5 Tips for Safely Returning to the Gym During the Covid-19 Pandemic

KEY STORY

• It’s quite understandable that after months of staying at home, working from home, and even working out at home, you may want to return to the gym to meet your weight loss or fitness goals. Gyms in India had been allowed to reopen, thanks to the Unlock 3.0 regulations, but the question that still remains is, how safe is it to return there?

• India ranks second in the list of nations with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 infections, third in the list of global deaths, and the pandemic is far from over. The risks of transmission in crowded places and the need for stringent precautions still remain the same, especially in a place like a gym.

• So, while you may want to rejoin your gym, there are quite a few considerations involved before you actually do. Keep the following tips in mind if you intend to return to your gym while keeping COVID-19 infection at bay.

1.Check Location

Before you head out to the gym, check if the locality or building where the gym is situated has had a surge of infections lately. This can be easily done via a reliable app, news agency or by asking your municipal representatives.

 2.Stick to Social Distancing

 While wearing a mask constantly while exercising is neither possible nor advisable, social distancing while you’re in the gym is your best bet on safety when you return to the gym. Avoid rush hour and opt for staggered timings with your trainer.

3.Avoid Sharing:

Carry your own gear and avoid using shared equipment, especially foam rollers and exercise balls, as much as possible. This means staying away from cycling machines, treadmills, dumbbells, barbells and weighted plates.

4.Sanitize

Carry hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, sanitizer sprays, disposable tissues or towels and use them properly. This will come in handy especially if you’re using shared equipment. Use the sanitizers to wipe down any shared equipment both before and after using.

5.prefer Ventilation:

If your gym is outdoors or has proper ventilation, then it may be safer than other gyms that are indoors or located in basements. Indoor spaces which are not ventilated properly tend to be breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses and fungi of all kinds, and therefore the risk of infection is much higher there.

CONCLUSION

Access your health if you are feeling unwell due to any reason, don’t go to the gym and stay at home until you get better. Whether you have COVID-19 or not, stepping out while you’re sick also endangers others, and this is especially true in the case of closed spaces like a gym or a workplace. So, ensure your safety as well as that of others, and ask your fellow gym members and management to do the same.