Polson fitness center to reopen
Two weeks ago an announcement from Governor Steve Bullock stated an alteration to Montana’s phase one of reopening plan to begin allowing gyms to open under strict guidelines.
Given the green light, Polson Medical Fitness Center is choosing to partially reopen on Tuesday following Memorial Day. However not all services will be available and there are many strict guidelines the facility will abide by.
One of the biggest changes is that the gym will now be open only in pre-scheduled time blocks from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each time slot is 90 minutes, members may workout for a max of 75 minutes and then the last 15 minutes allows for a full cleaning service before the next members are scheduled to come. Members will need to reserve workout times online before coming to the facility and a max of 20 exercisers are allowed in the building at once.
In addition, all members will be screened upon entering the facility, including a medical questionnaire and temperature checks. All the staff is required to wear masks and members are asked to also wear masks when communicating with the staff, but face coverings are not required while exercising.
The areas that will be open include the cardio and weight training areas, as well as the restroom. Group classes are not yet allowed to resume and therefore will continue virtually.
“Your health and safety continues to be our primary focus and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we gradually bring our facility services and programs back up,” a statement from the fitness center reads.
The gym is only open to current members at this time, no drop in or guest are allowed in the first phase. Polson Medical Fitness Center also said it recognizes that some may not want to return to the gym under these circumstances and is offering many options to put a hold on memberships until those members feel comfortable again.
The Mission Valley Aquatic Center is also reopening its pool with limited hours, Thursday, May 21. The fitness side will remain closed and the therapy pool must be reserved in advance and used only for therapy purposes.
The aquatic center will be enforcing social distancing and also only current members may use the facilities at this time.
Mission Fitness is a group training and personal training facility and therefore under state guidelines cannot reopen at this time. They will continue with virtual classes and community outreach via their Facebook page.
Other exercise facilities are still making decisions regarding their next steps and when they will reopen.