In Response to COVID19

Dear VitalSigns Gym Members,

These are unprecedented times.  President Trump has declared a national public health emergency.  Grocery stores and pharmacies have been overrun by demand for basic necessities and are struggling to keep pace.  Companies, schools and places of worship are conducting business remotely – if at all.  Sports seasons are delayed indefinitely.  Financial markets are as volatile as they’ve ever been. Many of us are feeling anxiety in new and alarming ways.   

At the same time, it is interesting how the global pandemic seems to be creating some new good and healthy habits. People seem to be slowing down their normally hurried pace. Many of us are finding time to reconnect with friends and family in socially-distanced and public health-friendly ways.  We are rediscovering the outdoors, and long walks, and playing toss in the front yard. And at some point in the future, life will start to feel “normal” again. 

The question we have been discussing at VitalSigns is how can we best serve our members during this season? We have tried to not over-react or under-react. We have tried to consider and weigh data as it becomes available, both hard facts and predictive models. We have discussed, debated, read, thought, and prayed. And after all of this, we have decided on the following approach in the coming weeks.

• First, we have decided to close access to the physical gym starting Monday March 23. This will allow us to do 2 things. First, it will allow us to track the progress of the virus and become much more comfortable with the reality and trends of the pandemic. Second, it will allow us to establish our new protocols for gym sanitation and become best in class in providing the safest possible environment for our members to workout now and in the future.  

• Second, I am incredibly excited to announce that this week, we are launching a program called “Thrive Together”! Thrive Together is designed to help VitalSigns members not only survive, but actually thrive during the Coronavirus situation. Here are a few of the details:
  • The program is built around technology, community, and the 4 Pillars of Health and Wellbeing: Fitness, Nutrition, Stress, and Sleep
  • Some of the content and experiences you will have access to include:
    • Daily workout routines that can be done from home
    • The ability to checkout VitalSigns fitness equipment and take it home with you
    • Live, in-person parking lot workouts in the VitalSigns parking lot!!!
    • Free participation in live Fitness Classes (via Zoom)
    • Daily gratitude prompts to encourage mindfulness and reduce stress
    • Daily reminders of sleep habits and goals
    • Free participation in live Nutrition and Stress Management Classes (via Zoom)
    • Weekly grocery and cooking plans
    • Weekly video and written content around the 4 Pillars
    • Ways to privately communicate and meet real needs within the community

Stay tuned to your email and our facebook page for more details. We are in this with you! We are committed to doing everything we can to help you thrive during these uncertain times!

Dr. Randy Pardue, Founder of VitalSigns