Kylie Churnetski, personal trainer and nutrition (dietetics) student at ASU, has worked through the virtual constraints of the pandemic to coach her clients to optimal health.
Earlier last year the COVID-19 pandemic caused gyms to close indefinitely. Just this month, gyms have reopened under more relaxed guidelines from Gov. Doug Ducey and The Arizona Department of Health Services. Occupancy limits, physical distancing, closed common spaces and mask requirements are just a few of the rules and regulations gyms are phasing out during the past few weeks.
Churnetski has continued to forgo the gym and use a completely online platform to help her clients stay healthy. She feels the pandemic and the added need for home workout regimens has pushed personal training in a new direction.
She saw her biggest increase in clients between June and September, when Ducey had the most strict quarantine guidelines in place. Over that time, she helped many clients lose up to 20 pounds in order to drop to a healthier weight through diet and exercise.
“Most of my career path is online anyways. I have been able to gain more clients because the online interaction is becoming more normalized,” Churnetski said.
During a time when health is a higher priority than normal, Churnetski has given clients an opportunity to stay away from crowded public gyms by providing an option for complete home workouts and only virtual contact with their coach.
However, public gyms are still helping people find a way to stay fit during the pandemic.
Jacob Delara, a 21-year-old avid gym-goer at EōS Fitness in the downtown area, said he feels safe at EōS Fitness because it follows the requirements for indoor gyms and fitness clubs/centers from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Delara said employees at EōS Fitness are vigilant in maintaining health guidelines.
“I have been asked to pull up my mask when I drop it below my chin and employees are constantly wiping down equipment,” Delara said.
Although Delara feels safe at local public gyms, there are still people who are at higher risks from the damaging effects of COVID-19.
For example, a recent study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that “having obesity may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection.”
Helping her clients become healthy in an at-home environment, even when the circumstances are difficult, is Churnetski’s top priority during the pandemic.
“People should exercise where they are most comfortable based on their own health and their own concerns,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Churnetski has watched how her clients have evolved through her coaching over the past few months. For her, the best thing is seeing her clients happy as they make progress.
“I love seeing their faces light up after they make the big changes to their bodies,” said Churnetski.
Contact the reporter at lvickery@asu.edu.
