Treadfit Reopens After 3-Month Coronavirus Shutdown

CHICAGO — In-person workouts have returned to the Treadfit fitness studio in Beverly, but not without a number of safety precautions put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. Treadfit Owner Jenny Harkins said she is "incredibly fortunate" to have clients who have embraced the reopenings at not only her fitness studio in Beverly but at the Treadfit suburban locations in Palos Heights and Western Springs as well. All three sites had been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have redesigned our class formats and our procedures to follow the guidelines set out by the state and the cities where we do business," Harkins said, pointing to reduced capacity at in-person classes and a mandatory minimum of six feet of distancing between clients at all times.

Clients are required to arrive ten minutes before class at the front door and wear masks while not at their station and inside while transitioning throughout the space. Instructors will be limited to verbal cueing and will remain within their area at the front of the mirrors, Harkins said.

Other precautions include the addition of plexiglass at the front desk and additional sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer throughout the gym.

Standard Treadfit classes will now have eight clients on the treads and eight on the floor. Strength classes will be limited to 10 clients. Those who workout there must bring their own water bottles, as the water fountain will be off limits for the near future.

"Clients will pause after 25 minutes to sanitize their equipment and then switch to limit movement within the studio," Harkins said. "After class, clients will sanitize their equipment and exit through the back of the gym."

Treadfit clients who are not yet ready to return to the gym can continue with the fitness studio's on-demand classes, which offer a month of online instruction in the form of more than 100 run and strength classes for the price of four regular classes.

On-demand memberships run for $49 a month. Buy them online here.