After several months of quarantine, businesses are finally reopening and depending on where you live, these businesses would include fitness centres, gyms and even malls. While this is certainly good news for business owners and fitness enthusiasts, some may still feel a bit hesitant about working out in a gym again.
Social Distancing Fitness Ideas
So, what can you do to stay fit when you’re not yet comfortable about going to the gym? We’ve listed a few ways you can stay fit while social distancing.
Solo Running
Opt for regular solo runs either in the morning or afternoon. A lap or two around your neighborhood is enough to get those happy hormones (endorphins) going. When you run, you not only exercise your leg muscles, the endorphins released in your body helps a lot in easing anxiety and improving your mood. And in these times, working on your mental health is very important too.
Choose a new trail or route if you’re concerned about running through crowded areas. The new environment will stimulate your brain and you still get to practice social distancing. As to whether or not you should wear a mask while running, it really depends on where you plan to go.
So, if you live in the suburbs and will come across the occasional jogger or person walking their dog, it’s not necessary to wear a mask as long as you keep a distance of six feet from other people. Just make sure you have a face mask handy (or in your pocket) for when you have to stop and talk to someone while you’re out.
Outdoor tennis
Depending on where you live, outdoor tennis is one of the sports activities allowed because it is conducive to social distancing. Make sure though that you check which outdoor tennis courts are open and that you follow the recommended health and safety protocols when playing. Some of these protocols include:
- Play only with household members or people that have a low risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus.
- Sanitize your hands before and after every game.
- Sanitize equipment with antibacterial wipes before and after every game.
- Maintain the recommended 1.5 metre distance from other players (even during doubles matches).
- Avoid physical contact with other players (no handshakes or high fives)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and face during the game or after touching any equipment.
Designate a “workout” space at home
This workout space does not have to be huge. All you need is a space big enough for you to lay out your yoga mat and a few dumbbells (if you have them), and that’s it. It can be in the family room facing the TV; by the window in your bedroom, your porch – anywhere, really.
Just make sure that you return to this designated space around the same time every day. Doing so conditions your mind that when you step foot in that area in your house – you are going to exercise.
Worried about not having gym equipment to use? You don’t need gym equipment to stay fit. Isometrics are exercises you can do with very little space and hardly any equipment. In these exercises, you activate your muscles by holding a pose for several seconds and use your body weight for resistance. And trust us, fifteen minutes of isometric exercises in a day can make you feel like you spent a half hour in the gym.
Organize workout competitions, online of course
You can still workout with friends and family even if you’re all not in a gym. Organize a weekly workout challenge using fitness videos and fitness trackers and see who among the participants have completed the weekly challenge.
You can set a weekly goal of let’s say: who can complete 3 HIIT workouts for the week (videos of them doing the workout, or it didn’t happen); who has done the most number of steps in one week; or the first person to complete 100 crunches in one week.
You can be as creative in your fitness challenges as you want, and decide amongst yourselves what the prize would be at the end of every week.
DIY Massages
Yep – massages help you achieve your fitness goals. It improves flexibility and range of motion, which helps you avoid injuries from physical activities. It improves blood circulation so you recover from muscle soreness quickly. Most importantly, it helps ease anxiety and improves one’s mood.
However, it can be a little tricky getting a massage appointment these days. While there may be states that allow spas and massage places to open, DIY massages are the safest option, at least for now.
Enter the massage gun. These are devices that use percussive force to drive vibrations deep into muscle tissue. Think of it as a deep tissue massage session that you can have anytime, anywhere. These devices are portable, easy to use and quite effective at easing muscle soreness and relaxing the body after a workout or if you just want to sit back and get pampered at home.
Conclusion
Staying fit during these times is certainly a challenge. But it’s not impossible. There are many ways you can stay physically, mentally and emotionally healthy without going to the gym. You can still do activities that you enjoy – you just have to be more creative and make a few adjustments to your routine and you’re good to go.
So what are your thoughts about staying fit in this age of social distancing? Do you think we missed out on some ideas? Let us know by leaving a comment!
