Pilates and Boutique Fitness Studios Must Re-open in Phase 2

Can’t wait for Flying Squirrel Studio to re-open

Please let us reopen as Hair salons are opening. We don't even have to touch our clients. If hair salons are opening we should be in that category. This is going to destroy so many pilates studios. Pilates is a restorative relaxing exercise in a one on one setting. Many people depend on pilates to keep them healthy. We are being carelessly mistreated as we are incorrectly categorized as a gym. Please reconsider and do not destroy so many businesses. In the Hamptons, we depend on our summer business to get through the year. We can not survive without a summer season. We know how to be responsible and protect our clients and ourselves. It is easy to follow the guidelines in a one on one teaching situation. Please reconsider and allow one on one clients to be taught. Thank you!

I am closing my studio because of COVID-19 and the insane rules - but Governor Cuomo, Senate and Assembly - you have the chance to save many other small Pilates studios and keep them open in NYS. Let them OPEN Phase 3 - it's time!

I would love to open my fitness studio in East village

Open gyms/health workout facilities!

Small exercise studios don’t have the same issues or control over the space as large gyms. Small studios are able to space clients, clean spaces more efficiently, and provide a healthy atmosphere.

Bedford Pilates is not a gym. It is a small studio with ample room for clients not to be in close proximity to one another.

please , please let studios open for 1:1 at least. Small women owned businesses are at risk. I implore you to do the right thing. Give us the same rights as other businesses. This is not right to keep us shuttered.

Please reclassify our studio to a boutique gym.

I am in total agreement with Carrie. The parameters that define and under which Pilates Studios operate lend themselves to being able to implement COVID-related safety guidelines more easily and effectively than large box/fitness clubs. Please take this into consideration and recategorize their status to enable them to open sooner (Phase 2) rather than later (PHase 3/4).

It’s time to reopen. People are aware how to protect themselves and others and stage four is too extreme for this particular business.

It just makes sense.

This a highly professional studio where historically constant attention is given to the health and safety of staff and clients. It should be allowed to open in second phase.

boutique pilates studios are VERY different than gyms. It is substantially easier to achieve distancing and disinfection requirements. Please re-classify these studios and accelerate their re-opening!

The owners are careful, cautious and wonderful. Pilates requires special equipment that is not affordable to me, so I hope you can facilitate opening the studio quickly.

We consider this studio an essential part of our health plan and trust this establishment to keep all protocols in order for the health and safety of all.

Thanks

I need my Pilates classes back

I am writing to you to advocate for boutique Pilates Studios and other boutique fitness studios to be allowed to reopen as quickly as possible in the New York Forward plan. I have been taking Pilates regularly and it has improved my life and health. My local Pilates studio is a popular studio in my neighborhood in New York. The owners have shared their reopening plans and I am writing to ask for your help reopening their studios in Phase 2 or at the latest in Phase 3 of the NY Forward reopening plans. They are being improperly and over-broadly categorized with gyms and that will prevent them from opening until Phase 4, even though their businesses and facilities are very different. I would appreciate your advocacy to allow them to open. Here is why they are different: Most boutique fitness studios are between 500-2000 square feet. They are appointment only businesses, train one-on-one with clients and will ensure social distancing by limiting class sizes to 50%. They are happy to have reopening policies in place that will adhere to NYS and CDC requirements. That includes sanitize the space/equipment after each class/training session; require masks and gloves (as per guidance); trainers will not offer “touch” corrections; will do temperature checks at the door; maintain at least 6ft distance by a fitness trainer and his/her clients; and will have supplies of masks, PPE, hand sanitizer etc. All of these would take place in addition to intensive and frequent cleaning measures exceeding those recommended by the CDC. This is all completely manageable based upon the size of the facilities and low density of clients. To be clear, unlike large gyms and fitness centers with whom small boutiques have been categorized, boutique fitness studios have a typical capacity of 1-8 people. Clients only participate in guided classes (up to 8-1 ratios) and are seen 1-1 (Trainer-client) as normal practice. Clients attend pre-scheduled sessions limited to this capacity. At no poi

Private exercise, yoga, and Pilates studios should not be considered in the same category as the big box gyms. They should be allowed to open in Phase 2.