If you’re not much of a reader and happy to hear me work through the details of what’s happening here at EmpowerFit and how we’re going approaching the inevitable COVID-19 challenges, then please watch the video.

If you’re more of a reader, then continue on…

WHAT IS IT? 

“Out of the Box” is an EmpowerFit Response Action Plan (RAP) to support our community in the event that the benefits of training outside of our gym outweigh the benefits of exercising together inside of it. It is a predetermined plan in place so that if/when the decision is made to mobilise it, we are able to effectively communicate and carry it out for the greatest good of all our members, staff, families, and community.

WHY?

As a community, we can maintain the vast majority of our fitness and wellness while training outside the gym. At the same time we can ALSO do the right thing by helping our larger community to slow the spread of COVID-19 and give the most vulnerable in our population the best opportunity to have medical services available if and when they’re needed. It’s not about us.

WHEN?

The time to mobilise our Outside the Box RAP is now. We are currently in phase 1 entering into phase 2. As for phase 3, we will keep you updated, but we’re expecting to do this within the next week (give or take).

HOW?

There are three primary phases to this plan;

PHASE 1: BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT MINIMISE THE RISK

• Supply multiple hand sanitizer stations throughout entire gym. As a minimum, members use the hand sanitizer before and after your workout.

• Increase supply of disinfectant stations to wipe down equipment. Again, members to use these both before and after using a piece of equipment.

• Increase cleaning schedule to disinfect equipment twice daily (AM and PM blocks)

• Strictly enforce the “No Towel, No Train” policy

• Remove chalk buckets

• Daily “No Equipment” home based workout to follow

• Any members experiencing any signs of illness to not come in and train

• Provide a daily “at home” training alternative

• Staff to use gloves for all money handling

• Only coaching staff are to use gym computers and are to wear gloves when doing so

• Coaching staff to use their own laptop for gym programming

PHASE 2: EARLY STAGES OF “SOCIAL DISTANCING” WITH BUSINESSES ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HOME AS RISK IS INCREASING, YET STILL ALLOWED TO TRADE

• Continue to implement phase 1 strategies

• Enforce a booking policy and capping classes to 10 people to minimize group exposure and all members maintain a minimum 1.5m distance

• Adjust the schedule to ensure people are still able to train

• Anyone members electing to self-isolate;

  • 24/7 Members: Tailored home program delivered via 2 x 30m video conferences, as well as weekly accountability/support

  • E-Members (class): Four/week interactive video conference “home-based, no-equipment” workouts, which will also be recorded and made available for members unable to train at the predetermined time, as well as weekly accountability/support

    • Mon 7am-7:30am

    • Tue 6am-6:30am

    • Thu 6am-6:30am

    • Fri 7am-7:30am

  • PT Members: Video conference “home-based, no-equipment” sessions

  • Nutrition Clients: Business as usual, but video conference or phone contact

• Any work that EmpowerFit staff can undertake remotely is to be done so

PHASE 3: DEVELOPED STAGES OF “SOCIAL DISTANCING” WITH BUSINESSES (AKA EMPOWERFIT) REQUIRED TO STOP VENUE BASED OPERATIONS

• Continue to inspire and empower members using health and fitness as the medium

• 24/7 Members:  As per phase 2 but for all members

• E-Members:

  • We run a full class timetable of three different classes that align to the existing schedule

  • These sessions will be delivered via a group video conferencing platform called zoom.

  • The process is really simple;

    • Firstly get the zoom app on your phone

    • At the time of class (ideally 5 min early), dial in to the relevant conference (aka class) using the link we provide

    • Make sure you set your phone on mute, allow camera access and set it up so it’s capturing the majority of your session (please set it up on landscape, not portrait)

    • From here, we’ll coach you through the session like any other session with the only real limitation being our feedback is going to be verbal and visual, not tactile

    • If you have a question, unmute your phone and ask, after which, put it back on mute

    • These classes operate exactly the same as what we currently operate

  • eBurn: This program is the equivalent of our E30 class. It’s a minimal equipment program that is predominantly bodyweight and cardio based.

  • eBell: This program is the equivalent of our E45 class and is ideal for anyone that has some minimal gym equipment at home in the form of adjustable DB’s of KB’s. That said, it will have a slightly more muscle stamina bias, but will still achieve tremendous results.

  • EBar: This program is the equivalent of our E60 class. Incorporating a barbell, members will perform many of the same movements as our regular class.

  • Equipping yourself;

    • Equipment loan system: if you don’t have equipment at home, rest easy as we’ve got your back

      • Members will be allowed to “borrow” the gyms equipment

      • eBell: Members will be able to borrow DB’s or KB’s. We’ve just placed an order for 50 pairs of adjustable 10kg DB’s (that’s right FIFTY sets!) for this very purpose – we love you guys!

      • eBar: Members will be able to borrow Barbell and Weights

      • Rowers & Airdynes: If you are physically NOT able to run, you will be able to borrow a rower or bike. Please remember there is a difference between not being able to versus not liking. Naturally, these are very limited in supply and we really want to ensure the members that absolutely need these have access.

      • All equipment being borrowed needs to be signed out. This means everything will be numbered and we’ve got an agreement that the equipment will be returned in the same working order after the mandated social distancing period is over.

      • Home staples: If you have equipment collecting dust at home, that’s awesome! Please dust it off and use this and keep the resources available for those that do not. Otherwise, for a very minimal cost (<$30) you can purchase a skipping rope and set of rings which we would highly recommend.

SUMMARY

Needless to say that we’re living in unprecedented times and facing unprecedented challenges. While we are yet to enter phase 3, after spending the better part of previous week analysing the whole situation, discussing and formulating our Out-of-the-Box RAP, we feel that it’s the right thing to do. We are extremely grateful for you, the EmpowerFit community. While this has been a big spanner thrown into the works, we still view it as an opportunity to help us to carry out the EmpowerFit purpose – Inspiring and Empowering people using health and fitness as the medium to live their ideal lives.

we don’t have to… we get to! let’s do this!