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The forgotten fitness studios closed by Tier 3 while other gyms can open
Conventional gyms reopened earlier this month, but those offering a different way to exercise are left struggling
Saffron OtterWeekend content & features writer
Since this picture was taken KNT Danceworks has been forced to operate via Zoom, despite conventional gyms being allowed to open (Image: KNT Danceworks)
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When the country came out of the second national lockdown on December 2 into another strict three-tier system, there was a huge sense of relief for gym bunnies.
Alongside non-essential shops, hairdressers, and beauty salons, gyms too could reopen, even under the toughest Tier 3 restrictions.
But the many Greater Manchester fitness businesses that operate within a class setting were left behind.
The government guidance for Tier 3 states: "Gyms and sports facilities will be open for individual exercise and exercise in single households or support bubbles only.
"Indoor group activities and exercise classes should not take place."
Sandy Macaskill, founder of Barry's UK - which promises gymgoers 'the best workout of your life' - has slammed these government restrictions, which have meant his Manchester fitness studio must remain closed.
Sandy says that he has been told by authorities that he could theoretically open the doors to his studio today with a free-for-all policy, but he argues this would be 'far inferior' to their current way of operating.
Sandy said: "It makes absolutely no sense.
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"We've been told that we have to keep our gym in Manchester closed under current government guidance, which is absolutely absurd.
"We're being punished for our incredibly effective Covid-secure procedures, something that our government should instead be actively encouraging.
"Unlike most gyms, where users are free to move between equipment and gym spaces, we are incredibly well-suited to social distancing - we have assigned spots and trainers constantly on the gym floor to ensure that clients do not encroach into other people's personal space."
Barry's in Manchester (Image: Barry's)
Barry's, whose signature workout can now be done at home online, first closed on March 16 before reopening on July 25, and closing again on November 4.
During lockdown, they've limited their capacity in the studio by 50 per cent, placed plexiglass dividers in between treadmills, put hypo-allergenic cleaning spray at every station, and have been carrying out deep cleans every 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, clients have been provided with their own microfibre cloth to clean their space and are given specific and enforced periods when they must do so.
Sandy added: "After months of crippling restrictions, this is a final kick in the teeth.
"The government should be ashamed of their ill-informed approach that is threatening our industry."
Of those also still battling with lockdown restrictions is KNT Danceworks, normally housed in the Dancehouse on Oxford Road, Manchester.
Owner Karen Sant, 32, says her business has had to change considerably with moving to online Zoom classes, and has even lost customers in the process.
While her children's ballet classes can still go ahead as per the government's 'under-18s' exception, she's seen little take-up with just two students in her class last Saturday.
"My business is suffering a lot," Karen said.
Karen (front) leading a ballet class at Castlefield Bowl (Image: KNT Danceworks)
"I think a lot of kids lost interest when I had to do it on Zoom; it's really hard for little ones to stay focused when there's so many distractions.
"It's a lot harder to get children to social distance in the studio too. We're managing it but it's hard. Obviously adults are way more able to understand the need to stay apart.
"As dancers, we have always been extremely disciplined, very good at taking instruction and I think Boris Johnson would be surprised at how well we'd follow guidance and make sure everyone is safe."
Karen moved her business online following the first lockdown, then, over the summer, she gained permission from Manchester City Council to host outdoor classes at Castlefield Bowl. Before the second national lockdown hit, they were using a studio at Space at the Mill.
"It's very different online, it's brought on a lot of stress. There's a lot more admin, it's a lot harder to see what's going on, and a lot of it is about personal rapport with students.
"But my adult dancers have sent me messages saying they're really grateful to be able to carry on online, many have said it's kept them sane."
Karen has even given away for free a few online cases for anyone suffering from any mental health problems that doesn't have the funds to attend, with many of her students donating to the cause.
Karen's classes were able to go ahead in a studio for a brief period, before the latest tier system came into play (Image: KNT Danceworks)
The professional dancer continued: "I think the government is forgetting that gyms aren't for everyone, some lift weights, some are happier on a treadmill.
