The owner of Curves Nowra said the gym has lost 50 per cent of its membership since the pandemic started a year and a half ago, having a devastating impact on the business.
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Owning the women-only gym with her husband since 2017, Racheal Bartolo said she doesn't know how much more the business can handle financially.
"It's been really awful watching my dream die before my eyes because of this," said the mother of two.
"I was talking to a few of the ladies that come in regularly and said I don't know if we'll survive another lockdown.
"And those ladies said they appreciated the pause on their membership payments last lockdown, but told me to keep charging them this time.
"I understand not everyone is able to do that during these times, but I appreciated it so much."
While the Shoalhaven has entered its second week of the statewide lockdown, Mrs Bartolo said the business hasn't recovered since last year's lockdown.
"When we had the lockdown in 2020, all businesses ceased trade on a Monday. I went into the gym the next day and there was half a dozen membership cancellations on the answering machine and it just continued from there," she said.
"Which I totally understand, but a lot of these people haven't returned and the business has never recovered."
She also said this year's lockdown has brought back the same feelings of dread.
"I get so much anxiety going into the gym, I went in the other day and my heart was in my throat thinking how many messages are going to be on the answering machine. And there were none this time, thank God," she said.
"That's how I've felt since all this started last March. I am now constantly waiting for the next bad thing to happen...the next cancellation, the next bill, the next thing with the public health crisis.
"I don't know how much more I can take."
Mrs Bartolo said she has applied for COVID-19 business grants, however the process has been delayed.
"We've applied for a grant but haven't received anything yet," she said.
"We received JobKeeper last year which our staff were pleased with and this time around they've applied for their grants.
"This time around processes seem a lot more delayed and people aren't getting as much money but the countless bills are still there regardless."
The regional lockdown is set to end on August 28. However, Mrs Bartolo said there is still uncertainty looming as to whether the lockdown will be lifted, and no growth from memberships coming in makes things worse.
"Being in limbo and not knowing when we'll open up makes me feel sick to my stomach," she said.
"And members that haven't paused their memberships need answers too when they're paying money for a service we can't provide.
"We fear this could drag out for 10 weeks like it did last time. Without growth, we are constantly chasing our tail."
To curb the lockdown blues and connect with members, Mrs Bartolo has been providing workout videos in a private Facebook group and sharing healthy recipes.
"Self care is so important during these times and we need to stay connected. It's just a way I can let my members know I care and that I'm thinking of them."
Mrs Bartolo acknowledged all Shoalhaven business owners are doing it tough, and encouraged the community to support one another during these times.
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
