Gym owners are going to extreme lengths to make their workout studios coronavirus-safe – with one even mounting an $800,000 renovation to prove they are going ‘above and beyond’.
Labourers have been working around the clock to ensure facilities are safe at Titan Fitness in Coogee, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, in preparation for its 4,000 members to race back through the doors.
Corona works at the four-storey mega gym have included freshly upholstering equipment, replacing walls with timber for easy cleaning and a santising robot which sprays disinfectant on the floor.
Thousands of gym junkies hit the weights on Saturday following a three month hiatus when studios were forced to shut down due to coronavirus and punters were forced to use their door frame or their local park as their gymnasium.
Titan Fitness in Coogee in Sydney’s east has undergone a major $800,000 renovation in preparation for its 4000 plus members to race back through the doors (pictured: men working out in the gym on Saturday
Titan Fitness is in the heart of Coogee and reopened its doors to thousands of members on Saturday
During the peak of coronavirus, Titan paused their $30 a week memberships but allowed $5 weekly fees for customers to access online live-streamed classes (pictured: woman preparing to work out in Titan Fitness)
Gyms were shut down on March 23 following the outbreak of coronavirus in Australia and now operators are working around the clock to make sure facilities are COVID-safe (pictured: woman working out at City Gym in Darlinghurst this morning)
The CEO of Titan, Mets Analin, said he was prepared to do whatever he needed to take his gym to the next step after closing for so long.
‘I want to show people ‘wow they’re doing more than everyone else’,’ he said.
During the peak of coronavirus, Titan paused their $30 a week memberships but allowed $5 weekly fees for customers to access online live-streamed classes.
The gym which has seen up to 1,000 members in at a time will also introduce a machine which can disinfect a whole floor.
The $1,000 device uses a spray method which Mr Analin hopes to use daily throughout the building.
Members must also wipe down every machine after using it and can only use full body towels – not hand towels.
A woman is seen using a stairmaster exercise machine on Saturday in Titan Fitness
Siblings Dale (right) and Mikayla Bester (left) were lucky enough to have a gym at home but admitted they were desperate to get back
Two men are seen lifting weights following a three month closure of Titan Fitness
The gym has implemented several hand sanitising stations as well as providing full body towels for members
Mr Analin who started the business in 2009, said the three month break weighed heavily on his team.
‘It was so hard to run the business and to manage the mental state of the team,’ he said.
‘People’s whole lives had changed. I was constantly being asked when the gym would reopen.
‘We just want to give our members as much as possible.’
During peak times, Mr Analin said members will have to book in to come to the gym as numbers can’t exceed 100 under current restrictions in NSW.
Up to 100 people can now exercise in gyms in NSW (pictured: woman working out in Titan Fitness)
CEO of Titan Fitness, Mets Analin, (pictured second from left) started his business in 2009 and has recently spent $800,000 on renovations to ensure his gym is safe for COVID-19 restrictions
The gym has four storeys and offers memberships from $30 a week
He is also planning to introduce a facial recognition sign on method for members.
A loudspeaker announcement will also be played throughout the gym every hour to remind fitness fanatics to maintain social distancing and clean equipment.
Siblings Dale and Mikayla Bester were lucky enough to have a gym at home but admitted they were desperate to get back.
‘I was getting so sick of working out in the garage,’ Mikayla said.
‘I’m a P.E. teacher so I was able to use the gym but in school holidays I couldn’t so we just went to the park with some weights,’ Dale said.
‘I’m just stoked to get back to the gym.’
Gyms across New South Wales opened on Saturday after they were forced to shut due to coronavirus
Titan Fitness has installed new equipment including exercise bikes and running machines
Two boys are seen working out on an exercise bike in Titan Fitness on Saturday
Amie Sweeting who was training with her friend Rob Norton were also desperate to leave exercising at home behind.
‘Our neighbours were complaining because we were lifting weights on the balcony,’ Mr Norton said.
‘I haven’t worked out for the last four weeks.
‘I’d be p***ed if we went into another lockdown. I think I’d probably break in.’
Ms Sweeting, a personal trainer, admitted it was hard to motivate herself during lockdown.
‘It was just so hard not having a routine,’ she said.
‘You come to the gym to feel good and that was taken away from us.
‘I’m definitely happy to be back now!’
Titan Fitness now offers a booking system during peak times to ensure capacity isn’t over 100 people
A man is seen doing chin-ups at Titan Fitness on Saturday in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
The gym offered $5 weekly fees for any members who wanted to use online classes