The fitness industry, particularly gyms, was one of the first to close down when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Such a move has, more or less, dealt a blow on people’s motivation to exercise.
How can you have the drive if there are no tools available or people you can work out with? As if people needed more alibis to not exercise, huh?
However, what is heartening is that trends in global mobile app downloads did show that a lot of people almost immediately looked for ways to keep their workout routines going.
People sought alternative methods for them to exercise in the comfort of their homes. That said, the coronavirus changed exercise by virtue of people’s relentless desire to keep fit, especially in a time when maintaining one’s health is of the utmost importance.
A BOOST IN REMOTE PERSONAL TRAINING
With the closure of gyms, it is only logical for people to turn toward online means to minimize them. Besides a rise in interest in fitness apps, gyms also started offering their services via videoconferencing platforms like Zoom.
A couple even offered free workout sessions to reach out to people looking to keep their health in check while on quarantine.
Such a setup fits the restrictions of the pandemic to a tee. The workout sessions are done with zero contact but seamless communication via crystal-clear video and audio is maintained.
Without a doubt, it is the safest fitness route to take for just about anyone. The risk of exposure only increases tenfold once we set foot outside our homes, after all.
Doing workout sessions online have their own challenges, though. For one, it might be harder for the instructor to correct the person doing a specific workout. It is often advised for the online instructor to accurately demonstrate each exercise to the person.
And, again, the value of online live sessions is that it retains the human touch when undergoing any kind of personal training.
It is a personal trainer’s job to motivate and coach, after all, and fitness apps that rely on pre-recorded workout routines you can freely watch on platforms like YouTube simply do not afford that advantage.
Such arrangements are not limited to just workouts alone because most yoga sessions can practically be done via any kind of videoconferencing as well.
PEOPLE OPT TO EXERCISE SOLO OUTSIDE
Nothing compares to the perks of being able to exercise outside. Nature has inimitable healing properties conducive to our entire well-being, after all. Since social distancing is enforced in most places, many are encouraged to go solo when exercising outdoors.
Walking, cycling and jogging are still viable workouts, but there is certainly a noticeable difference in the fact that the social aspects of these physical activities have been removed.
Sure, there are still places where you can jog or walk that tend to have high foot traffic, but it is smart to just avoid them altogether. It would also not be an uncommon sight to see people bringing hand sanitizers along with them.
Overall, there is definitely hovering anxiety about contracting the virus every time people go out. It will not be farfetched to say that exercising outdoors; even when you are adhering to social distancing guidelines, still poses a great health risk for people of all ages.
GYMS HAVE REOPENED, BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED
And you will find that most of them are unrecognizable. In the US alone, many gyms are imposing plenty of restrictive guidelines to all people meaning to use their facilities. To give you a lucid picture of how much has changed, here are but some of the said guidelines you can expect most gyms to have:
- Frequent hand and equipment sanitization is a must.
- Masks are not required but people are still encouraged to wear them.
- Post-workout showers are banned.
- A distance of 6 feet should always be maintained by all gym-goers. Equipment is placed 6 feet apart.
- Group classes are only limited to 10 people.
- A lot of regular disinfection will also be practiced by the staff.
These are but some of the restrictions you can expect, and as you can see, gone are the days when they will be teeming with gym buffs.
A LOT MAY HAVE CHANGED BUT EXERCISE IS VERY IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER
The consistent threat of the coronavirus warrants all of us to keep our body and mind in top shape. Admittedly, this can become nothing short of a herculean challenge if we are constantly bombarded by our worries and the limitations that arose from the pandemic.
That said, exercise provides the best outlet for us to dispel most of the negative impacts of coronavirus .
Studies have already proven that doing any kind of moderate-intensity exercise can directly boost our immune system.
Complement this with immunity-boosting foods, and it pretty much gives you the peace of mind that you are. The same rings true for the positive effects of exercise on
Is it any wonder then that people are still fighting tooth and nail to get their workouts done?
Can we blame or ridicule them for using home items and pieces of furniture as replacements for actual gym tools?
Of course not! We should laud them, even. For they are not letting the pandemic, however vast and terrible its impact has been, shackle them or drive their motivation down.
This is also why people choosing to be sedentary should realize the sheer value of regular workouts.
Even keeping yourself moving should prove to be enough to aid your body gain the advantages mentioned above. Ultimately, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on your daily life.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, people are continuing to adapt to the on-going massive changes happening in the world of fitness due to the coronavirus outbreak.
That said, we should definitely encourage more people to do so. Studies have already shown that the pandemic has only led to people becoming more sedentary. Otherwise, the long-term health consequences will be nothing short of devastating.