"But some people want to feel the music, some get joy out of dancing. Even from a Zoom class we're managing to lift people's moods but it's just not the same and that feeling you get in a dance class in real life, you can't replicate that on a screen.
"A lot of people want to get back to the studio and need that escapism from real life. We're all desperate to get back."
Once they can reopen again, masks are to be worn in corridors while social distancing is required in the studio, with limited capacity.
Under the Castlefield archways during the Greater Manchester summer lockdown (Image: KNT Danceworks)
"I have been given some government support to cover the cost of cheaper classes, but the support isn't going to last forever," Karen said.
"I have lost many students, I don't know if they'll come back, when they'll come back. The support shouldn't be about the now, my business has been going for 11 years and it's always been about a community. No amount of support is going to make up for that."
A third operator not able to open their doors is BLOK, a boutique gym based within the Ducie Street warehouse that offers classes from yoga to boxing.
Founder Ed Stanbury says he struggles to see 'any logic' in the tier restrictions.
The 38-year-old said: "The government guidance doesn't appear to be based on science or logic from what I can see.
"I've been into a couple of open-plan gyms and have seen how they're working compared to the setup we put in place when we reopened after the first lockdown."
Despite temporarily closing in August after being told two recent visitors tested positive for coronavirus, he insists the studio is a 'highly secure environment' with no cases of transmission at the site.
"We have really clear procedures in place where everyone queues outside, you get signed in and assigned a dedicated space number, you walk in single file to your socially distanced mat," he said.
BLOK founder Ed struggles to see 'any logic' in the Tier 3 rules on exercise classes (Image: Ed Stanbury)
"You have your own cleaning station where you wipe down all your equipment before you start, then you do your workout socially distanced, wipe your stuff down again. Then you walk out single file on the way out.
"During the entire experience, at no point do you come within two metres of anybody or touch anything that you haven't personally sanitised.
"In open gyms, you walk around and share equipment. I don't understand it. I do get the need for the government to be cautious and why it's difficult. But I do struggle to see any logic in the rules."
While their studios in London under Tier 2 are currently open at limited capacity following this procedure, their freelance teachers in Manchester are being put to use on the company's online platform, BLOKtv, where there are 60 live classes a week.
This service was meant to launch next year, but was fast tracked in lockdown.
Ed continued: "While there are a lot of customers on there, it doesn't generate anything like the revenues the physical sites do. It's not enough to support everybody."
BLOK's new 'Covid-secure' set up (Image: BLOK)
"Tier 3 restrictions have had a massive impact on the business in terms of revenue, therefore our ability to support our freelance instructors and also our customers," Ed added.
"It's a huge part of people's lives, both physical and mental wellbeing, so it's not ideal at all to have that taken away from them at a time like this when you have a global pandemic and people are so cut off."
Ed says he hasn't received any government support to cover the costs of rent, but his landlord has been supportive.
He admits that while membership for studio classes is frozen, he expects customers to use gyms elsewhere.
"Some of them probably are using the gyms that are open as a result and that does give them an unfair advantage at a time that we need all the help we can get. The government aren't necessarily providing that support and seem to be prioritising the big gym companies rather than small start-ups like ours."
On whether there is a fear that group classes are seen as a risky environment for coronavirus due to the social aspect, Ed added: "BLOK 100 per cent is a social place; we have cafés where people socialise, but that element has been removed for now in Tier 1 and 2.
"We've already removed that element so it doesn't make any sense that that's not enough in Tier 3."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "I think the rationale is clear on this.
"This is all about the higher transmission risk of coronavirus when people are within close proximity in indoor settings, with restrictions depending on the alert level that applies to your local area.
"That's why in tier one group activities such as training sessions and exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided that people are in separate groups (up to six people) which do not mix."
The statement added: "In tier two areas, people can take part in group activity like exercise classes as long as there is no mixing between households. People can play certain sports which do not involve close proximity or physical contact against one person from another household, such as a singles tennis match or badminton match.
"In tier three areas, indoor sport will be restricted to within your household only, and there should be no group activity such as exercise classes."
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