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IT comes as no surprise to fitness enthusiasts and gym-goers that the fitness industry has been among the first to close its doors and the last to reopen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
And, throughout the many movement control orders (MCO), the fate of fitness centres has been up in the air.
Recently, The Vibes had the opportunity to speak to the Malaysia Fitness Coalition (MFC), a group of individuals across the nation from various fitness categories like Spin, Crossfit, Big Box gyms, boutique gyms, MMA and others.
Upon the start of our conversation, a representative from the MFC explained that when it comes to reopening gyms, it is not as simple as “opening the doors and flicking on a bunch of switches.”
In an environment where the humidity is usually regulated by the air conditioning, gym equipment stand the chance of becoming rusty without the constant running of the AC.
That being said, when the government gives the green light for gyms to reopen, owners cannot open their doors immediately.
“Technicians need to come in to service all our machines before we can even deem it safe for our members to use them. We’ve got to flush the water systems before members are able to use the water dispensers, and to get to run the air conditioning to get the air circulating. And due to this pandemic, the need for the services of a professional disinfectant company,” shared the MFC representative.
These are costs incurred that many are unaware of, and with that, the RM3,000 aid that was just recently given is barely scratching the surface; especially when gyms are constantly having to go through the reopening process. Costs are incurred every time gyms are shut due to a MCO.
Toh Yen Kee, another member of the MFC, shared how she is proud of gym owners who have adapted to these trying times by either refocusing their attention or by taking a stab at a different venture like selling food. This situation is 'killing people’s dreams.'
“We are fighting for people’s lives here. Unlike those in the corporate sector, for gym owners this is their livelihood. They started it as a passion for fitness and now it’s all shattered.
“We don’t want these people to pivot outside of the industry, because, when this industry is able to open again, we will have a drain of talent.” expressed Yen Kee. To reopen another gym in the future will just cost too much.
The general assumption that big box gyms, scattered across the nation, are more than capable of sustaining themselves through these times is a myth.
The MFC representative from a big box gym company shared, “Although involving a higher authority, the money invested in these gyms is not a bottomless pit. If the investor decides to pull out of a loss-making deal, the investment stops, leaving many unemployed.”
So, in a situation where boutique gyms may need to lay off staff to cut losses, the effect is multifold for big box gyms.
“We all have different cost structures, and all funding has a limit,” shared the representative.
With that, the MFC serves as a bigger voice for the less heard.
To bring awareness that the industry is part of the economic system, the public has to understand that regular physical activity is key to helping mental and emotional wellbeing. It is frustrating that the authorities are unable to acknowledge that the fitness industry comes with the strictest SOP and lowest transmission rate.
Even reaching out to the the government to offer their premises to help with the vaccination drive fell on deaf ears.
To make matters worse, the MFC has not even been given due acknowledgement.
In fact, when the MFC met with a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), the officer had no clue what the gym industry in Malaysia is like.
“From our conversation with KBS, they don’t even have a clue about the different dimensions to gyms, like there are discipline gyms for yoga, pilates, dance studios, MMA, boxing, etc. The representative who spoke to us only said that it would be brought to the attention of the minister and that was the end of it,” shared Yen Kee.
While waiting for a directive from the authorities as to when fitness centres can reopen, it is the MFC that has come up with the SOPs for gyms to abide to that has been enforced. A checklist was submitted to the authorities which they could use when performing inspections to ensure accountablility within the fitness industry.
While the MFC is aware that for gym owners to be able to open their doors for business on a regular basis is only the first step to their recovery, there is a long way to go before gyms are able to be sustainable. - The Vibes. July 5, 2021
