Gyms reopened: A few suggestions to be safe while visiting the gym.

   As the third phase of the unlock plan came into effect from August 3, the government of India has considered a few more relaxations for Unlock 4.0, including the reopening of cinema halls and gyms. Yes, the center is bearing in mind the proposals about allowing movie theatres and fitness centers to reopen along with strict restrictions. As of now schools and colleges will continue to operate online, at least for the month of September.

The closing of gyms and fitness centers in the face of the coronavirus pandemic meant that a lot of people were confined to exercise from home with the help of online fitness tutorials. While it may have turned out to be next (and the only) best thing for fitness enthusiasts, without the expert guidance of fitness trainers and gym instructors, and not to mention gym equipment, it is easy to feel lost in the sea of fitness and workout information available online.

Precautions you must follow while hitting the gym and fitness centers. If you are gearing up to hit your nearest gym for a sweat session, as soon as the restrictions are lifted, let us stop you right there. We need to understand that even if the center is slowly lifting restrictions during the third phase of unlocking, the pandemic is still very much here and is still dangerous. As we brace ourselves to live with the new normal, we are listing down seven precautions you must follow while hitting the gym and fitness centers, to keep yourself (and your loved ones) safe from COVID-19.

 

Follow these 7 rules to keep yourself safe at the gym during corona virus:

 

·     ​Arrive and leave on your allotted time

 

To avoid rushing through the gym door at the last minute (and running into people) make sure that you show up to your gym class at the allotted time and do not hover at the entrance. If you see a beeline, it is advisable to wait in your car or somewhere at distance. This will ensure that you don’t run into people who are heading for the gym at their scheduled time.

 

·     Carry your own water bottle and other supplies

 

No more reaching out to disposable cups at the water cooler at the gym, instead, carry your own water bottle. Come prepared for a workout session from your home only as lockers and changing rooms are most likely to be closed to avoid contraction of infection. You may also need to carry your own yoga mat for stretching.

 

·     ​Sanitize, sanitize and sanitize

 

Nowadays, carrying a bottle of sanitizer is as important as carrying a water bottle to anywhere you head up to. If you are not wearing hand gloves while handling the gym equipment’s, make sure to sanitize your hands after every use and do not touch your face before sanitizing your hands.

 

·     ​Wear gym gloves and arm sweatbands while working out

 

This will ensure two things, one, you will not pick up germs and bacteria from the workout equipment and it also prevents you from accidentally touching your face. You can also consider wearing arm sweatbands to stop the sweat from trickling down your face.

 

·     ​Do not show up if you feel unwell

 

If you are feeling sick, it is strongly advised to stay at home and to keep others and yourself safe. Get in touch with your health care provider if you develop a nagging cough, fever or a new loss of smell and taste, as these are the first few indications of COVID-19.

 

·     Practice social distancing even at the gym

 

We all have to limit the spread of corona virus and be extra cautious when at public places. Yes, the golden rule of social distancing is still applicable while you sweat it out at the gym. Remember, the pandemic is still looming large, so ensure a distance of at least 6 feet from others, at all times. Always remember that germs and viruses are present everywhere and especially at places like medicine balls. So the key is to be as careful as possible.

 

·     ​Avoid wearing face masks while working out

 

While it may seem like an ideal thing to do while working out in a public place, a lot of experts maintain that wearing a mask while walking, jogging or even during a workout, in this case, will act as a barrier to airflow and increases your heart rate quickly. You may tire out quickly, have a hard time catching your breath and may experience dizziness or light-headache. Always speak to your medical care provider before wearing a mask while working out in a gym.

 

 

        Prevention is anytime better than cure, we'll have studied this in our childhood. Making vaccines is always challenging. Developing a vaccine is made more difficult because there has never been a vaccine for any type of coronavirus. “We don’t have a production platform, we have no experience in safety and we don’t know if there will be complications. We have to start from scratch.” said a scientist. So exercise and yoga are the only two easy and cheap solutions for this virus.