Gyms and fitness facilities are re-opening across the province today. However, the experience won’t be the same as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many are excited to get back into a gym and work out for the first time in months.

MAX Athletics is one such business reopening its facility today. CEO Stephen Ash says that operations will be different.

He says there is a reduced number of people allowed in the facility and registration caps for their fitness classes. Access is limited in the locker rooms, with no access to showers or saunas, and their machines are spread out.

While he’s pleased to be open again, Ash says the current business model is not sustainable.

He says in the long term, they won’t be able to continue operating like this. Capacity has been dramatically reduced to around 35 per cent of their normal class sizes, so they’ve had to ramp up with additional classes—resulting in added cost.

As things settle down, he says gyms will begin looking for ways to reduce their restrictions.