Pandemic is not impacting local gyms

Kristi R. Garabrandt, The Daily Jeffersonian
·2 min read
Larry Gibson gets his workout in at Cambridge Fitness. Gibson is a 30-year gymgoer, who works out three times a week. "I like to come in the mornings. It's a good time to come and I keep my 6-foot distance from people," Gibson said.
Larry Gibson gets his workout in at Cambridge Fitness. Gibson is a 30-year gymgoer, who works out three times a week. "I like to come in the mornings. It's a good time to come and I keep my 6-foot distance from people," Gibson said.

Getting into shape is one of the most popular new year resolutions, and most gyms/fitness centers anticipate increase in memberships.

While gyms and fitness centers in larger municipalities such as Columbus are concerned about how COVID cases may impact them, according to the Columbus Dispatch, local gyms are doing well.

Cambridge Fitness and Crossfit Indelible report memberships are doing well.

"We really haven't had a decline. We did have a little bump the first of year," said Adam Matthews, owner of Cambridge Fitness.

Trevor McFadden warms up prior to his workout at Cambridge Fitness. McFadden has been a gym regular for 10 years.
Trevor McFadden warms up prior to his workout at Cambridge Fitness. McFadden has been a gym regular for 10 years.

According to Matthews, visits from gym members were up at the first of the year.

Amber Rodland of New Concord worked out at home when the pandemic started. Now she works out daily at Cambridge Fitness.

"I joined (Cambridge Fitness) this summer when restrictions lightened up," Rodland said.

Larry Gibson who has been going to gyms to work out for 30 years continues to do so three times a week, but now he makes sure he maintains a 6-foot distance from other people.

According to Matthews, new memberships at the first of the year were on par with previous years.

Amber Rodland of New Concord comes to the gym daily to work out. When COVID first hit she worked out at home and did distance running. "I joined (Cambridge Fitness) this summer when restrictions lightened up" Rodland said.
Amber Rodland of New Concord comes to the gym daily to work out. When COVID first hit she worked out at home and did distance running. "I joined (Cambridge Fitness) this summer when restrictions lightened up" Rodland said.

"We maintained the whole time. Unfortunately, we bought this place right before the COVID started and this is our third year," Matthews said. We bought it in June of 2019, so we don't have a lot to look back on before that to compare it to, but we have steadily increased every year."

Matthews said they take cleaning very seriously, using hospital grade electromagnetic sprayers and UV lights in the AC system to kill off germs in the air.

"We do everything we can to keep people from getting sick and haven't had any outbreaks here in two years," he added.

Kelsey Bugher, owner of Crossfit Indelible in Byesville, said her membership numbers are not affected by the virus at this time.

"I actually have the highest membership I have ever had since I opened in 2019," Bugher said. "I haven't had any new members join recently in January so I wouldn't say I have had a spike in memberships either."

While she didn't see new memberships at the start of the year, Bugher said she had a huge increase in membership in November.

"I think people are sick of being cooped up," she said. "I have been seeing more people wanting to get back into an exercise routine."

Bugher said she has seen a lot of her members out with influenza, but she hasn't seen too many out with COVID.

"I'm hoping for the best," Bugher said.

KGarabrandt@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Pandemic is not impacting local gyms