Countless people are being shut out of gyms across the Illawarra, but it's not stopping some from attracting new business by operating differently.
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On Saturday Kerrie Lawrence, of F45 Training's Shellharbour studio, had 130 people from many parts of the world join in one of her workout sessions.
That number is not uncommon for Ms Lawrence since making the adjustment to motivating and leading her clients while conducting the fitness sessions via video conferencing.
While she is often the only one in the studio that was closed to the public by COVID-19 restrictions, Ms Lawrence does not feel alone.
She is surrounded by images of dozens of people using the Zoom app to participate in her popular sessions.
Ms Lawrence said it was a big adjustment when the lockdown occurred.
"We went from having over 300 members a day in the studio to basically being closed overnight. When we got the notification we had to quickly decide what we were going to do," she said.
"We are lucky to have such a strong member base who have continued on with my live sessions. We run three sessions a day.
"On Saturday we had 130 people on our Zoom live workout. So it was me as the instructor with 130 people on screens I could scroll through to see what everyone was doing.
"This gives us the ability to go through the workouts they all know and love. But they have been transferred from the gym into their own homes via Zoom."
What Ms Lawrence had not expected was the number of new clients joining in online.
"We are getting people from all around Australia and the world," she said.
"On Saturday we had new ladies from Dubai, Russia, Canada, Queensland and Perth join us for the first time on our Zoom live workout."
Ms Lawrence said it was not only a good chance for people stuck at home to exercise. But also to connect.
On the weekend participants included families who had not seen each other over Easter .
"We love helping people stay active in these crazy times," Ms Lawrence said.
"The live workouts help the community stay connected in the healthiest way."
Regular Zoom fitness workouts are conducted at 6am, 7am and 5.15pm.
"They are our normal workouts," Ms Lawrence said.
"But at 6.30 in the evening we are offering meditation and yoga as well.
"Potentially if the demand is there we would open up another session in the middle of the day".
On Saturday at 8am there is a free session for those who want to join in and give a live workout session on Zoom a try.
"It is our way of getting people to exercise and giving back to our community," Ms Lawrence said.
"F45 is abiding by all the rules and regulations the government has set out."
Ms Lawrence thinks the live workouts online are so popular because exercise is good for mental health as well as physical health. And that is important with the increased feeling of being isolated during the coronavirus crisis.
"At the beginning of every session we open it up for five minutes so everyone can talk to each other and feel connected," she said.
"We do things like welcome new people and celebrate birthdays.
"Then at the end of each session we open it up again. This morning we discovered we had a lady who was having a 31st birthday. So we all did 31 burpees and sang her happy birthday."
Ms Lawrence said she couldn't have made such a big adjustment and had the success she has enjoyed in recent weeks without wonderful support of people in the F45 office.
She said they provided her every tool that was needed to put her in people's lounge rooms.
"I have great support behind the scenes making this possible," she said.
"And for the first week they had somebody guiding me through Zoom. Now I can do it all on my own."
Ms Lawrence said email (shellharbour@f45training.com.au) and social media was the best way to express an interest in joining the live fitness workouts.
The Illawarra Mercury has launched a Taking Care of Business campaign.
Each day we will highlight a local business who is adapting or evolving to be able to keep operating under these trying times.
If you know of a business adapting, please send us an email titled Taking Care of Business to cos@illawarramercury.com.au.
We have also put a call out and will run a list of cafes, restaurants and clubs who are offering takeaway or delivery on our Facebook page. If you know of an outlet now offering home delivery or takeaway, please let us know and add it to the list.
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- List of Illawarra restaurants and cafes offering delivery and takeaway during the COVID-19 shutdown
- Liquor and Gaming Authority allows Grill'd to deliver beer or wine with meals
- After bringing joy to fire ravaged communities over summer Ken Murray is doing the same in Wollongong with COVID-19
- How to plan a wedding in 23 hours because of COVID-19
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
