As gyms reopen, is it safe to go back for your workout?

2. MASKS AND GLOVES FOR STAFF Medical experts believe the virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

Nearly all gyms are mandating that staff wear face masks and gloves. Instead of masks, spin instructors are wearing clear face shields that better accommodate microphones while still

providing a barrier of protection. Members are not required to wear masks, though Zwiefel estimates 1 in 10 returning Life Time members do. David Flench, director of Hancock Wellness Center,

a medically integrated fitness center in Greenfield, Ind., says their gym has decided not to require anyone doing vigorous exercise to wear a mask, based on the opinion of Hancock

Health's medical director. People doing low-impact exercise are encouraged to wear one. 3. PHYSICAL DISTANCING Gyms are strictly implementing the CDC's suggested 6 feet of social

distancing by spacing out everything from cardio equipment to lockers and encouraging members to share a thumbs up instead of a high five. Crunch Fitness staff held trial runs of socially

distanced group fitness classes to ensure that floor graphics kept people 6 to 8 feet apart. Gyms have shut down contact sports like basketball and those that have opened pools are limiting

usage to single-lane swimming. A handful of facilities have resumed personal training, but are ensuring social distancing by replacing hands-on adjustments with verbal cues. Hancock Wellness

Center has even appointed room ambassadors to go around the facility and ensure physical distancing. 4. SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND NO SHARED EQUIPMENT A number of gyms have decided to continue

solely with virtual group fitness classes in phase one of reopening. Facilities resuming in-person classes have scaled back the number of participants to ensure physical distancing. Signing

up in advance is highly recommended and, in some cases, required. CFC is offering more than 100 exercise classes but has reduced the maximum capacity of each studio to allow 100 square feet

or more per person during each class. For example, spin now accommodates eight people plus an instructor rather than 35. Crunch has also changed its HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)

class format from four groups of four people to eight groups of two people. 5. DOUBLE-DUTY CLEANING The smell of sweat and gym socks is being replaced by the scent of hand sanitizer and

disinfectant as gyms ramp up the number of cleaning stations stocked with EPA-approved products. All facilities ask members to clean equipment (treadmills, free weights, kettlebells, etc.)

before and after use and staff regularly patrol gym floors performing frequent cleanings. Extra time has also been added between group fitness classes so studios can be cleaned pre- and

post-use. Life Time has adjusted gym hours to allow for overnight deep cleaning. And 24 Hour Fitness clubs will initially be open for 60-minute sessions throughout the day, followed by a

30-minute closure for cleaning between sessions. 6. LIMITING AMENITIES Water fountains have been shut down and towels are on offer per request. Many gyms are keeping showers, saunas and

steam rooms closed for now. Restrooms are still available. Life Time is blocking off every other shower and every three lockers, and limiting each locker bay to four people. 7. PUSHING

NONPEAK HOURS The average Crunch facility is 25,000 square feet and with most gyms only allowed to initially reopen at 25 to 40 percent of their normal capacity, members are nearly

guaranteed 1,000 square feet per person even during nonpeak hours. If your gym isn't as spacious, ask when the foot traffic is lowest. Life Time posts an online chart that shows average

club usage to help members avoid busy periods. A boon for older gymgoers, some 24 Hour Fitness clubs will offer an exclusive workout time slot for the 50-plus audience.