• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • Daily Newscast
          • News Stories
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
          • Current Weather
          • COVID-19 Impact
          • Local Vote 2020
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Seasonal Features
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Sports Jam
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
          • COVID-19 Impact
          • Local Vote 2020
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center
          Brooklyn Park
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live
  • COVID Info

Plymouth Life Time Reacts to Governor’s Order Closing Gyms

5:30 PM | Thursday, November 19, 2020

The holiday season is generally when people try to get in the gym to burn off those excess calories. But come Saturday, the state says people will have to find other ways to get in their workouts.

“This time we’re promised four weeks,” said Keri Anderson, a personal trainer at the Plymouth Life Time. “I don’t know… we’re planning for the worst.”

Under Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s executive order, fitness centers join restaurants, bars, event centers and organized sports that will have to abide by shutdown restrictions for a four-week period between Friday, Nov. 20, at 11:59 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 18.

It’s news that wasn’t exactly met with widespread praise by gymgoers.

“I think it’s pretty sad,” said Stephen Glover of Plymouth. “I mean, places like [the Plymouth Life Time] have done everything right to keep safety in order.”

When Life Time reopened its Minnesota clubs back in June, it put in a number of safety protocols to help keep its member safe from COVID-19. That includes things like cleaning stations scattered throughout its clubs and temperature checks for people who walk in the door.

Life Time officials say that their investments in safety have worked.

“Twenty-one and a half million visits since we reopened the first club in Oklahoma City,” said Life Time CEO Bahram Akradi. “We’ve had about 900 cases. It’s .004 percent.”

State health data links gyms to 48 outbreaks and 747 infections, but more so in the summer and early fall.

Akradi said that Minnesota case numbers attributed to Life Time are even lower, so he feels as if gyms are being unfairly targeted.

“We are not in a position to pay everybody and pay taxes and pay rent and pay mortgage payments and have no revenue,” Akradi said. “It’s not just us, it’s everybody else. This is not a good approach.”

plymouth life time

A sign at the Plymouth Life time explains the mask policy.

Offering fitness alternatives

Rather than closing for four weeks, Life Time offered to go down to 10 percent capacity and make masks mandatory for everyone in its buildings. At the moment, masks are exempt for people while they’re in the process of exercising.

“I appreciate our governor who is trying really hard right now,” Akradi said. “I just think there is a better way. There is a better approach.”

In the meantime, cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 continue at unprecedented levels.

Life Time hopes the state reverses course. But if the shutdown does indeed last through Dec. 18 — or beyond — personal trainers have a word of advice.

“I think having a healthy support system around you, and/or somebody that can help hold you accountable throughout that time is absolutely crucial,” Anderson said. “Because we’re all in it together.”

 

Delane Cleveland, reporting

Plymouth

Related Stories

Osseo School District Prepares for Increase in Student Mental Health Concerns:  More students are… Read More
School Districts Receive Small Allotments of COVID-19 Vaccine, Who Gets Them First?:  This week school… Read More
1-21 COVID-19 Update: As Students Return to Classrooms, Minnesota Implores More Testing:  1-21… Read More
Local Women Wear Pearls to Commemorate First Female Vice President:  With the swearing in of the first… Read More
Incoming Plymouth Police Chief Lays Out Goals for New Role:  Since 2004, Erik Fadden has been a… Read More
1-19 COVID-19 Update: Brooklyn Center Among Nine Community Vaccination Sites, Seniors Wait for Hours to Register:  … Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media/NWCT
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media is a service of Northwest Community Television serving the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2021 Northwest Community Television | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in