05/21/2020
Phase 3 of Restore Illinois is set to begin at the end of this month. While we are still waiting on additional clarification of the details of this plan (and the plan is changing as time progresses), we have been working with what we do know to establish some idea of what we will and will not be able to do beginning June 1st at the gym.
Here's what we know so far:
1. No group classes are allowed inside the gym.
We ask that anyone interested in helping us return to small (less than 10 members) group classes in a safe manner please contact their representatives and the governor's office and ask for this rule to be updated to allow a group of 10 or less people inside a gym at one time. While we could invite 10 of you into our home (or onto our boat if we had one), we cannot welcome a class of less than 10 people into our gym. This is our biggest roadblock at the moment to keeping the gym in business. Some of you may ask us, "What's one more month?" and our answer would be that one more month - on top of two other months - could be the difference between a small business surviving and closing its doors for good. There is only so long any of us can go without making any money.
2. We can hold outdoor classes.
However, we don't have an outdoor space at the gym where we can hold classes! Even if we did, this restriction makes it very difficult to plan for any reliable class schedule, as classes would need to be cancelled every time it rains. We do plan to hold some "pop up" weather permitting K-FIT classes on our farm (these will be announced on our Members Only private page), but holding all of our classes at our home is not a realistic option, especially considering how often restrooms are needed when people are working out. We have written to IDPH, our governor's office and the DCEO requesting that we be allowed to hold small classes inside our gym with our large bay doors open and our back door open, providing plenty of ventilation, but have not received any further information along those lines. (Sidenote: ten people can work in very close quarters in a small restaurant or fast food joint, but we can't safely/lawfully host 10 people in a 1000 square foot gym with the garage door open? Doesn't seem right to us.)
3. One-on-one Personal Training is permitted.
We look forward to welcoming our gym members back for private training in the month of June. As our primary source of gym revenue is memberships (small group classes), we will still be prioritizing our at-home workout production. We will be posting available time blocks for private training on our Members Only private group page on Monday, May 25th. We are not opening up private training to non-members at this time. If/when that changes or times open up to non-members, we will announce availability on our regular K-FIT page, so please follow us if you don't already. Priority for private training is going to those members who have been supporting us through this difficult time.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS:
Thanks to the continued financial support of our members (and our generous family and friends), we have been able to pay for two full months of gym rent, gym insurance and gym utilities without ever opening our doors. This is no small miracle.
Unfortunately, we have no paychecks and are itching to get back to work!
Even when we return to the gym for private lessons, K-FIT will remain locked at all times. No walk-ins or drop ins will be allowed inside the gym. Upon entering, your temperature will be taken with a touchless thermometer. All surfaces will be sanitized between each client. We are in the process of investing in a UVc disinfecting light (similar to those used in hospitals) to add an additional method of sanitizing the gym.
The same rules will apply - NO SHOES PAST THE FRONT DOOR (I know you missed hearing Kenji yell at everyone to take off their shoes), bring your own bottle of water and a towel for your sweat. A new rule is that you must bring your own gear. No loaner wraps or gloves will be provided. As always, we will be working hard to keep the gym clean and safe.
The reason we opened K-FIT three years ago has not changed. It is our goal to help improve the health of our community through small group classes and our Rock Steady Boxing program for those diagnosed with Parkinson's. We want to safely get back to doing what we do best. Encouraging, challenging and coaching our gym members to become better, stronger versions of themselves.
We hope to update this post soon as we learn more information.
Thanks for your support! We miss you all (and the gym).
