A tremendous amount of time and energy has been devoted to reimagining the day when we could reopen again for you. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our members and associates, and so every step we’ve taken has been with this singular goal in mind.
As a medically-based facility, we have the benefit of a team of expert clinicians from Beacon Health System to consult. And, all of our initiatives are approved by our Medical Director and Medical Advisory Board. In addition, we adhere closely to the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Indiana, and St Joseph & Elkhart counties.
Let’s keep each other safe.
If you are at an increased risk or are sick, please stay home.
Experience the Beacon Difference
The knowledgeable experts at Beacon Health & Fitness dedicate themselves to helping you reach your health, fitness and well-being goals. All programs are physician approved, ensuring you the safest and most effective workout possible. Membership includes access to the downtown South Bend, Granger and Elkhart locations including 24-hour access at our Granger and Elkhart locations. Our facilities include a full complement of equipment, classes and options to make the most of your time.
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:
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- 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?
We know how important our babysitting services are to so many of the families we serve. While our babysitting services will not re-open right away, we are eager to bring it back just as soon as possible. If your membership includes childcare services you will not be charged as long as it remains unavailable.
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
What about memberships for those over 65 or others at-risk?
Your safety is our highest priority. Following the guidelines from the CDC and the State of Indiana, we do not recommend that certain individuals return to using Beacon Health & Fitness right now. This includes:
- People over the age of 65
- Anyone with a higher risk for severe illness
- Individuals who are immunocompromised
- People with asthma
- Anyone with HIV
- Individuals with liver disease
We have automatically placed memberships with anyone 65 years of age or older on a 90-day freeze status, so that these individuals will not be billed at this time. If you are over the age of 65 and wish to have your membership re-activated, or have other people on your account who would like to use our facilities right now, please contact a membership representative, and we will be happy to assist you.
If you are under the age of 65, but have any of the criteria mentioned above, please contact our membership team at 574-389-5580 or email gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@pihsrebmem and we will gladly place your membership on a freeze status as well.
Can we choose to continue to freeze our Membership?
Yes, please contact our membership team at 574-389-5580 or email gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@pihsrebmem if you want to freeze your account.
What is the status of Beacon Best Medicine?
Beacon Best Medicine—our program designed to improve through exercise the quality of life for those with life-changing diagnoses—is a hallmark of our clubs. We know how important these classes are to our participants, and we look to bring these back as quickly as possible.
At this time, though, with the safety of these participants in mind, Beacon Best Medicine programs will not immediately resume when we reopen. For questions about this program please contact Jake Phillips, Clinical Integration Coordinator at gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@spillihpej
When will we be able to visit without wearing a mask?
A mask is still required to enter any of our facilities. And we strongly recommend the wearing of a mask when visiting us. However, if you are able to maintain a 6 foot distance from others, it is up to you if you wear a mask or not.
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 ok. 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.
To encourage social distancing, every other locker will be temporarily taken out of service.
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 is returning as well, and just like with racquetball, we’ll sanitize any equipment you borrow after every use.
Basketball will not be available during this first phase of reopening. If you would like to freeze your account please contact our membership team at 574-389-5580 or email gro.metsyshtlaehnocaeb@pihsrebmem.
Will we still have 24-hour access?
24 hour will not be available temporarily so that we can do a deep clean & sanitize every night. We will be 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 do ask that members limit their time on the cardiovascular machines to 30 minutes at peak times when others may be waiting.
- 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
- More classes on the schedule
- Social distancing markers on the studio floors
- Plans to move some classes outdoors when the weather permits
- Moving larger classes to the gym floors in South Bend & Elkhart, and to 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
- We have posted signage outside each studio space identifying how many people are safely allowed into that space.
Are the Indoor and Outdoor tracks open?
The indoor tracks at all three (3) locations will reopen for walking. Running is not yet permitted. 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 will be open at this time?
During this phase of reopening the following policies are in effect:
- Our therapy pools will also reopen to members, with a reservation required. One-hour reservations can be made on our app. For social distancing purposes, we’ll limit the number of people in the therapy pools at any given time.
- Lap lanes remain open, limit one swimmer per lane
- No swim lessons (Elkhart)
- The saunas (South Bend) remain closed
- All whirlpools are closed
Are Massage appointments available?
Massage available as of Monday, June 15th. We are scheduling appointments now, so if you’ve been looking to get a massage, don’t wait to make your appointment. Both the therapist and client are required to wear a mask during the massage itself.
What Options do we have for drinks/hydration?
Per the State of Indiana, all water fountains & bottle refill stations are turned off. Complimentary coffee and tea is also currently unavailable. While bottled water is available for purchase, we encourage you to bring your own water to stay hydrated. Hydration is very important to your health and well-being during exercise, so please bring water with you to the club!