Going back to the gym?

[Allmyarseandpeggymartin]

How are you all feeling about going back to the gym? Mine is due to open and I do want to go back as I’m WFH and not getting any exercise.

I’m overweight and keen to get fit but I read a graph by the texas medical association who classed it as a “high risk” activity - now I’m dithering?

Any thoughts?

They can’t stop people breathing out!

I've found running outdoors really stressful in the past week, now it's much busier in my suburban area. I go out of my way to socially distance but mamils run past me with an inch to spare and I can't run in the road due to an increase in traffic.

Going to classes at my gym will, I'm sure, actually be much safer so I'm booked in for 0730 on Saturday.

They've deep cleaned the studio, blocked off every other treadmill/rower/weights station. No showers open. Temperature checks on entry. All coaches in masks. Compulsory cleaning down of all equipment by users and 30 minutes between classes for staff to clean everything again.

Dozer So don’t go🤷🏻‍♀️.

Am not! In response to OP’s question.

Each to their own.

Dozer You answered her question then started to go on about people breathing. Not every gym is cramped like yours.

Posting opinions isn’t “going on”. People were talking about cleanliness when the air is a key risk. Doesn’t matter if the gym is spacious, people won’t be wearing masks and moving around in the same spaces.

As with lots of other things, we can all choose for ourselves. For example one of my DC enjoys road cycling: great for health but has risks.

I have cancelled my gym membership. I'll stick to YouTube exercise classes and walking. I'm not keen on being inside a building with a lot of people who are not wearing masks.

Intending to go on Saturday, can't wait!!

Gyms have been open here (Germany) since 16 May

No significant outbreaks at any gym afaik

Attendance at my gym has increased gradually until it's at least 90% of normal, imo
but people aren't hanging around much in the coffee bar, so I suspect takings there are down

Excellent hygiene procedures, cleaning, sanitiser everywhere, somewhat reduced class size and SD machines

I'm a gym rat, so I've been going 5 days per week,

• even though I'm aged 64 and hence at higher risk if I catch it

However, when community infection is v low, the risk of catching it is low and hence total risk is acceptable imo

No limit on number of classes we can do, or hours we can stay

but we can only book a day in advance
and places for some classes fill up early due to reduction in places for e.g. spin

I book just after midnight for 2 days ahead,
so I can enjoy my normal gym service: 5 days per week, 1-2 hours per day

It's been great

There is only a limit on how many classes we can do to give everyone a chance of getting to a class.

"You snooze, you lose" at my gym

No masks, except for staff at the desk

The owner added an extra spin class, which he does himself as trainer
So good response to customer needs, which gyms will have to have
Spin was the only significant shortage, now dealt with

Showers (communal) are open, limit on 12 people in changing room
The sauna is open too and people actually go in, despite it being 30C outdoors !

My compromise, being 64, is that I shower at home
No problem - I like to walk home along the Rhine to cool down first, anyway

My gym have emailed to say we can continue our freeze on membership for £5/ month for next 3 months (£5for nowt!)
I'm really torn, am desperate to get back as I usually do 5+ classes each week and really enjoy them, sadly don't have the discipline for home exercise. I had Covid in April but am aware that long term immunity isn't certain / likely.
I work with a shielded patient group and my elderly parents have been practically shielding and are nervous about getting back out and about so think it would make them anxious about having me around to their house or coming to mine which they've just started to do again.
The classes I usually do are now limited to 15 in the poorly air conditioned studio (previously 25 per class).
Part of me thinks I should just cancel, although that option seems to cost me £120 as I signed up for a year membership 9 months ago. Considering they are offering extremely limited classes I need to look into the legality of that. Another selfish part of me just wants to go for it to claw back some fitness and normality - I know the risk is small but it's probably the most risk I would be taking virus wise and it isn't me I'm worried about - it's the vulnerable people around me.

@BigChocFrenzy That’s reassuring, thank you

My dh's / sons gym has a 'book a slot' system online in place and no more than 15 at a time. It is a small place , so it should work ok . His looking forwards to going back . I'm sure they will have the gel and cleaning stations around.

My gym is opening at the weekend but you have to book slots and classes through the app. I've booked my place in the 3am-6am slot for Mon, Tues,Weds so far (can only book 1 week in advance) and will be in the gym at 5am and out at 6am. Just like I used to but without the flexibility to be a few minutes late. I'm not worried about people breathing on me or touching something that someone else has touched as I will wash my hands when I'm done. And there will be lots of disinfectant spray being squirted around.

I'm a bit annoyed as my council sports centre have started charging per class on top of the membership (which is supposed to be inclusive of any lessons and pool use) without telling us this in advance

I guess they are trying to bring in more money but would have been good to tell us. Going to mean it is about £10 a swim!

We are only allowed an hour during which changing time etc is included as well so only about 45 mins swim as well

@Allmyarseandpeggymartin

So we had 25 infections in a population of 250k last week - incredibly low I would say.

My logical brain is saying that!

Absolutely.

Plus the risk of encountering symptomatic people is even lower again.

I happen to do mainly outdoor exercise so for me, it's a moot point, but my local leisure centre is reducing gym capacity. Spreading spin into the studio, and spreading studio classes into the sports hall. Presumably that's at a cost of casual courts hire.

My gym gave the option of freezing he membership for the next 6 months and I've gone along with that. They've reduced class sizes and put extra measures in place but I can't be bothered with the bunfight for limited places.
I feel ok about it now but might be crawling up the walls once the colder weather comes and prevents me from exercising outside as much.

Envious of your walk home from gym along the Rhine, bigchocfrenzy. And indeed of Germany’s overall Covid response!

Our council gym is allowing 40 a time and I’ve booked a class for everyday from Saturday

Track and trace shouldn’t be an issue as you’re only traced if you are in 2m of someone for 15 mins - not just cos ur in the gym

If following social distancing in the gym then infections shouldn’t impact on others anyway

I'm debating if I should keep mine, but it's not coronavirus risk related.
During lockdown I've signed up to running challenges and my neighbours outside metafit class has started again. I've also got some free weights I have been using.

I used the gym for classes and for heavier weights, but it's a bit of a time drain versus exercising starting from home. However conscious I may feel differently in winter, plus my gym is pretty cheap.

I have mixed feelings about this, and it's the one thing i'm probably really uncertain about. Before lockdown I went a few times and other than some hand sanitizer which everyone was ignoring there didn't seem to be any additional cleaning etc in place. I believe this increased but I wasn't personally going to take the risk and stopped going about a week before lockdown. I really miss it though and am going crazy just running and walking locally. I tried some online stuff at home but i've already turned my home into an office and didn't enjoy it being a gym as well. I think I'll probably start with "static" classes such as spin and pilates and see what measures are in place in the gym before I decide when I go back. It's a small gym and if they have to block off half the equipment to enable social distancing it will barely be worth going!