Club access & class bookings
To help us make your exercise experiences as seamless as possible, we're offering you the
ability to train at the club most convenient to you, which may have changed given the current situation. You can train at your home club and an alternate club (excluding Collection clubs for non-Collection members).
You only need to
book for group exercise classes, board rooms and squash courts. Class bookings are important for us to manage capacity in our studios and to avoid disappointing members who arrive and can’t be accommodated in a class. We have changed the class booking process to make it easier to book, just visit
my.virginactive.co.za/bookings to view the timetable and use your membership or ID number to book.
Please remember to cancel your booking if you can’t make it so that we can offer your space to another member. You will forfeit your booking if you do not check in 5 minutes prior to the start of the class and your spot will be given to one of the members on the waiting list. We are actively managing class bookings to give all our members a fair opportunity to book a timeslot and to encourage people to use the slots they book. If members do book and do not attend the class without cancelling, we reserve the right to restrict booking ability for a week.
You will be pre-screened when you arrive at the club (super quick, promise) and then you are free to train.
Using the facilities: What's changed?
We've made changes so that you can return to your workouts in an environment where safety and hygiene is a priority. We have taken the opportunity to implement measures that allow you to safely social distance, sanitise regularly and reap the benefits of an active lifestyle. We follow hospital-grade cleaning protocols for sanitisation and disinfection, and although indoors, our clubs have state-of-the-art ventilation systems which continuously pump fresh filtered air into the club.
Look out for our Virgin Active team members, who are on hand to assist in any way.
Watch this quick video for an overview of the protocols and precautions we've put in place or read more about them below.
Screening: Screening and temperature checks will take place on arrival. Member access is now also completely contactless and will confirm your timeslot and register your visit. Our team is health screened throughout the day, protected and well prepared.
Good hand hygiene: This is an effective measure in keeping viruses at bay and hand sanitiser stations are conveniently located throughout the club.
Social distancing: Our GRID lines marked out at reception, in the changerooms, on the gym floor and in the studios take the guessing game out of social distancing. We have the added benefit of having spacious clubs that naturally allow for
more-than-adequate personal space.
All our equipment has been spaced accordingly or decommissioned to allow adequate distance between you and your fellow gym-goers and we've optimised the use of all our areas in our clubs.
Changerooms: The changerooms will be a focal area for our
intensive cleaning efforts. Follow our GRID guidance to maintain appropriate social distancing and allow yourself and your fellow members space while using the changeroom facilities. Arrive dressed and ready to train if you can as this will reduce potential contact in the locker rooms. Based on the Government guidelines, signs will be posted indicating restrictions in place. Our showers are open and from 21 September our saunas and steam rooms will be too (except in East London and Port Elizabeth due to water shortages).
Using the equipment: Disinfectant spray and paper towelling are provided on the gym floor and in the studios. Please wipe down your equipment before and after use (please do not do this with your sweat towel). Small gestures make a big difference to everyone's peace of mind in a shared space.
Our health and hygiene crew will be sanitising and disinfecting all equipment throughout the day and we have clearly marked out weight drop-off zones where you can take your weights to be sanitised after your session.
PT sessions: To protect you and our team members, we will eliminate any physical contact during training sessions and our teams will keep their masks on all day. We have carefully marked out training spaces to make this all a little easier.
Masks: Following Government regulations, the use of masks is no longer compulsory when members are undertaking vigorous activity, provided that they maintain a 2m distance from other people. And only then. A mask must be worn at all other times in the club, including on entry and exit and as you walk between zones and pieces of equipment. If you’re struggling to train at your usual pace in a mask, consider adjusting your routine to include less vigorous activity so you don’t have to pull it down so often. Please be responsible and wear your mask. Virgin Active will also have training masks available for sale in our clubs from 1 September 2020.
Group classes: We have optimised our timetables and adapted classes without compromising on the great workout you expect. You can do your favourite class with fewer people per class in your dedicated space demarcated by a GRID box. All classes are 100% bookable on the app so you will need to book beforehand to participate. Before and after each class, our health and hygiene team will do the all-important job of sanitising and disinfecting the space and the equipment, with a focus on high-touch areas.
Swimming pools: Pools will be open for all unfrozen members. There will be a
3 person per lane limit and a 5 person lane limit for squad training (as long as all members of the squad stick to the 1.5m social distancing protocol). Our pool systems are designed for high volume usage and ensure a healthy environment for members. All pools are disinfected using automated dosing systems and are tested by our staff at least 3 times a day. Our spa pools are similarly maintained and tested 5 times a day. There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs or water playgrounds. Additionally, proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus.1.
1 Source: US Centre for Disease Control and Protections
Nutrition on the run: All Kauai's and Nüs will be open and operating between 6am-8pm daily. Sit down service will remain closed, but you can order and pick up on your way out of the club.
- At Kauai, you can order ahead on the app (be sure to check out their winter menu, yum!) and simply collect from the counter. Contactless payment will also be facilitated through the app and Partner Reward Vouchers can be redeemed at the till.
- At Nü, you can order at the counter on arrival and collect on your way out. Contactless payment will also be available via SnapScan and Discovery members can still redeem their Vitality vouchers. To get you back to healthy eating, you get 20% off anything on the Nü menu until 30 September.
