How to Stay Safe at the Gym After Restrictions Lift
Now that we’re starting to see positive cases drop, many things are reopening and that includes gyms. While experts recommend getting exercise outdoors or in your own home, if you really want to get back to your favorite gym, there are a few things to know before you go.
Cleaning routines
Find out what your local gym is doing to keep things sanitary. You should feel comfortable exercising there and be sure they’re following the correct guidelines. If it doesn’t seem like they’re doing all they can to ensure your safety, leave.
Be vigilant with cleaning yourself
Your gym might have strict protocols which will make you happy, but it’s impossible to monitor every single person at times. Just because the person using the weight bench before you wasn’t coughing or looking ill doesn’t mean they can’t be asymptomatic. The best course of action is to treat everyone as though they could be a carrier. Yes, even yourself. Wipe everything down before you touch it and then wipe it down after again.
Look at ventilation
Ventilation plays a prime role in how this virus as well as other illnesses can spread to others. Some places will open windows or have invested in ventilation systems. Don’t settle for being stuck in a small room with others with nothing keeping the air flowing.
See how socially distancing is enforced
At the gym where people are sweating and breathing more heavily, social distancing is a huge factor. No matter how well any gym does it though, you might decide to wait a while before joining a group class. If you can train in a large, well-ventilated room with a small number of people, it should be safe.
Instructors that protect
While wearing a mask is a good idea to protect yourself, if you don’t want to, unless the gym has specific rules, you don’t have to wear one. However, because the instructors are usually shouting over the room to tell you what to do next, that can potentially emit aerosol droplets.
Choose to work with a personal trainer instead
Even if your gym is following every safety protocol correctly, it still might not be enough to convince you to go. You should always feel comfortable as the top priority. That doesn’t mean you should stop working toward your fitness though. Exercise helps you build immunity and stay strong.
Instead, consider choosing a personal trainer. You can workout in your own home or even outside one-on-one with someone who will be able to keep proper distance from you, or even meet you virtually for workouts. A personal trainer can also hold you accountable to those workouts. Whether you’re older or you’re a new mom that’s ready to get her body back after baby, let us send one of our licensed and certified personal trainers to you to get started!
