Before lockdown began in March, the £5.5bn fitness market was rapidly expanding, but everything changed following the outbreak of the coronavirus. Now, social-distancing measures and the rise of home workouts could mean that heading back to the gym could be a completely different experience.
With gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools now open as of Saturday July 25th, facilities across the country have followed strict guidelines in order to support the health of their customers.
If you are planning on heading back to the gym, we’ve listed some useful tips to help you get back into the swing of things while remaining conscious of both government guidance and other gym-goers.
Ease into it & listen to your body
Even if you’ve been doing home workouts, you may be using different gym equipment to that available in your local gym. For this reason, it’s important that you ease back into your routine. Consider reducing your intensity or load for the first few weeks and building gradually from there. Don’t forget to set realistic goals to allow your body to adjust and re- focus on establishing healthy habits and a new routine.
Don’t get disheartened if you find yourself struggling – everybody is in the same position. Your fitness levels and capacity will quickly return.
Don’t forget to rest
With gyms reopening after being closed for so long, you might feel inclined to hit the gym every day or as often as possible. It’s important to remember that your increase in exercise combined with a shake up of routine will leave you feeling a little more tired than usual.
It’s a good idea to allow yourself a little extra sleep and rest for your body to restore and repair itself. In doing so, your immune system can also stay in top shape to make sure you stay fit and healthy.
Sanitise & stay clean
The gym you attend will probably have strict rules or procedures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. However, it may be worth bringing your own hand sanitizer or wipes so that you can clean down any equipment both before and after use. This way you can rest assured knowing that you are remaining as hygienic as possible while working out.
Stay aware
Familiarise yourself with your new gyms guidelines or rules before you go. Some gyms may make you wear masks, whereas others may provide work out “hubs,” where people in the same household can work out together. As well as this, some gyms offer apps, which can tell you how many people are in the gym at that exact moment in time. You may want to download these to keep an eye on how busy the gym is.
You should also stay aware of the space between you and other gym goers. Gyms are likely to have precautions set up to avoid over capacity and to make sure not too many people are using the same machines or equipment, but in spaces like bathrooms or queuing for the water machine, remember to take an extra step back.
Remember: you don’t need to make the switch immediately
Some people may be raring to go and can’t wait to get back into the gym, whereas others may be enjoying home workouts or still a bit apprehensive about returning straight away. If you don’t fancy going back just yet, consider purchasing either new and used gym equipment to compliment your home workouts until you feel ready to go back.
When you do start heading back to the gym, take it slow and see how comfortable you feel. Perhaps alternate between home workouts and gym sessions until you feel ready to commit full time.
Parkway Fitness
To find out more about our gym equipment and how we can support you and your health, please call us on 01527 529191.
As stock is in high demand, please follow our social media channels so you don’t miss out on our great deals and fitness bundles:
Facebook: Parkway Fitness Ltd
Twitter: @ParkwayFitness
Instagram: @ParkwayFitnessUK