Coronavirus Tips for Gyms & Members + COVID's Impact on Design
Key Points
Coronavirus tips for gyms include creating a decompression loop from reception through lockers, hydration, warm-up, and workout zones, then using flexible schedules and home-based continuity workouts to reduce crowding and keep members engaged.
Coronavirus tips for gym members include choosing quieter workout areas, preparing machine, cable, dumbbell, and bodyweight exercise alternatives, and using virtual classes or short online workouts when the club is busy.
COVID has changed gym design by bringing about cleaner, safer fitness facilities with spacious layouts, consistent sanitation, plus enhanced filtration, materials, and more.
Technology and programming now support the full member journey through virtual fitness, workout tracking, more effective conditioning programs, and expanded mind-body offerings that address physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Coronavirus Tips for Gyms & Members
Tips for Gyms
- Design a “decompression loop” instead of a single crowded entry path. Create a natural first-stop sequence from reception to lockers, hydration, warm-up, and workout zones.
- Use flooring changes, lighting, or furniture placement to guide traffic, reducing the feeling of congestion.
- Use programming to disperse demand. Schedule short mobility, recovery, beginner-strength, and express sessions in less-used spaces and off-peak windows.
Offer “continuity workouts” that bridge home and club training. For every in-club program, create a 20- to 30-minute home version with the same coach, progression, and training objective.
Tips for Members
- Do a five-minute walk-through before committing to a workout area. Start in a quieter area and move around as space frees up.
- Build a portable workout swap list. For each exercise in your routine, know one machine-based, cable-based, dumbbell, and bodyweight alternative.
- Use virtual classes to preview instructors and learn the coach’s cueing style, pace, and class format.
- Save “minimum viable online workouts” like a 10-minute mobility session, 20-minute strength circuit, and short cardio option from your gym’s digital platform.
How COVID changed gym design
Facility Interior Design is cleaner and safer
Gym design has reached new levels of “environmental psychology“, with more of a focus on creating spaces that make the club experience inspirational and enjoyable in a post-COVID world.
In addition, spaciousness is appreciated more than ever. The creative process of using a variety of materials, finishes, architectural features, natural elements, music, colors, and lighting has become even more of an “art and science.”
Because of the pandemic, clubs are also cleaner and safer. Many of the once-infrequent practices incorporated for sanitation and cleaning are now the norm for most fitness centers.
Technology and Programming are optimized
Previously seen as luxuries, clubs are now expected to incorporate digital technology, virtual fitness, mechanical systems, fitness programming, and tracking.
Fitness programming and health options have also reached greater levels of conditioning and “user-friendly” effectiveness, while mind-body programming have expanded, offering better solutions to mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Virtual fitness has become the new norm too. Members have grown to like the option of exercising at home, and this will not be an “add on” but an actual separate brand for clubs wanting to excel at virtual fitness, just as they do with fitness in the club.
More gyms have cleaner air as well, with HEPA air filters and UV-C irradiation lights added to advanced HVAC systems. Plus, they’re being built with more antimicrobial materials.
Around the industry, clubs have been taking bigger steps in aligning with the medical community and furthering the principle of “exercise is good medicine.”
let's make sure your gym keeps moving forward
People are looking towards the future. They want to be active, feel better and improve not just the quality of their physical health, but also their mental health and well-being.
Optimal Design Systems International helps turn those priorities into practical, high-performing facility designs, offering various services and specializations. As of 2026, we’ve got more than 1,000 fitness and wellness design projects under our belt.
To get in touch, call 954.888.5960 or click here to schedule a free consultation.
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