'Why would policemen stop us when they too work out here?'

Although the government is yet to give its nod for gyms to restart many gyms in the metropolitan region have managed to resume their business after bribing cops and civic officials During middays investigation gym employees said that without this arrangement they would never have been allowed to resume their work in a pandemicMost fitness centres cited helplessness for having resumed operations as they have no other income sourceHowever the threat of COVID19 also looms large in areas like VasaiVirar where every day an average of 200 people are testing positive In the past seven days civic data shows that 30 people have died in VasaiVirar During a visit to several fitness centres midday found a few of them functioning with limited clients Trainers do not allow more than 10 people None of those working out was wearing face masks Trainers said that people run out of breath while trainingElite Fitness Club in VirarThis fitness centre is located on an arterial road in Virar where police claim that they are conducting regular patrols but business is operating as usual in broad daylight Popularly known as EFC the fitness centre is providing its services to old members is enrolling new ones and is also giving receipts for the same They also give a twoday free trial At present we have stopped new memberships as the gym unofficially started three days ago But we are taking R1500 per member to continue their workout We only allow 10 members at a time said Shakeer the manager at EFCWhen asked about the threat of raids and the action that clients will also have to face Shakeer said Aisa kuch nahin hoga sirhellip sab manage karke khola gaya hai Our gym operates between 530 am and 8 pm daily Before the pandemic we had five to six trainers Today we have two trainers in each batch that lasts for an hourThe unisex gym has kept hand sanitiser at the entrance and has stopped steam baths Members have also been told to bring their own napkins water bottle shoes and sanitiser Masks cannot be used during workouts as the heartbeat increases while exercising My boss has been told to shut the gym after sunset Shakeer saidOne Rep Max Fitness Hub VirarOne Rep Max Fitness Hub in Virar PicsHANIF PATELAccording to trainer Rocky Bagul seven to eight people are allowed to exercise at one time There are four trainers at this gym We recommend clients to get a personal trainer to meet our expenses We were not given salaries during the lockdown For a membership the cost is R5000 per person and without one it costs R1500 said Bagul The gym resumed two months ago During the lockdown only the gym owner his partner wife and child used to work out here I used to train them Bagul addedWhen midday visited the gym all slots were fullCerejo 11 Fitness Vasai WestPeople work out at Cerejo 11 Fitness in VasaiThis gym checks its clients temperature and oxygen levels at the reception This gym is located right opposite the Ambadi police chowki in Vasai It resumed operations recently Earlier we used to function 24x7 Amid the pandemic we have been functioning between 6 am and 3 pm daily for the past one month said Laxman Chikane a trainerA counsellor at Cerejo 11 FitnessWhen asked if they are scared of police Laxman said We have taken permission to run the gym Why will they force us to shut down when they come here every day to work out Three policemen come in the morning and two come in the afternoon One officer Sunil Jadhav from Ambadi police chowki comes here to work out His friends also come here Right now two of his friends are working out at the gym said LaxmanSanitiser at the reception of Cerejo 11 FitnessA counsellor at the gym said You need to come here in batches between 6 am and 3 pm Our gym was shut during the lockdown We have more than 4500 members who had been regularly asking us to reopen This is why our boss resumed the business Unlike others we have extended our clients membershipOps at own risk in PanvelThe central government permitted gyms to reopen on August and as such many owners have been asking the state government to let them resume midday visited several gyms in Panvel and found that they are taking on new members Some have been running them for a couple of months saying that the Centre has already permitted reopeningAt Body Intensity gym in old Panvel which resumed a month ago the gym manager said The central government has already allowed yoga centres and gyms to reopen I have written to the Panvel Municipal Corporation informing them about the activities The corporation told me to run the gym at my own risk and ensure all COVID protocols are followed We have taken all measures and theres not a single positive case We had no option but to reopen as the closure had been for too longOut Raw gym in old PanvelAt another wellknown gym Out Raw at Karnala Sports Academy in the area in old Panvel the manager said We have sanitisers and check oxygen levels every day Only three to four people are allowed at one time If there are extra people we take them outside to the open gym The government has allowed open gyms to operate so there is no problem at all from the administrationWhat the association saysThe president of Maharashtra Gym Owner Association Mahendra Chavhan said I dont find anything wrong if the gym owners have discreetly resumed their businesses without the state governments okay The prime minister has been telling people to stay healthy and fit to fight COVID but how will India remain fit if people do not exerciseDoes the state government want people to exercise on the road There is nothing wrong if a few gym owners have started their business But gym members should wear a mask and gloves while working out Chavhan saidKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our 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