Gov. Walz we ask you to let small fitness boutique centers reopen now for private training sessions & small group classes

Please take the time to read this petition and not send back a cut/paste automated response. Your constituents want to be heard and given the opportunity for you to actually LISTEN to what they are saying and not just hear them speaking! Thank you for your strong consideration and understanding in this matter!!

It seems that if I can safely get a hair cut or get a massage, I can safely attend a socially-distanced, masked yoga class.

Let us open!

Please let these small businesses stay open during this awful pandemic. I believe everyone is able and willing to stay safe and healthy. These businesses will not survive if they can't be open. Thank you.

Please allow boutique studios to open. The owners have taken all of the precautions available. I feel very safe at Balance for Life.

Fitness is so crucial to mental health. The small gym I attend with a multitude of precautions, and cleaning procedures after each class, should without a doubt be allowed to operate.

I do not think that smaller fitness salons should be categorized with large fitness centers in shut downs during pandemic. Balance For Life is just one example of a small business going over the top to ensure safety for their clients in their establishment. They should be allowed to be open.

I am the owner of a small boutique Pilates equipment studio in St. Paul - we were operating very smoothly and safely with masks required, 6+ ft of distance, and no more than 4 clients/1 instructor in our 1200 sq foot space at one time. I feel we are able to operate with MORE distance and safety measures than many other places that are still open. We are by appointment only so we have a very controlled environment and can easily adjust our schedule so that visits are spaced out and capacity is capped. Our studio employs 8 teachers who teach as a full time occupation and have had much financial hardship not being able to meet our clients in person!

Please treat the small gyms and wellness center as you would any other small business.

5 years ago Featured

Balance for Life Fitness is not your typical gym and COVID-19 regulations are strictly adhered to by staff and clients. It is cleaner and safer than any hair salon, which remain open. Exercise is critical to mental and physical well-being, and we are all suffering right now.

Owner of three yoga studios in Minneapolis.

I believe this can be done safely

Classifying all gyms the same is easy, but it isn't smart and it doesn't use the best science. It isn't fair that different industries (e.g. restaurants and large gyms) are going to be hurt harder, but the fact is they do have a greater risk of spreading the virus than boutique fitness studios. Restaurants and large gyms should remained closed. But, if we want to truly curb this pandemic while minimizing economic costs then we must have a more nuanced approach to what is open and closed. Open boutique fitness studios and focus financial help on the industries that must remain closed.

The staff at Balance for life is very careful. Everyone socially distances. Everyone wears a mask. The work outs are one on one with a trainer. This is not a place where infections spread.

Dear Governor Walz, Places of worship are good for the health needs and well-being - they are closed. Please allow them to reopen!!! Thank you. Fitness centers and health clubs are good for spitirual well-being - they are open, thank you!

Not all fitness centers are the same .

Julie and her team do such a great job of keeping their clients safe. The personal training is One-on-One and everyone wears masks and the equipment is cleaned with sanitizer after each use. The classes are all small and the clients are spread out and the equipment and props are cleaned with sanitizer or put in a bin for washing after one-time use. If a client uses a machine for warming up, we are trained to clean the machine after we use it so it is ready for the next client. I feel safe there! Thank you for considering Balance For Life Fitness a Top Notch Operation!

5 years ago Featured

St. Paul Pilates only allows one on one sessions which are socially distant, masks required, and by appointment only. St. Paul Pilates should be in a different category than gyms. It is a small woman owned business. It is more of a physical therapy setting than a gym.

Julie and her team do such a great job of keeping their clients safe. The classes are all small and spread out and this is nothing like the large big box gyms or even those like Anytime Fitness. Here the staff are always cleaning and the clients also clean before and after use of equipment. I understand that doesn't happen at all gyms. It just isn't fair to hurt those that follow the rules and work hard to keep us safe and healthy.

You have followed all of the guidelines and provide a very safe environment to exercise.