Gym owners in Chennai chalk out plans for 50-plus in fitness loop

CHENNAI: Radha Narasimhan was a regular ather gym in Madipakkam until the pandemic struck. News of gyms reopening from August10 should have brought a smile to her face, but the 51-year-old private bank employee is disappointed people over 50 won’t be allowed.
“… I feel the government’s decision may have been on the harsher side but you can’t do anything else other than doing little workouts, walking inside the confines of your home and hope for things to get better,” she said.
Several people have been affected by the decision, which is based on the premise that people over 50 are more vulnerable to contract the Covid-19 virus.
Ajit Shetty, owner of Score, seemed a little surprised. “Many above 50 are regulars at any gym facility and remain extremely fit. I would have understood had the government announced that those above 60 can’t work out as,” he told TOI.
Introducing a special time slot for 50-plus members may not be possible at least in the first few weeks, but Ajit plans to start online classes via Zoom calls for them. “These are tough times. With the help of our trainers, we plan to start online classes where we will teach them the basics of working out from homes. It is important for people from all agegroups to stay in the best possible shape,” Ajit said.
Those over 50 may account for 10%-15% of the total clientele in most gyms, but owners are going the extra mile to keep them in good spirit. Revoke Gym’s Sobika Gupta plans to extend membership of such people by the number of months they missed. “If a 50-plus member hasn’t made use of the facility from the start of the lockdown the time he/she is finally allowed — we will extend membership by that many months without extra charge,” she said. She also plans to conduct online sessions for those missing out.