To our Readers:
In an effort to keep our community informed during the public-health crisis, we will post local virus-related information free of charge.
If you have any crisis-related stories, please submit them to ([email protected]).
For comprehensive daily news, home delivery and online only subscriptions are available via itemlive.com.
Everybody Fights gym in Saugus offering online fitness
By David Mclellan | May 8, 2020
SAUGUS — Whether it’s depression, financial hardship, or even just getting stir crazy, the COVID-19 pandemic is something everybody fights, and the manager of a Saugus gym is hoping people will use this time to get fit.
Reid Eichelberger, 34, is a Saugus-based fitness instructor, personal trainer, and director of operations for Everybody Fights’ Saugus franchise location, which was set to open at 855 Broadway, the site of the new Hilltop Plaza.
But instead of opening, the Saugus gym has been offering fitness classes virtually — and with free 30-day trials — giving people a way to stay fit while they are at home, while also trying to grow its member base, Eichelberger said.
“I think fitness is probably more important now than ever,” said Eichelberger, who has a military background, was a college athlete, and has been active his whole life.
“Now, you have to be more dedicated and more disciplined in your routine,” he said. “No one’s forcing you to work out, but it’s important to have that structure, even when it’s not laid out before you.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the closing of gyms and other “nonessential” businesses, the grand opening scheduled for April 1 never came, Eichelberger said, and the gym is all set up with unused punching bags and exercise bikes.
“We would offer circuit classes, boxing technique classes, open gym time, personal training, and small training,” said Eichelberger, envisioning a world where the pandemic never happened, and Everybody Fights would be teeming with activity.
Everybody Fights is a Boston-based company with two other locations in Massachusetts, as well as in New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and a planned location in New Hampshire. The Saugus site was supposed to be the company’s first “studio model” — smaller than a full-size “club model” gym, but bigger than a “box model” found within larger gym franchises.
“Our niche is under one roof, one studio, we’d have it all,” he said.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic, Everybody Fights has adapted. Classes are taught at regular times virtually. The virtual classes are done live online, with a “chat room” so participants can interact with the instructor, Eichelberger said. There are also recorded “on-demand” workouts the gym is offering, for those who can’t make a scheduled live class. All of it is free for 30 days, and includes nutrition and “health and wellness” advice, as well as meditative practices.”
Classes vary, but often include boxing tips, or are done in a boxing match format with “rounds” of exercise followed by brief breaks.
“People appreciate the fact that we’ve put so much material out, and they can stay active,” Eichelberger said. “As an instructor, you get to know people during the live classes. They have the ability to talk with you and interact with you. Then they’ll start to follow you on Instagram, and you get to know them even better.”
Eichelberger said the name “Everybody FIghts” is more appropriate than ever, given the stress people are facing during the stay-at-home advisory.
“Everybody Fights, everybody tells their own story, that’s our mantra. We want to support everybody in their fight, whether it’s a literal fight for their life, a fight against depression, addiction, or if it’s a fight for someone’s figure, it’s all relative,” Eichelberger said.
“(The pandemic), it’s a little bit of a different fight, but it’s still a fight,” he said. “We want people to stay active and healthy during this, so that when this whole thing blows over they’re excited to come see us in person.”
Eichelberger said it’s impossible to predict when the gym will open, but that the company is closely following government guidance, as well as monitoring what other states are doing to “reopen.” He said it’s likely people will have to wear personal protective equipment, or that the gym will have a decreased capacity, upon initial opening.
To learn more about Everybody Fights, or to get started taking classes, visit www.everybodyfights.com.