From The Benches – “A Few Words From The Boss On the Recent Time known as ‘Covid-19′”

James

Well, can I start first by stating how much more I have been looking forward to catching you on a Zoom call without the fear of what the next 45 minutes may have on my body?

Miguel

It has been good to see you tuning into a few classes here and there, how are you finding them?

James

I want to say that my neighbours probably have a few questions to what is occurring in my kitchen at times, but apart from that, I have found the classes to be quite fun and challenging; but challenging in the right sense and no different a challenge to what I get each and every time I come into the studio. The same standard is there, and I know you will be pleased to hear that.

But truth be told, as you know, Karla and I live in a one bedroom unit with a small kitchen/living space, and probably the biggest challenge to exercising at home is deciding who gets the living space, as your classes can often be at the same time as some of her yoga classes

Miguel

And who wins these discussions?

James

Well, as you said earlier, I have only be tuning into classes here and there. Ha ha.

Miguel

Ha ha – well any relationship is about give and take, and I think for many of us, Covid-19 is really testing the balance in our lives, both inside and outside the house.

James

I agreed completely to that sentiment, and that brings me to my first question today – Covid-19. I apologise for my language, but a few months ago it was a bit of a ‘shit-show’ for everyone across the country in having such a big change imposed upon us in the lockdown.

Everything was closed, and we all raced to stock our shelves in preparation for, what at the time, was an endless period of unknown.

Miguel

Endless, yes.

James

But for you and I guess other business owners, it was a period of trying to pull things together very quickly at the shop-front; to a degree putting everything in hibernation and then even faster, putting together a viable product that would be adaptable to the new world created by Covid-19, but also one where your community was able to have that consistency in product that you own that could not be delivered into their own home.

How has that been? Because we talked earlier in the year and you mentioned the long hours you put into the studio when things were, to say ‘normal’, but how has that been in what is now ‘the new normal’?

Miguel

It has been a challenge, with both good and bad moments, and I think individually, and part as a team and partnership, it has been an experience that has taught me quite a bit about running a business and that idea of ‘adaptability’ and ‘flexibility’ to market,

James

What do you mean by that?

Miguel

When I first opened the studio, much of the business model was very similar to other gyms. We have the studio, the locker room/reception and structurally, it was just about the same. We ran our promotions, advertising and social media similar to how other business work – which is trying to use the internet for expanded reach, but also building roots in the local community, because that is how you build a sustainable organisation for the long-term. But, the one thing we did to be ‘different’ in the market, to distinguish ourselves was the product. We built a product we knew was different to our competitors, as well as a customer service that has really evolved into a ‘community atmosphere’ that we are really proud of.

But, Covid-19 has made me really take that product and expand it digitally, which is something I probably would not have considered doing, given the capital investment placed into the studio and the focus we place on that one-on-one style group training. Yet, when you start a business, you are told that the world is always changing and it is the businesses that evolve to meet the changing market are the ones that survive, and I understand that more now, and if you look across the spectrum of the industry, it has been the smaller and more boutique businesses that have been able to successfully transition to this medium and continue to deliver exceptional support and training for their communities, and it is the larger and more generic gyms that have been left isolated by Covid-19, and crucially, they will be the ones that continue to be challenged more in the medium to long-term.

James

And you are enjoying working through a camera and computer? I had always said you had the face for theatre, but now a Zoom and Youtube sensation!

Miguel

I wouldn’t say sensation, but it has been a different way of working. But, working through a camera is one thing, yet I miss the human connection associated with the work that comes with physically being present with our community, but we all miss that connection, and its hard especially for those that miss family and close friends – more so, for those that need that support for their mental and physical well-being. I love what I do because I can be there with people and help them grow and achieve their goals, and the distance makes that a bit harder to feel, and that makes me, at times, feel that I am not doing my best, but it is what it is at the moment and it shows we just need to keep working and doing our best with these limitations imposed upon us. But, I am loving the challenge, especially around finding new routines and exercises that can be done in the household and with household items. This is the fun side of the job and something that I really enjoy about what I do.

James

Well, I can say our kitchen chairs have had as much use in their life,

Miguel

Exactly! And it is these kind of things that make the job fun. Though, I do hope you are wiping down the chairs after the classes!

James

Of course … not to mention the privilege of getting a great shot of everyone’s living room?

Miguel

I am honoured to be allowed into the homes of those within our community that have embraced our new way of doing business,

James

From what I have seen, everyone has been really receptive and enthusiastic to the Zoom classes and the new challenge of it all,

Miguel

It has been amazing how positive the reception has been, and I would have been a bit lost if we didn’t get such a great turnout from everyone, and I must say the support I and Catherine have had to this all has been amazing, and we are as always grateful to the entire community to their support and kindness during this period.

James

I know Catherine now does much of her crucial GP work from home now in the similar spirt of your work, that being digitally focussed. How has it been working from home, and I guess, being home with Catherine during this period?

Miguel

It has been great! I do not think I have spent so much time at home in a long time, and it’s great to have this time with Catherine, especially to just do simple things together again like cook, grocery shopping and walks. It has been fantastic, and that is another one of things I have enjoyed about this period.

