NASHUA – For fitness trainer and RebelFit New Hampshire gym owner Sean Clark, navigating the waters of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the heaviest of weights.

Located at 360 Amherst St., RebelFit NH which began in 2013, offers group classes, specializing in high intensity integral activities, body weight, light dumbbells and kettlebells.

“The other stuff that we do is semi-private,” Clark said, “where we do weightlifting and body conditioning, stuff like that.”

The year for RebelFIt began with 160 members and then the Ides of March- actually March 13 to be precise – stepped in and changed the business’ trajectory.

“It would be interesting to ask every person in the world and see what happened to them,” Clark said. “I had a guy in the gym who said, a week or two weeks out, ‘Something’s happening.’ And I didn’t know what he was talking about. And then virtually, the clock stopped.”

Clark said his wife made the call to shut everything down.

“We closed the doors right before the state told everyone to close everything,” he said. “We jumped online with our groups and members and said, ‘This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to try to keep you all active with online programs but until further notice, we’re closed.'”

Some people were motivated to participate online, while others weren’t as ambitious.

“I knew other gyms around the country were better at it than I was,” Clark explained. “In the end, it boiled down to the people who need a gym like this, need accountability. And that doesn’t necessarily work with online classes.”

Clark said he understands, but as a dedicated trainer, he doesn’t need that motivation himself.

“Unfortunately, everybody started off really strong,” he said. “People were walking outside and exercising and that faded.”

The gym reopened in June and Clark said some were “chomping at the bit.” But overall, he’s looking at 30% return clients.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was about excuses,” he said. “People don’t necessarily want to be here. It’s a good excuse. People could say they were worried about the spread.”

Clark added that as he has talked to members, people are hurting financially and can’t make that monetary commitment in the middle of a health crisis. He’s trying to stay afloat but is uncertain.

“That’s a good question,” he said. “We’re in the Law Realty buildings and they’re my landlord and they’ve been great, and patient and kind. Lucky for me I don’t have a ton of loans and things like that which makes life a little easier.”

As he watches places close around him, Clark said he’s more than a little concerned about the future.

“The X-factor in this is the length of time it sustains like this,” he said. “And right now, it’s the school issue – almost everybody I hear, if you exclude the 20-somethings that don’t have kids- every person that walks into this place is talking about the schools, and whether they’re going fulltime or remote. This is about what’s going to happen. That’s the biggest variable.”

Restaurants reopening, Clark said, are at the other end of the business spectrum.

“Going out to eat is something people are looking forward to,” he said. “But I think it’s a similar industry. We’re a service industry that’s based on people feeling comfortable going there. Except one is good for you and one might not be so good for you.”

Clark has a number of teachers who work out at his gym and he said that’s the story on everyone’s lips – how comfortable the teachers are going back to school and how comfortable are the parents, sending their kids back to school.

“I have a number of women clients who said, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to go to the gym if the kids don’t go back to school,” he stated.

Ultimately, Clark said he pleads the fifth.

“I have no idea,” he said of the future. “I hope for the best and am prepared for the worst.”

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