Page 23 - BusinessWest April 3, 2023

MONTHLYFEATURE
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Second Wind
Fitness Centers Report Renewed Interest in Getting Healthy
MBY MARK MORRIS
arina Lebo remembers what Healthtrax in East Longmeadow looked like during the pandemic — and is glad it looks a lot different now.
“The plastic barriers are down, and the equip- ment is all back where it was,” said Lebo, vice presi-
dent of Operations at the club. “We have more cleaning supplies
available, but that’s the only difference.”
Fortunately, that return to normal is manifesting in other ways
as well — including an increase in activity.
That’s only natural; at the start of the pandemic in March 2020,
fitness centers were forced to shut down. Three months later, they were allowed to reopen at 40% occupancy only after installing clear plastic barriers at the front desk, mandating masks for every- one, spacing out exercise machines, and providing lots more sani- tizing wipes to clean the equipment after each use.
With Healthtrax membership back to about 70% of pre-pan- demic levels, Lebo’s goal is to keep increasing everyone’s comfort level to encourage going to the club as a normal activity again.
Steve Conca, owner of Conca Sport and Fitness in West Springfield, described the last few years as a whirlwind. He’s grate- ful his business has survived — and even thrived — since the early
“There is an accountability in having to show up somewhere and having someone watch how you are exercising.”
BusinessWest
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APRIL 3, 2023 23
Steve Conca says he’s seen a post-pandemic uptick
in people wanting to take charge of their health.