With gyms across the country closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, personal trainers are finding creative ways to keep working with their clients, from speakeasy-style studio gyms that fit only a handful of people to one-on-one sessions at their homes.
On Sunday Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the closure of gyms, restaurants, and movie theaters to prevent the spread of the virus, but some high-end trainers are skirting the rules for both financial security and the wellness of their clients, TMZ has reported.
The outlet spoke with several fitness instructors in and around the LA area who are hosting their affluent clients at intimate studio gyms that accommodate just four or five people at a time — including the trainer.
House call: O’Hearn is having his clients work out at his fully-equipped at-home gym while others are utilizing intimate studio gyms that accommodate just four or five people at a time
Celebrity trainer Mike O’Hearn told TMZ that he is having clients come to him, so they can work out at his fully-equipped home gym, which he diligently has cleaned and sanitized.
While he believes working up a sweat is a good way to boost your immune system, he has been encouraging people to stay home if they are feeling ill.
O’Hearn isn’t the only trainer who is continuing to work with clients during the national emergency.
Adam Friedman of Advanced Athletics has a mix of clients ranging from everyday people to professional athletes.
He told the Los Angeles Times that he is already thinking of ways to serve his clients now that Gold’s Gym in Venice has closed.
One-on-one time: Frmation founder Justine Kennedy (right) is still offering private sessions with clients while her studio is closed to the public
Changing with the times: While sharing the announcement on Instagram, she noted that Frmation is working on steaming at-home workouts
‘This is a matter of survival so I’m going to do whatever it takes,’ he said.
‘I had already anticipated asking clients about training at home,’ he added. ‘I’m also starting to build an online platform where I can guide people through their fitness routines.’
Frmation, a Los Angeles-based fitness studio founded by Justine Kennedy, revealed on its Instagram page that they will continue to offer private lessons while closed to the public.
‘Our clients’ safety and health will continue to be our top priority, and although we will not be in the studio together, we remain open for privates and have additional availability for those interested,’ the trainer explained. ‘Feel free to DM us and we will get you set up for the upcoming weeks.’
Kennedy, who works with actress Rebecca Gayheart, added that Frmation is also ‘working on supplying an online alternative for at-home workouts.’
New plan: Adam Friedman of Advanced Athletics said he will ask clients about training at home now that Gold’s Gym in Venice is closed
Getting creative: David Otey (pictured in his at-home gym in New Jersey) is now working with his clients remotely using FaceTime or Skype to oversee the workout sessions
Trainers who are abiding by the rules and avoiding face-to-face contact with their clients have found other ways to keep their scheduled sweat sessions.
David Otey, a New York City-based trainer and Men’s Health Advisory Board member, told Men’s Health that he had planned on continuing his in-person training until gyms in the state were ordered to close.
He, like many other trainers, is now working with his clients remotely using FaceTime or Skype to oversee the workout sessions.
Otey took to Instagram on Tuesday to share workout tips along with a video of himself living weights in his home gym in New Jersey.
Many studios that have shuttered its doors are now relying on digital streaming classes to keep customers.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s beloved trainer Tracy Anderson closed all of her studios in New York, Los Angeles, and Spain, on Sunday and is providing both virtual one-on-one training sessions as well as classes through her Tracey Anderson Online Studio.
Already filming: Celebrity trainer Justin Gelband announced on Instagram on Tuesday that Sequence NYC will soon be streaming his workouts
In the groove: Celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser streamed her 60-minute workout live from her AKT Nomad studio in New York City live on Wednesday morning
‘I am filming content for @tracyandersononlinestudio alone until further notice, but yet the beauty is that I am not alone, and neither are you,’ she wrote on Instagram last Friday. ‘I love to film in my classes because they provide me with instant energy that is easy for me to tap into. The incredible truth of my relationship with all of you is that we have those lines of energy that are really that strong.’
LEKFIT, Busy Philipps’ go-to studio, is closed to the public until March 31 but will continue to offer digital streaming classes. The studio is also offering curbside pickup for anyone in LA who needs to buy equipment to follow the workouts at home.
The studio was still open last week when Busy revealed that she was streaming the trampoline workouts at home as an extra precaution.
‘@lektfit streaming is keeping me sane,’ she captioned a video of herself doing a series of leg lifts.
Celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser, who has worked with Kelly Ripa and Sarah Jessica Parker, streamed her 60-minute workout live from her AKT Nomad studio in New York City live on Wednesday morning.
And some kindhearted trainers such as Lacey Stone and Kardashian-family favorite Don Brooks have been offering free Instagram Live workouts during these trying times.
New reality: Tracy Anderson closed all of her studios on Sunday and is providing both virtual one-on-one training sessions as well as classes through her Tracey Anderson Online Studio
Fan: LEKFIT, Busy Philipps’ go-to studio, is closed to the public but will continue to offer digital streaming classes. Busy shared a video of herself doing the workout at home last week
A great deal of popular studios already offered online classes and streaming before the coronavirus outbreak, but those who didn’t are now scrambling to catch up.
Last week, Equinox Media launched the release of its streaming platform, Variis, which offers on-demand fitness classes from SoulCycle, Pure Yoga, and Equinox, among others.
Celebrity trainer Justin Gelband, who has worked with Karlie Kloss, Chrissy Teigen, Candice Swanepoel, announced on Instagram on Tuesday that Sequence NYC will soon be streaming his workouts.
‘We are all learning this social distancing thing, but we need to STAY ACTIVE and KEEP MOVING!’ he wrote. ‘Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more details of IG Live classes, streaming platform details and more!’
And BurnAlong, a company that helps gyms and studios get their workouts online, has seen an uptick in inquiries from fitness companies in Southern California over the past few days, BurnAlong Co-Chief Executive Daniel Friedman told the Los Angeles Times.
Actually Awesome Yoga, Open Circles, Theta Pin, and True Fitness were among about 500 gyms and studios that had turned to the company to get their classes online during the pandemic.