A returning member after months away isn't quite a beginner and isn't quite where they left off either — treating them as either extreme misses what they actually need.
Acknowledge the gap without judgment
A returning member is often self-conscious about the break — staff who address it matter-of-factly, without making it awkward, help that member re-engage more comfortably.
Rebuild gradually rather than resuming the old program exactly
Fitness typically declines meaningfully during an extended break — restarting at a genuinely reduced level, even if the member resists it, protects them from an easily avoidable injury.