After many New Years' resolutions of getting into the gym and getting that new look, January of 2020 looked a bit different. The first case of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the U.S was identified, and before we knew it the first case was located here in Humboldt County. February 20, 2020, the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Humboldt County, and soon before we knew it, everything shut down. Gyms all around the country were mandated to close to help stop the spread of Covid-19. This was a big setback for those who have jobs in the fitness community and those who contribute to the community by frequently going to the gyms. I have spoken with the local owner of Soulfire Fitness, Lauren Freemantle, and two locals (Kaitlin Giacone and Caroline McFarland) who attend the gym regularly, about how Covid-19 affected them.

The first person I interviewed was Lauren Freemantle who is the owner of the local gym Soulfire Fitness. She said that “ It has been very challenging to stay in business, we had to shut down in the beginning and switch to teaching classes online which was tough because a lot of people don’t have gym equipment at home.” This issue is showing that it is not only hard on those who go to the gym but those who operate the gyms and keep them going. She also said that “I am just barely paying my bills. It’s sometimes very tough to stay optimistic about the future. The whole time I’ve been a trainer it’s never been this low” However Lauren has stayed positive through this whole thing and is now able to stay open with a couple of adjustments. She stated, “We all wear masks at all times. We spray down all equipment after every use. I have fewer classes offered but people cancel more often because they’re sick or have had exposure to someone who is.” Lauren is one of the few local gym owners here in Humboldt County who offers private training, and she has done an amazing job of continuing to do so. Next, I talked to two locals who love the gym.

I talked to Kaitlin Giacone first, she is a student athlete that attends the gym frequently. In an interview I conducted with Kaitlin she said,“ before Covid-19 , I was at the gym daily whether it had to do with sports or weight training.” We talked about the ways that she kept her fitness up when all of the gyms were closed and how she managed to continue fitness patterns. She said, “I bought some weights and resistance bands to do at-home workouts. I would also go on runs or follow yoga or other bodyweight workouts on youtube.” Kaitlin was determined to keep her fitness up even when we were in lockdown and everything was shut down. She continued to keep her goals the same even when she was limited on gym equipment and stuck doing workouts at home. She fought through the hard times and she is now playing sports in the “best shape [she] has ever been in”. It all goes to show that the enforced lockdown has benefited her fitness journey, even if it required more motivation. The last person that I talked to about the gym shutting down was Caroline McFarland.

Caroline McFarland is someone who goes to the gym most days of the week. She said that the gym shutting down affected her in many ways. I asked Caroline a couple of questions about how Covid-19 has affected her personally. Caroline said “Before Covid-19 , I went to the gym 5-6 days a week. Usually, I went to HealthSport, but I also frequented both of The Club facilities in McKinleyville. I got really into lifting weights and enjoyed it immensely as a way to improve my health.” Even though Covid-19 shut down all of the gyms Caroline was determined to continue working out and achieve her goals. She said, “When Covid-19 hit, I couldn't go to the gym anymore, so I purchased some fitness equipment to use at home to try to stay in my routine. I worked out in my yard and my house as much as I could.” Caroline said that Covid-19 had many negative impacts on her goals and that she was worried about losing all of the progress that she had made. However, for the most part, things did not change when she went back to the gym. She said, “When gyms started to reopen, I was hesitant to go back until I was fully vaccinated. Before gyms closed, I was focused on losing weight and decreasing my blood pressure -- I had lost about 65 pounds. Once gyms shut down, I switched my focus to just maintaining my progress. I was really afraid of backsliding and undoing what I had accomplished. I was able to maintain, which I was proud of. After the gyms reopened, I was able to pick up where I left off and lost another 40 pounds.” Caroline is very proud of the progress she has made and will continue to keep it up.

As of now, things are still not completely back to normal but at least the gyms have opened up again. Covid-19 has taken a toll on those who own gyms and those who frequently go to the gym. A lot has changed since the first case of Covid-19 hit Humboldt County. It is now January 2022 almost two years since the first case and they are still rising. We are still unsure how much longer this is going to be but as long as people follow the local mandates and continue to stay positive, things will be okay.

Words Cited

California, State of. “Current Safety Measures.” Coronavirus COVID-19 Response, https://covid19.ca.gov/safely-... Safe Are Indoor Gyms during Omicron Surge? What Experts Say.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2022, https://www.latimes.com/califo... Communication from Public Health.” Provider Communication from Public Health | Humboldt County, CA - Official Website, https://humboldtgov.org/2238/Provider-Communication-from-Public-Healt.