On the 22nd of February, Boris Johnson addressed the nation in the latest government update about the exit “roadmap” for lockdown over the next few months.
During this update, the Prime Minister revealed the plans for the reopening of gyms in England on April 12th. With numerous calls to reopen gyms as a matter of urgency due to the positive effect exercise has on mental health, this is no surprise, but it is important that you know what to expect upon re-entry.
With current guidelines limiting exercise to one outdoor excursion per day in your local area only, this is an exciting prospect for many people.
The way that you use gym equipment and the means by which you work out will all have changed in order to minimise risk and ensure safety as we get back to some normality. It is therefore important that you understand what the new rules will be and how they will be implemented throughout gyms to establish a low-risk workout space.
Will the gym experience be different?
Yes. Before the worldwide outbreak of Covid, for many people the gym was a communal space by which they could get motivation through both keeping fit and socialising with others.
In order to adapt post-Covid, gyms across the UK will alter the way in which they work to provide safety and security for all that enter.
What can you expect?
Gyms will face a new set of rules as facilities open.
You will no longer be able to use the gym as a social space for interaction and leisure time. In order to make sure that individuals remain socially distanced and low-risk, people from different households will not be able to mix or workout together in close quarters of each other.
If working out alone is not for you, convince a family member to join you! Under the government restrictions, members of the same household can exercise together.
There is also further hope for an easing of the rules in the third stage of the exit roadmap, where it is proposed that following May 17th, members of different households will be able to mix indoors and exercise together again.
Gyms will also take health and safety measures into their own hands. Covid-secure measures will be implemented throughout gyms with regards to the regular cleaning of toilets and equipment. Not only this, but gyms will also ensure a suitable distance between equipment remains in place to make sure that everyone has their own workout space.
Gyms will also strive to be well ventilated to atone for high risk factors associated with people breathing more deeply and frequently than normal. Exercise classes will be banned as facilities reopen in an attempt to reduce contact between people as they work out, but there is hope for them to restart again sometime in the coming months.
Parkway Fitness
If you are unsure about returning to the gym for safety reasons or you are simply a beginner about to embark upon your fitness journey, Parkway Fitness have a wide range of both new and used gym equipment so that you can work out from home.
To learn more about the products we offer, give us a call on 01527 529 191 or follow us on social media:
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