Flabby bodies rejoice Maharashtra Govt gives its nod to reopen gyms, fitness centres

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Mumbai: So the fitness freaks may soon be able to lift those weights, pump in that iron and bring their flabby bodies back in to that six-pack abs, as the Maharashtra Government on Saturday gave its nod for re-opening of gyms and fitness centres from October 25, 2020. 

Since the country wide lockdown was first imposed in March this year, gyms and fitness centres have been shut. 

Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will have to be strictly followed when gyms and fitness centres are re-opened from the festival of Dussehra which falls on October 25.

He held a meeting via video conferencing with the representatives of gyms and fitness centres today.

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The government has however, not given green signal to allow steam bath, sauna and shower. Besides, forms of group exercises like Zumba and Yoga, too, will remain suspended as per the SOP.

“Precautions will have to be taken to see that health issues do not arise when gyms and fitness centres are re-opened,” Thackeray said.

Apart from big cities in the state, there are substantial numbers of Gyms in rural areas as well, hence Thackeray added that SOP will have to be followed “conscientiously”.

The chief minister said, the onus of adhering to the SOP will be on the owners of gyms and fitness centres, and if there is any laxity observed on their part, strict action will be taken against such individuals.

The SOP lays special emphasis on three simple steps of maintaining physical distance, washing hands and wearing mask. In addition to this, spraying disinfectant after every one hour is must in the gyms and fitness centres.

It further says, that equipment’s in the gyms will have to keep at appropriate distance. Finally, the owners will have to ensure that entire area is fully disinfected before it is closed at night.

Clamour had been growing on the MVA government to re-open gyms from the owners since last many days. The owners had also called on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray to pursue with the matter.