Sunday night and Monday morning was the 'lowest, crappiest' time for Fitness Focus owner Andrew Basset.
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With the Federal Government announcement gyms were among the businesses that must close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Bassett had to lay off 30 staff.
"As a business owner of seven years, Sunday night was definitely the lowest, crappiest, day that any business owner, manager, but also employee would ever go through, especially to not have any control over the situation."
The gym offered 12 different services and employed 32 staff.
"It was a massive surprise, because at the moment people are in crazy mode and obviously what comes from crazy mode is high levels of stress and anxiety so people are obviously making crazing, irrational decisions, and exercise and the gym combats that," he said.
"So a big thing that comes around now is peoples mental health, they can't exercise, they can't enjoy particular programs."
Mr Bassett said they really appreciated the support of their staff and members at this time.
"We still have members paying their memberships because they want to see this place open."
"At the moment it's keeping Cris and myself going and the basic building costs."
Cris Clark has been managing Fitness Focus for the past six years and said it was a struggle not seeing their family team members come through the doors everyday.
"Knowing their families, their kids, their husbands, but this was out of our control and we can't help them in anyway."
"The worst thing is we can't just chuck on a BBQ to see how everyone is, and give everyone a cuddle. We just can't."
The business has gone from being the Gold Rhino winners of 2019 to facing the forced suspension of operations.
"We look at the Rhino there, and now our members can't even enjoy him for six months.
"It's been a bit of a blow.
"We need to aide by the rules so we can come out the other side still with a business."
While the services at Jannali Road have been suspended, Fitness Focus has launched virtual online training that can be accessed by members, and also by the wider community for a small fee.
Mr Bassett said he had toyed with the idea of online in the past, but still believed in their business model.
"I believe we need to interact with humans because endorphins come from socialising and being in a community that supports you.
"But I also believe that online has a place, and that place maybe now."
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Lynn Rayner
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
