Scotland’s gyms have been given a provisional reopening date for next month - although group exercisers will have to wait a bit longer.
Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that indoor gyms will open for individual exercise only from April 26.
However the First Minister added that adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises won’t resume until May 17, if all goes to plan.
The news has been welcomed by those desperate to get back to exercising after several months of lockdown - along with a number of eased restrictions to look forward to.
Strathaven FTPT resumed outdoor training on March 15, with a number of COVID-19 safety measures in place.
Owners Lucy Dawson and Alan Clark took to their Facebook page to share their delight with their members.
They posted: “We are delighted to be back training!
“It might be just outdoors for now in small groups – but its baby steps in the right direction.”
Like most local gyms and fitness experts, Ally McKinnon and Simon Thomson, from Base Fitness & CrossFit, adapted their business during lockdown to meet the needs of their members.
Moving their platform online, Ally and Simon are looking forward to having people’s homes return to being their homes and not a mixture of environments.
The boys said: “Last year saw our houses became our one stop shop.
“Our office, our school, our home, our pub, our gym.
“Now in March 2021, we are hoping it won’t be too much longer before our houses can become just homes once again.
“In the meantime, we are thankful looking back that despiteall of our challenges, we’ve still been able to get our workouts in with the team.
“Who knew you could make it nearly 10 months at home with just a dumbell?”
Also looking forward to reopening is the team at You Fit East Kilbride.
Manager of the club, Clare McLean, believed that moving her fitness classes online due to the pandemic has been a “lifeline” for some but feared that many clients were missing out on personal interaction.
Taking to the club’s Facebook page, Clare shared her excitement: “We are very excited with our potential reopening getting closer.
“We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure all the necessary safe practices are in place, to keep you as safe as possible on your return.
“For now, please stay safe, stay well and we can’t wait to welcome you back with open arms very soon.”
