Local Battleford area gyms like Pipes Fitness and Lifetime Fitness have seen an uptick in foot traffic, as well as an improved atmosphere, since restrictions lifted on July 11. (Pipes Fitness/Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Out for exercise

Gyms, fitness centres filling up since restrictions lifted

Aug 3, 2021 | 3:23 PM

Extreme heat and smoke may be sending many indoors for exercise where local gyms have already seen an increase in business.

Since July 11 when the restrictions on mask wearing and gathering sizes were lifted by the Saskatchewan government, local fitness facilities are reporting a bump in the volume of people passing through their doors.

Miranda Wiese, Owner of Pipes Fitness, said after about a week of adjusting, things are running smoothly. Cleaning protocols are in place and masks are optional, but otherwise, she said there’s a level or normalcy that’s returned.

“All of our services are back in order, basically,” she said. “And zoom and other virtual options are still available for people staying at home.”

(Submitted photo/Pipes Fitness)

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Wiese said keeping virtual options and cleaning protocols is to keep those unsure of restrictions lifting out and exercising. While the majority are unmasked, she said it was important to make sure everyone felt safe.

“We’re making sure people who still choose to still wear a mask and are still on the high end of precautions aren’t feeling out of place or feeling unwelcome,” she said.

Since the mask mandate was lifted, she said there have been several immediate benefits. Spin and yoga classes in particular have become much more manageable.

“Doing meditation and breathing when you know you aren’t getting a full, fresh breath of air, it’s definitely not ideal,” she said.

Change of atmosphere

As much as that helps business, gym owners are seeing positive effects on anyone inside their facility.

Brent Kauth, who owns Lifetime Fitness 24/7 in North Battleford, said not having to wear masks has made things run more smoothly and improved the mood within the building.

“The staff and I are happy not having to come to work wearing a mask in here,” he said. “People don’t feel like they’re taking a chance anymore by not wearing one either, I don’t have anyone currently who still wears one.”

“It was weird the first few days, you felt like you were doing something wrong. But now it feels like it was a long time ago, even though it’s only been a few weeks.”

Kauth said they managed to stay busy through much of the pandemic, but has also noticed a bump since July 11. In talking to clients, he said a number of people said they had been waiting for that change.

“It’s not the easiest thing to do, wearing a mask while really exerting yourself,” Kauth said. “People were sick of doing nothing and they’ve come back to focus on their health again.”

A silver lining for some business owners has been completing renovations while shut down. Kauth said they were able to utilize pandemic grant money to add an ionization system to their furnace, which gathers up airborne bacteria, as well as install better air conditioning and hire his staff back to help with floor and wall renovations. Getting everyone back was important.

“We just kind of changed our plan. Instead of selling memberships we were changing floors, painting, etc,” Kauth said. “And we just made the best of the grants that were made available by the government to businesses.”

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josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports