamps.

In addition to masks and social distancing protocols, gyms are capped at 33% capacity until further notice.

Also, before they can open, fitness centers have to be checked out by the state.

For the full list of reopening guidelines from the state, click here.