Harrogate gyms get ready to reopen next week

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Following the announcement that gyms and health clubs can open from next Saturday, July 25, those across the district are putting measures in place and gearing up for the big day.

Harrogate Pure Gym, located on Tower Street, is one of those set to welcome gym-goers back next weekend.

An email sent out to members reads: "Great news, your gym will reopen on the 25th July and we're excited to welcome you back!

"We have taken every step to make your gym a safe place for you to get a great workout, including contactless entry, increased hand sanitising, more self-cleaning stations and socially distanced workout stations."

The gym has introduced a number of temporary safety measures to protect both staff and customers, including:

- Restricting the number of people allowed in the gym to maintain social distancing. Live numbers can be tracked on the app,

- Opening hours will change to Mon-Thurs 6am-10pm, Friday 6am-10pm, and weekends 8am-4pm to ensure enough staff are available.

- A reduced class timetable with fewer spaces will be offered to ahere to social distancing guidelines.

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Gym owners and fitness enthusiasts say the move to reopen could not have come soon enough, with many feeling frustrated over the last few months and desperate to get back to routine, as well as eager to begin socialising once again.

Harrogate personal trainer and avid gym-goer Lyndsay Wells trains at HG3 Fitness, at Follifoot Ridge Business Park, and said she had missed the community at the gym more than anything.

She said: “I loved seeing people, having a bit of fun around training and I also find it much more motivating to be around others and have that little competitive edge to training in a group environment. I think it’s much harder to motivate yourself against yourself and it takes a lot of discipline to really go the extra mile in a home workout.

“Although I’ve managed to train regularly throughout lockdown and I have plenty of kit, it’ll be nice to get back into the new ‘normal’ and training alongside others again, I’m sure it’ll be strange with the new social distance measures in place but we’ll all have to get used to it.

“I know our gym has been really on the ball with making sure everyone will be safe and they’ve got protocols in place to ensure peace of mind so I don’t feel apprehensive.

“If anything it’ll just be a bit sad to have to think about all the elements of keeping safely distanced and sanitised - it might feel a bit clinical at first but again, this is the way it is for everyone.

“I miss seeing clients in person and it’s always better to see movement and technique in person too.

“Training with others in a small group outdoors is a lovely way to have some social time, workout with friends and motivate each other - this is the next step for me and I’m looking forward to that sense of community.”

Pete Davis, co-owner of HG3 Fitness, said he is ready for the reopening and everything is in place.

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He added: “We were optimistic that gyms would reopen on July 4. We spent time getting everything ready anyway, so from that point we could open at any time."

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