WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Thursday will mark four months since gyms closed down. And there's still no end in sight for fitness centers all over the region.
"The lack of guidance by New York state is probably the hardest thing to swallow," Buffalo Ultimate Fitness Facility (BUFF) owner Brett Hickey said.
Other gyms in the area have invested in plexiglass, splash guards, and rearranging the main areas of their facilities. But Hickey's focus has been virtual sessions with clients.
"None of us got into this business to be billionaires. We did this because we want to help people," Hickey said. "And to not be able to promote health, for myself, for other people who work here, it's probably the slap in the face, if you will."
Hickey has up to ten sessions online a day. Those individualized workouts with a trainer are the primary source of income for BUFF. Hickey is confident in using that model during the pandemic.
"It's a very very easy model for a personal trainer. You know exactly what they've touched. You've either handed it to them or told them to pick it up, then you can clean it all down."
Hickey also says an appointment-only basis would help immensely with contact tracing if necessary.
