27 Aug AN UPDATE: “We didn’t see this coming”!
Voted Readers Choice #1 Fitness Centre in Dufferin County, 2019, Towne Fitness is a family owned and operated business located in Shelburne, Ontario and has operated as a successful small business since its inception in 2012. Of course, like many other gyms, that all changed in March of this year;
“As business owners, we fully anticipated challenges and felt well equipped to deal with them however, we never saw this one coming! A pandemic? How quickly the usual concerns of marketplace competition and the rising costs of doing business took a back seat to the global pandemic”.
Known for our high level of quality-of-care and strong sense of community, it’s apparent that we have invested more than just dollars, and so, when we were ordered to close in March, 2020 we were devastated. Up to that time, we were successful small business owners anticipating future growth. And then we were not. The doors were locked. The lights shut off and the four-month wait began.
Operating in the new environment has brought with it many challenges and changes, with our pre-Covid-19 business model no longer fitting the new Covid-19 industry standards. The safety of our membership has always been an important aspect of our business and now more than ever it is our number one priority. The big question is, how do we do that and continue to build a profitable business? With an increase in staff and a decrease in membership numbers (in addition to functioning at a seasonally tough time of year) we have our work cut out for us.
Currently, we are operating under the guidelines of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and at this time, we have made the decision to operate within posted Staffed Hours. Our members have access to the gym Monday through Friday, 6 am to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm and will ALWAYS be greeted by a staff member during these times.
Group classes have changed too, as we have moved them all to the great outdoors. Hyland Park has proven to be a beautiful setting for early morning yoga, action packed evening classes and a peaceful wind down on the yoga mat on Sunday night. The ‘back alley’ behind the gym is another great outdoor space. The footing is good, and the workouts are tough, but fun. Currently, our classes remain members only and require pre-registration. Each participant has their temperature taken and recorded at the start of the class.
Over the last few years, we have shifted from a physical – fitness only gym to a facility that encompasses all areas of health and wellness, including nutrition, mental health, sleep and meditation. Rachel Murray RHN joined our team two years ago and is available through the gym or online for all things nutrition. With the re-opening of the gym in July, we welcomed Tiffany McCabe, Social Worker/Wellness Therapist to the team. Now, more than ever, mental health is an important element of overall wellbeing that should not be ignored. Watch for a brand-new program this Fall: The Wellness Experience presented by Tiffany, Rachel and Hannah.
We want to assure anyone considering a gym membership that Towne Fitness is committed to providing you with a safe environment. Our staff is trained to make your workout experience stress-free and if you are looking for a quiet time to workout, day-time hours will work for you.
Towne Fitness is your one-stop-shop to get you into the best shape of your life. We continue to offer Personal Training and packages that can be customized to suit your needs whether it be on-on-one, partner training, or small group. Home-visits are also an option.
If you are minimizing your travel for shopping, we have sourced a variety of high quality products available at the front desk: Protein powder, Protein 4 Oats, Pre-workout and QUEST Chips, bars and cookies. As well, we continue to carry an assortment of Giddy YoY o products: Wheat Grass and Mountain Salt. If we don’t have what you are looking for, we are happy to source it.
A recent article stated that gyms would be a thing of the past. We don’t believe this for a minute. We are social creatures and do better with support and motivation. Every visit to Towne Fitness is an opportunity to make a difference in your health and wellness. If you have any questions or concerns about returning to a gym, please contact us and make an appointment to discuss your options and allow us the opportunity to showcase our facility and services. Help us keep our doors open, and we promise to make a commitment to help you achieve your goals.
info@townefitness.ca www.townefitness.ca [519] 925-0004