you could see the smile behind terri coppola’s face mask as the notre-dame-de-grâce resident walked out of the énergie cardio fitness centre on monday morning.
coppola, 60, was one of the first to work out at the centre on sherbrooke st. w. now that covid-19 public health restrictions have eased in montreal and allowed gyms and restaurant dining rooms to reopen.
“i love it, of course,” coppola said about being able to return to the gym now that the alert level in montreal and laval has shifted
from red to orange
.
“it’s natural endorphins for me, a chronic pain sufferer,” said coppola, who has bad knees and a herniated disk in her neck.
“i walked in feeling crappy and now i feel so much better.”
customers had to book appointments online to enter the gym, and were given spray bottles of disinfectant upon entering, to wipe down equipment before and after working out.
they also had to wear masks during their workout.
owner matthew erenyi said the measures are worth it to see people enjoying being active again.
“this is why we do what we do,” said erenyi, an athletic therapist and personal trainer. “it’s hard at home. people need to be around people doing the same thing to be motivated, and they need help (from a trainer). you can’t get that from a camera. it’s very, very difficult.”