James

I didn’t hear you mention housework in there? Rumour has it you fixed a drain recently, would you like to share that with the community?

Miguel

I’ll leave that story for another day, and all I will say is that it was a rather character building experience that I would not trade in for the world…

James

Ha ha, Having heard the story I can only laugh! – Now you have created a YouTube channel, as well as your strong social media and blog presence, can we say now that your business model will, in the long-term, be split between the studio and a stronger on-line/digital presence, or will we see the studio return predominantly to the pre-Covid-19 model after lockdown?

Miguel

It is hard to really say what will happen in the short and medium term. What we do know is our class sizes will be impacted as we transition back to the ‘new normal’, our cleaning standards will be monitored more and there will be additional regulatory considerations that will form part of our decision making to when we re-open, however, these are just challenges that we need to work through slowly and the right way.

James

The right way?

Miguel

As in, done in the way that ensures every member of the community is safe. That is the top consideration to everything from this moment until Covid-19 is no longer a threat to the entire community.

James

So how will you do that? Or is that still an unknown?

Miguel

Well, I have started planning for a re-opening, and I have a picture in my mind to how that may look and work.

James

Are you willing to give a hint to that, or is that something you want to keep close until you are given some direction by government?

Miguel

I do not want to make promises that do not come to fruition, but the focus will be on that idea of social distancing. So less people per class, and space between workstations. The cleaning aspect will change, and for us we have always run a really clean studio space, but that will have to improve in line with every other business across the community.

James

That sounds like a practical response, but I guess there is always considerations that flow from such changes?

Miguel

That is correct.

If our classes are smaller, then we will have to either run more classes across the day, or some people may have to miss out or look to different classes across the day, which is the hard thing for me and my staff because we will get through this stage of the lockdown because of the amazing support of our community, and it will be really hard for us to not be able to give that back to them for a while in the studio, because we will need to ratio the class spots and be smart about it.

It will be hard, and especially hard for us from a financial perspective as well, because our overheads remain the same, but we, much like everyone else in this industry, as well as hospitality, will be forced to take in less people to comply with social distancing.

James

And that is the tough part to it all, at the end of the day, isn’t it?

Miguel

It is hard, but like everything in life, and especially with respect to exercise, it is about the challenges and embracing the hard parts for what it is, because when you push through it and get to the other side, you gain so much of it.

James

I absolutely admire your positivity, and resilience on this, because I think for many of us, the idea of it all being too hard and to give up would have probably been the easier option.

Miguel

I think I said it in our earlier discussion that after all the investment we had placed into the business, to give it up would never be an option, and I will make the point that no matter how long this period of unknown goes, we will, as a community, be stronger for it. In every respect. We have learnt to appreciate the little things more, the importance of human connection, and I hope, that going forward we can take these important lessons and apply them to our lives in the ‘new normal’.

For me, I know I will. I have really enjoyed the extra time at home and with Catherine, and the enjoyment of that midday walk, or simply cooking together, and this is really going to drive me to ensure that I spend more time at home, instead of the office where I can often lose hours of the day, in the future.

James

That is beautiful mate, and I know you and Catherine have been doing a fair bit over this period together, so that’s a really nice thought. But, I think the last point I wanted to raise with you is how you have been going connecting with friends and family over this period?

Miguel

We miss our regular trips to see Catherine’s family, and that has been hard on us, however, my family are back in Australia, so the connectivity to them has not changed one bit. The worry has, as our parents at the age they are fall in that ‘at risk’ category, and I know you share the same worries with your parents who are back in Australia as well.

From a social perspective, I have enjoyed our regular Zoom beer and video game chats, and I have been doing that with a few friends as well, but it does not replace the human connection you get in person. I can promise now that the first studio social post Covid-19 will be one of the biggest we will have had so far, and I know everyone will make it a very special event because we have all missed each other over this period, and as we say regularly in classes, we are just looking forward to catching up together in person again.

James

Agreed, Now final question – How would Gavin and Smithy be surviving this lockdown period?

Miguel

Really? A Gavin and Stacy question again?

James

I love that show! I have just started watching season 1 again, it’s a classic.

Miguel

I feel owing to the distance between Barry and Billericay, the two lads will be fairly used to staying connected digitally, but I can imagine both lads would be missing the football and the pub.

James

I think we all do. Though, I have been told my local is no doing takeaway pints, so I can confirm I will now be doing long walks daily.

Miguel

I hope it rains on your parade when you finally get down there for one! ha ha

James

Fair game. Ha ha. I

Miguel

Now anything else to ask this time, or shall we get started on this game of chess? I am keen to beat you again!

James

Yup! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me on the studio mate, and I am sure your community will enjoy hearing from you again on how it is all been going. It is tough, and I know many across the community are doing it tough, but it is just uplifting to hear such a positive voice on what has been, and what is still yet to be, despite the uncertainty that weighs down on us all.

Miguel

Thanks-mate, and I’ll just finish by saying to everyone in our community to keep connected, keep supporting each other and keep reaching out to those that may need it. Mental and Physical health and well-being of everyone is important to us all here at the studio, and I just wanted to remind everyone that I and Catherine and James and the whole team are here to talk and listen and help out where we can.