Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña , Guam, June 8, 2020
Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña, Guam, June 8, 2020
Aaron Roberts works out at Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña, Guam on June 8, 2020 as his personal trainer Shayne Aricayos urges him on.
Gym member Michael Cabral exercises on a treadmill during the reopening of Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Fitness attendant Mike Borja wipes down an exercise machine at Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Maintenance employee Wells San Nicolas uses a ULV fogger on exercise machines during a midday facility sanitation session at Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Fitness consultant Andrew Galvan, left, works from behind a safety shield during the reopening of Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
The Paradise Fitness gym during a midday facility sanitation session in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña , Guam, June 8, 2020
Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña, Guam, June 8, 2020
Aaron Roberts works out at Paradise Fitness, Hagåtña, Guam on June 8, 2020 as his personal trainer Shayne Aricayos urges him on.
Gym member Michael Cabral exercises on a treadmill during the reopening of Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Fitness attendant Mike Borja wipes down an exercise machine at Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Maintenance employee Wells San Nicolas uses a ULV fogger on exercise machines during a midday facility sanitation session at Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
Fitness consultant Andrew Galvan, left, works from behind a safety shield during the reopening of Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
The Paradise Fitness gym during a midday facility sanitation session in Hagåtña, June 8, 2020.
After being closed since mid-March, Guam gyms opened Monday with a new focus on cleaning and hygiene.
Michael Sgro, Paradise Fitness general manager, said the company’s Hagåtña gym filled its capacity of 60 workouts in the first hour.
“You could feel the energy once our members got here,” Sgro said. “It was a sense of relief. They’re revived to get their daily dose of endorphins.”
Masks are required to get in the door in Hagåtña, though they can be removed during exercise. Hours at the gym will continue to be reduced and exercise machines are being cleaned between each usage. There is also a midday sanitation break.
As in most retail outlets on the island, there is now plexiglass shielding the cashier station. Foggers are used for deep cleaning of the facilities and loudspeakers broadcast messages on COVID-era etiquette.
Jason Roman, a co-owner of CrossFit Latte Stone in Dededo said the facility reopened on May 28 after Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero offered an exception to some group fitness classes.
Between classes, the gym has a 30 minute sanitization period for equipment and floors.
“Persons who use the equipment can clean their own mess, their training area and then our coach does a follow up cleaning afterwards,” Roman said.
Caleb Baretto, an officer of Unified Guam, another CrossFit location said member concerns or uneasiness about sanitation need to be addressed. “We want to make sure everyone feels safe and they’re getting in their dose of fitness for the day,” he said.
“The last thing we want is to go back into quarantine or lockdown, so we’re going over and beyond to make sure the guidelines are met and then some.” Baretto said.
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Back at Paradise in Hagåtña, Aaron Roberts of Anigua, a federal Homeland Security employee, missed the gym a lot.
He credits his personal trainer with helping him gain 13 pounds of muscle pre-COVID. He tried running to keep up his fitness during the quarantine, but found that reduced his muscle.
“It sure feels good to get back into the gym, though I’m not nearly as strong as I used to be,” Roberts said.
This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: Guam gyms, fitness centers reopen with new sanitary standards
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