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Gyms In Texas Reopened Monday, But With New Rules

CrossFit 214
Courtesy of CrossFit 214
CrossFit 214 owner Tyler Nicholson: "There's a tough balance for gyms because having people in one place obviously presents a risk factor."

A new wave of businesses could reopen Monday, as outlined in Gov. Greg Abbott's May 6 executive order.

Offices, manufacturing facilities, and gyms can now operate at 25% capacity. Gym-goers eager to break a sweat after a months-long hiatus will have new rules to follow, though.

Tyler Nicholson owns CrossFit 214, a boutique gym in east Dallas.

"There's a tough balance for gyms because having people in one place obviously presents a risk factor," he says.

To mitigate that risk, Nicholson and his staff have set up one-way entrances and exits to help establish single flow traffic.

The large, open warehouse can typically hold 140 people. Nicholson will have to limit that number to about 35, but he'll likely stay well under that maximum.

"We can accommodate 20 people plus 3 staff members," he says. "We could have more people in here, but we think it would compromise people's comfort levels and possibly their safety."

Nicholson says nearly every surface of his gym — from mats to pull-up bars — has also been coated with an antimicrobial and antiviral surface protectant.

Still, bathrooms and showers are off-limits under Abbott's orders.

As for masks? They're not legally required, but Nicholson's considering them anyway. He says it's challenging because face coverings can disrupt breathing during vigorous workouts.

"I've tried an N95 mask. I've tried just a regular cotton mask. We're still playing with it," Nicholson says. "Our coaches have been trained for this, so if we see somebody training in a mask, and they start to look uncomfortable, we're going to usher them outside and make sure they're comfortable before they return to working out."

The gym's open floor plan works in Nicholson's favor. When the weather is nice, he can open up a wall of garage doors to help keep air flowing.

Most boutique gyms are not so spacious, and it remains to be seen if it makes financial sense for them to operate with limited capacity.

Miguel Perez is an assistant producer at KERA. He produces local content for Morning Edition and KERA News. He also produces The Friday Conversation, a weekly interview series with North Texas newsmakers.