‘It’s just devastating’, says a Swan Hill pilates owner

THE fitness industry was dealt some heavy news this week when Premier Daniel Andrews delivered his "roadmap to recovery".

On Sunday, it was announced that all gyms and fitness studios in regional Victoria would remain closed until the daily average number of cases is five or less across 14 days and zero cases with an unknown source for 14 days in regional Victoria.

The Vive Pilates Studio owner Sha'is King said the news was shattering not only for her business but for the broader Swan Hill community.

"It's just devastating, people's mental health is suffering so much," Ms King told The Guardian.

"Everyone is affected in their own ways, but it is really hard.

"Not being able to offer a service for people's mental health and wellbeing is just heartbreaking."

Ms King's pilates studio on McCallum Street has been closed since March despite only having a maximum of eight people per class.

"We opened again temporarily when it was all going good but then had to close the doors again," she said.

"I don't think the restrictions cater for how safe gyms really are. We have a record of everyone who comes in and out, we sanitise everything.

"Going to the supermarket is more dangerous than people coming into my pilates studio where all of my reformers are at least 1.5 metres apart."

Ms King said while restrictions were necessary to keep everyone safe, there was only so much more regional Victorian's could take.

"I think people will start to voice their opinion a bit more," she said.

"We've all done the right thing — why should we have to suffer so much."

The Guardian

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