Kirkcaldy business owners ready to re-open their gyms

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts can have customers and members back on August 31.

The news has been welcomed by gym and fitness studio owners in the town.

Susan Simpson, owner of Mind & Body Studio in Kirkcaldy’s Kinghorn Road, said classes will be brought in through phasing: “We are delighted to be able to open our doors for group exercise on August 31.

“We have lowered class capacity and our class times will be changing to allow us to comply with the cleaning protocols after every class.

“The one way system is in place and the studio floor has clear stickers for mats and equipment to be placed.

“We are phasing our classes - from September 1 until September 12.

“We are having what I would describe as an ‘Open Day’ but spread out over almost two weeks.

“This is to allow our clients to return to class, check out our new procedures and gently ease themselves back into practising Yoga, Pilates, BodyPump, and so on. It will also give anyone new the opportunity to try our classes.”

She said although Mind & Body is a small independent studio, it will provide a variety of high intensity exercise classes and strength training.

She said the Reformer Pilates Studio will be available for ‘practice classes’ and she is also introducing a personal training studio, beginner classes and group personal training: “Our timetable reflects our overall wellbeing goals, and that’s why we have included various styles of Yoga, numerous Pilates classes and working with Les Mills, will re-introduce BodyPump, BodyBalance, and introduce BodyCombat to our timetable,” she explained.

“On Monday, August 31, we will welcome our regular clients back to the Reformer Pilates Studio for some ‘practice classes’, and all being well from September 1 we will get back to a regular, albeit temporary timetable for our Reformer Pilates clients.

“For those who are still concerned about being in a studio environment, we have introduced a personal training studio and this will be used for clients looking for 1:1 or 2:1 sessions on the Reformer apparatus. In addition, this space will be used for more traditional 1:1 personal training.”

Margaret McLean, co-owner of Priory Park Gym in Victoria Road, said: “After a wait of over five months we are delighted to be re-opening.

“ It has been a long and agonising wait considering English clubs opened weeks ago.

“We are now ready to welcome back all of our loyal members who have kept us going with their kind messages of encouragement and support.

“We have decided to restrict our opening/closing hours slightly until everyone gets back in the swing and follow our five Covid rules .

Classes will resume at Priory Park on September 7.

Margaret added: “All of our staff are ‘Covid Aware’ certified and eager to get started.”

Sam and Huw Davis, who own Strength Lab Crossfit in Randolph Industrial Estate, also welcomed the return.

They said: “We are incredibly happy we can finally open the doors to their new fitness facility and start to make Kirkcaldy a fitter, healthier town.”

But they criticised the Scottish Government for a lack of funding support.

“How ever many other sectors and industries have been allocated many millions in funding from the Scottish Government?

“We as an industry have received nothing.

“This has lead to many gyms being unable to re-open their doors and there may be more in the coming months as they are unable to operate at a required capacity.”

They added: “We are calling on the Scottish Government to afford the leisure industry the same funding as it has to other contributors to its economy.”