All Beacon Health & Fitness locations are currently open

Frequently Asked Questions: Reopening during COVID-19

What are the steps Beacon Health & Fitness is taking to clean and sanitize the facilities?

Cleanliness and sanitization have always been important to us, and that’s true now more than ever. Here are the additional steps we are taking:

• Each night after we close, a thorough deep clean is conducted in each building.
• We’ve added additional “sanitizing stations” on the fitness floors. These stations include wipes for members to wipe down any equipment they use, and hand sanitizer for personal use.
• Keeping one another safe is a shared responsibility and we now require as a condition of membership that members wipe down equipment after using it.
• We’ve added additional cleaning shifts throughout the day in each club.
• We’ve added additional sanitizing shifts of high touch point areas in each club.
• Another sanitizing shift has also been added to our nightly, after closing, duties.

Will the check-in process be any different?

Checking in to the facility is going to be a little different from what you’ve experienced in the past, and may take a few extra minutes. In addition to checking in with your membership keytag,

you’ll be asked to:

• • Verbally respond to a brief health questionnaire,
  • Wear a mask. You’ll need to bring your own, and please note that this is required to enter the facility. No one will be allowed to enter the building without a mask on.

What Questions are Asked on the Health Questionnaire?

We’ll keep this as quick and simple as possible. You don’t even have to fill out a form – we’ll just verbally ask the following:

• Have you had any direct contact with a sick person who is known to have COVID-19 illness in the past 14 days?
• Have you been advised by any healthcare provider or agency to self-quarantine within the last 14 days?
• Do you have any of these symptoms?
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chills
  • Recent loss of taste or smell
  • Body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat

When will the Youth Activity Studio open?

The Youth Activity Studio is currently open at Granger & Elkhart with a reduced capacity. A reservation is required. For more details about our safety precautions in the Youth Activity Studio, visit our YAS webpage.

When will my membership be active?

With the club re-opening, your membership is active again as of Tuesday, May 26, 2020. If you are in any way uncomfortable or just don’t feel like you’re ready to come back to the club yet, that’s ok. We want you to feel comfortable, safe, and ready. If you have any concerns, please contact our membership team at 574-389-5580 or email gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@pihsrebmem

Can we choose to continue to freeze our Membership?

Yes, please contact our membership team at 574-389-5580 or email gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@pihsrebmem to talk about your options.

What is the status of Beacon Best Medicine?

Beacon Best Medicine classes have resumed. For questions about this program please contact Jake Phillips, Clinical Integration Coordinator at gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@spillihpej.

Masks are required at all times in each of our facilities, even while exercising.

How do I safely wear a mask while working out?

Wearing a mask while exercising is a big change, that’s for sure. Some of our own staff have experimented with this, and it does require an adjustment.

In order for us to safely open, this decision was made in consultation with our Medical Director, Medical Advisory Board, and the clinical leadership at Beacon Health System.

We understand that this might not be the right time for some folks to return to the club, and that some individuals may be uncomfortable with the guidelines in place. That’s okay. Contact our membership department, and we’ll be glad to talk through your situation with you.

Of course, these guidelines are fluid, and will change over time. We hope quickly. And as these changes occur, we’ll communicate them right away.

Every step of the way, we’ll make decisions based solely on what our medical team determines is safest for our members & associates.

Are Locker Rooms open?

Locker rooms remain open for member needs, though we encourage members to limit their use of these facilities at this time.

Hand soap and shower soap will remain in each locker room, but other toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, shaving cream, and razors have been temporarily removed. Please bring your own toiletries if you need any of these items.

Are Basketball, Racquetball and Pickle ball Courts Open?

Racquetball is permissible for one-on-one play, but not two-on-two. If you borrow equipment from us to use, we’ll sanitize it every time it’s checked out.

Pickle ball has returned as well, and just like with racquetball, we’ll sanitize any equipment you borrow after every use.

Basketball is currently available at our Elkhart location with some new guidelines.

• Max 6 people (3 per hoop) at one time.
• Shootaround only. Competitive play prohibited.
• Check in at the  Info or Commons Desk for your 30 minute block. Check with the desk staff to extend your time, if no wait exists.
• Commons – $3 Fee. Individuals will be given a wristband to wear.
• No outside basketballs allowed. Basketballs are located behind Commons Desk. Each individual will receive their own basketball (sanitized after each use).
• Gym doors remain locked. Staff will let individual in at time of sign-up.
• Masks are required on at all times while shooting baskets.

Will we still have 24-hour access?

24 hour remains unavailable at this time so that we can do a deep clean & sanitize every night. We are open during our regular hours from 5am-9pm on weekdays & 7am-5pm on weekends.

What precautions is Beacon Health & Fitness taking on the Fitness Floor?

We’ve made several changes that we want to share with you:

• We’ve added more sanitizing stations. Disinfectant wipes are available for members to wipe down the equipment before and after using it. Hand sanitizer is also available at each sanitizing station.
• While we’ve always appreciated members who wipe down the equipment after they’ve used it, please note that this is now a requirement of membership.
• Twenty-four hour access is currently unavailable.
• We have rearranged equipment to make it more conducive to social distancing standards.
• In some instances, we have turned off pieces of equipment to allow for more space between exercisers.

What precautions are in place for Group Fitness Classes?

In order to facilitate social distancing in these environments, we are implementing the following:

• Reservations for all classes are required through our app, or by visiting the member portal on our website
• Smaller class sizes
• Try Les Mills Virtual classes, now available at all of our locations! More information and schedules here.
• Social distancing markers on the studio floors
• Outdoor classes, weather permitting
• Larger classes moved to the gym floor in South Bend & Elkhart, and the Beacon Sports Performance in Granger
• Some class times have been spaced to reduce traffic in and out of the studios to maintain social distancing and allow for additional cleaning time between classes
• Signage outside each studio space identifies how many people are safely allowed into that space.

Are the Indoor and Outdoor tracks open?

The indoor tracks at all three (3) locations are open for walking with masks required. The Elkhart track is open for running; Granger & South Bend are for walking only. Please note that some equipment may still remain on the tracks, so be mindful of that if you choose to walk. Remember, too, that the outdoor path in Granger is now available, as well as the city parks trail in Elkhart that connects to our facility there. These are great options, and we encourage you to give them a try!

What pools and aquatic facilities are open at this time?

During this phase of reopening the following policies are in effect:

• Our saunas in South Bend are open to members with a reservation (15 min) required.
• Our whirlpools are open to members, with a reservation (15 min) required.
• Our therapy pools are open to members, with a reservation (1 hour) required.
• Reservations can be made through your Empower M.E. Member Portal
• Lap lanes remain open, limit two swimmers per lane
• Masks are required except while in the water. Masks are required on the pool deck until you are entering the water.

Are Massage appointments available?

What Options do we have for drinks/hydration?

All water fountains are currently turned off, however bottle refill stations are now open.

While bottled water is available for purchase, we encourage you to bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated. Hydration is very important to your health and well-being during exercise, so please bring water with you to the club!

Complimentary coffee and tea is also currently unavailable.