News

It has been one month since our second reopening and I thought it would be a good time to touch base about a few things I have been wrestling with since early January.

First, the good.
Again, and again, I am impressed by the ability of our gym community to adapt and respond to the different realities we have faced over this last year. Shutdowns. Class registrations. Rental equipment. Cleaning protocols. Workout boxes. Quarantines. Masks during workouts. Garage/basement fitness. The list goes on.

I would have never guessed that the last 12 months would bring such challenges for our gym to overcome. However, I can honestly say that I am not surprised by the continual willingness of our community to embrace these challenges and stay the course. Although we have all suffered in different ways and to differing degrees, I truly believe the adversity we have faced over this last year can harden our resolve to become better. I have seen many continue to charge forward into the unknown with the confidence they will see the other side.

Like most things, this pursuit forward is a choice. And the choice is quite simple - choose the positive. Choose to be a person that is not tossed and thrown by the ever-changing seas. You may not be able to control the water, but you can either choose to throw your head back and slowly be overtaken by the waves or to put your head into the water and start swimming. I know this is much easier said than done, but let me implore you that the work is not in vain. Yes, it is more difficult, but it is good work and will only create betterment in your life. When things seem to be spiraling out of control, take a deep breath and trust in all the strength and fortitude that you have built for yourself while on the gym floor. Remember, fitness has only ever been the vehicle we use to become stronger people.

Duratus - I am encouraged by those in our community who every day bring their swim cap and goggles ready to get after it (hope you don't mind if I extend the metaphor a little too far). I am proud to be a part of such an incredible group of people.

Now, the bad.
I will be the first to admit, Dūrātus feels different right now. If we were honest, we would say most things in life feel different right now. It feels "heavier" or "lonelier" or something that I can't quite put my finger on, but I do know it feels different. I am guessing that you have felt it as well.

Since I have spent most of my 30s working toward creating the exact opposite type of space, it is tough to acknowledge this difference. However, it is practically impossible to change something if you are not willing to accept it under its current state. In our current pandemic reality, there is not much in my control to change. In fact, in my own processing, as well as the conversations I have had with others about their experience, it is apparent that Dūrātus feels different due to the operative restrictions placed on us by the state. Here are a few examples:

+Class registration limits your freedom to attend when it's most convenient.
+Shortened classes eliminate the ability to talk and socialize before/after class.
+Distancing means coaches cannot give high fives.
+We are limited to offer anything outside of fitness classes or personal training.
+Wearing masks makes it impossible to see real smiles.
+Separate workout areas and equipment makes partner workouts impossible.
+Social media can only highlight individuals or those wearing masks.
+Coaches are having to juggle new rules/requirements rather than being able to focus on members.
+Programming is significantly limited by class size and duration.

This list is by no means exhaustive and in fact probably only scratches the surface. But let me be clear - I understand the "why" behind these restrictions and am simply stating the reality that they limit our ability to provide something core to our business model.

On the surface Dūrātus might feel different due to a change in the technical aspects of our classes, but the real reason it feels different is the fact that we can't practice "community" in the same way that we have since we first opened. Dūrātus has always been a place of belonging and acceptance. A community of laughter, support, and commitment to one another. When the whole world must distance themselves from one another, the practice of "community" becomes particularly challenging. Unfortunately, this is the reality we currently must face. Throughout December we fought hard to reopen and we are now committed to following the operational protocols we helped write in order to ensure fitness facilities like ours can stay open.

Cultivating community and belonging, something our staff most enjoys, has to look different now and will continue to look different until we are more free to do so. We want you to know that we feel this difference just as deeply as you might have felt since reopening.

So, what now?
There are no real definitive answers to "what now" other than my encouragement/ challenge in the first paragraph (see what I did there?). Stay the course. Keep swimming. Work to find safe and responsible ways to care for one another in the midst of this strange time. Give yourself grace and understand it is ok to feel uneasy and disconnected, but it's detrimental to let those feelings control you. On our end, we are working to create better connecting points for our members. We have some exciting stuff to communicate in the following weeks that we believe will only make Dūrātus a better place. We are preparing for 2021 to be our best year yet and hope you will continue to swim these uncharted waters with us.

-kpl