Small fitness studios feel the weight of the pandemic

Although gyms were allowed to reopen on Aug. 24 following a months-long shutdown, smaller facilities like fitness studios and boutique gyms are still feeling the weight of state-mandated restrictions intended to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In New York, gyms can operate at 33 percent capacity while meeting certain criteria, such as ventilation and social distancing rules. Masks are also mandatory. Additionally, on Nov. 12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that gyms, along with restaurants or bars with a state liquor license, must close by 10 p.m.

North Merrick resident Stuart Schneiderman, who owns Steel Fitness, in Bellmore, said the curfew does not affect his business. He reopened the Grand Avenue studio at the end of August. Since then, his trainers have conducted close to 1,200 personal training sessions — not one has resulted in a positive Covid-19 case, he said.

The mandates “lumped us in with bars, restaurants, movie theaters and bowling alleys using a broad stroke brush, and they made it sound like if you step foot in to a training facility, you'll get Covid,” Schneiderman said. “People started getting scared, and this is one of the things that we're fighting against.”

Steel Fitness opened in 2008, offering clients personalized, one-on-one sessions in its 2,300-square-foot studio. To comply with state mandates, Schneiderman bought a MERV 13 air filter, installed three hand-sanitizing stations and wipes down all the equipment with a specialized cleaning solution every two hours and after each session. He has disposal face masks and rubber gloves available at the front desk, which is where clients must also complete a Covid-19 health screening survey before working out. (see box) 

While outfitting the space only cost about $1,500, Steel Fitness lost almost $200,000 in income because of the shutdown. Before the pandemic, the studio typically saw 200 clients per week. Now, “we’re lucky if we do 80” sessions, Schneiderman said.

Sandi Vega has been a trainer at Steel Fitness for more than three years. Although her clients have become accustomed to the new restrictions, she said, she believes smaller fitness studios should operate under a different set of rules.

“We’re quite different than the big, corporate gyms since we don’t have hundreds of people coming in and out of the door,” said Vega, of Wantagh. “I work early mornings doing one-on-one sessions and I have one person in the whole place with me. They should be personalizing restrictions, especially for a place that’s not an actual gym.”

Over the summer, the New York Fitness Coalition brought a class-action lawsuit against Cuomo to pressure the state to allow gyms to reopen. More than 1,500 gym owners from across the state signed on, including Schneiderman, but the case was tossed out after the state failed to provide data that proved gyms were “superspreaders,” he said.

NYFC President Charlie Cassara told the Herald that until gyms can operate at 100 percent capacity, owners will still be at a loss financially. “The best question is who can survive it?,” he said of the restrictions. “Big box gyms have money behind them, but the little guys can’t afford to claim bankruptcy — we’re just mom and pop places making a living.”

Vega encouraged residents to take a tour of Steel Fitness if they’re skeptical about breaking a sweat during the pandemic. “We’re keeping our distance, wearing our masks and following the rules to keep everybody safe,” she said. “If they could see what we’re doing, it might give them a little peace of mind.”

Steel Fitness is at 2742 Grand Ave. in Bellmore. For more information or to book a personal training session, call (516) 344-5730.