ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​Monroe County is currently in a Yellow Zone for COVID-19 cases. That is only one step away from the Orange Zone, which would mean non-essential businesses like gyms would have to close.

M/Body fitness studio in Rochester offers group classes and personal training. Since opening back up after the first statewide gym shutdown, founder and owner Molly Flaherty said they were just starting to feel normal again. 

What You Need To Know

  • If Monroe County is deemed an Orange Zone, that would mean gyms would have to close

  • M/Body says if it comes down to closing again, they will do online classes and hope to host workout classes outside

  • Gym goers are concerned about the effect of not having a gym could have on their mental health

"People's confidence levels were just starting to come back up,” said Flaherty. “I definitely had that feeling and now, even some of our instructors, that were thinking, 'Yes I'm going to be ready to come back,' are now making that shift about waiting it out a little bit more."

Coronavirus cases are on the rise and the potential of another shutdown is looming over all gyms. Flaherty said they got through the first shutdown though, and she believes they can make it through a second if needed. 

"We're hoping we'll still be allowed some outdoor classes, so we have already planned what we would be able to roll out outdoor and virtual,” said Flaherty. “If outdoor won't be allowed, then we'll just roll what we have. Our schedule’s already enhanced for the virtual classes that we'll be able to also expand upon that we have currently."

She said if gyms are allowed to do outdoor classes, the cold weather is no match for M/Body’s dedicated workout lovers. 

"I say there's no bad weather there's just bad weather clothing. And you'd be surprised, people will come out and they just want the community. They want to be able to gather together and move their bodies.”

M/Body member, Jason Roberts from Rochester, said he is concerned for how people will handle not being able to go to the gym a second time around.

"I do worry about gyms closing because it's part of people's mental health, it's part of their daily routine,” said Roberts. “People need that social interaction in a gym, so I do hope that people can get that somehow but gyms are important to people's overall wellbeing."

However, he said M/Body has made working out under different restrictions work. At the end of the day, Flaherty said they are going to do what they have to do.

"It's frustrating, but we want to do what's right,” said Flaherty. “We want to get this behind us and do what's best for the community."

In the meantime, M/Body said they will continue to follow the Yellow Zone rules of having fewer people in a class, spreading out, and wearing a mask.