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?

No, I'm not going back, I've been doing online Yoga and enjoying it so I'll carry on with that and walking.

Been doing couch potato to 5K and occ online workout from my gym which has been streaming a variety of live and on demand classes .
They open this Saturday so have booked in for my usual Pilates - can’t wait .

I've booked my gym slot for Sunday. Can't wait to get lifting again. I've missed it do much.

Can't wait, just booked my first session for Saturday along with 2 classes next week. I might have a different outlook if I lived in a different area, but infection rate where I live is incredibly low. Plus the gym is taking more than enough precautions

My exercise group went virtual and its going really well. They don't intend to reopen until September if they feel it is safe to do so. I'm happy doing online classes and walking in the park.

I have missed my gym but won't be going back yet. I'm doing on line yoga, going cycling etc so haven't noticed a decline in my fitness levels as I don't spend much time there seriously working out but the things I miss- the spa, jacuzzi, classes, spa etc all seem a bit risky and the steam rooms and sauna are closed. I shan't cancel my membership yet but unsure about the future. It's the first part of pre Covid life I haven't been happy to go back to.

Typically negative article from the Guardian about the 'corporate' gym

I'm thinking I will go back to my sports centre, i do enjoy it and it is good for mental and physical health. It might not survive if people don't go...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/23/lockdown-gym-toned-abs-hygiene-pandemic

Our gym issued a briefing on changes they have put in place. They are having 2 open day sessions today and tomorrow where people can pop in and have a look to see how it will all work. I will be going along to check it out. I usually go to the gym at a quiet time of day anyway. DH is slightly more apprehensive as he goes at a busier time and also has work reasons why he needs to stay safe. Before lockdown the owners had taken good steps to keep everyone safe and I'm confident they will now - and pull up anyone not abiding by the new rules. And there were only 3 positive tests in our LA area in the last week! So yes I'm pretty certain I'll be back in the gym after Saturday.

I now do an outdoor boot camp class (at least I try too) and I subscribed to Les Mills on demand package. I don’t see how I can justify gym membership at David Lloyd which is very expensive. The Les Mills package for the year was less than one month of DL membership.

A few of neighbours have converted garages / sheds into mini home gyms saying it will save them quite a bit on two memberships. Think I might look into that.

We have 3 cases too Bigblue wonder if it is the same area (city in SW)

I thought the Guardian article was a bit silly and dramatic. If your only reason for going to the gym is to look good and you hate it fair enough.

Many of us do it for our health, and because we like going. For me it is 'me time' and helps my anxiety.

[quote Orangeblossom78]Typically negative article from the Guardian about the 'corporate' gym

I'm thinking I will go back to my sports centre, i do enjoy it and it is good for mental and physical health. It might not survive if people don't go...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/23/lockdown-gym-toned-abs-hygiene-pandemic[/quote]
There’s a very real threat that community leisure centres and gyms won’t survive if people don’t resume their membership. Which would be devastating for communities for many reasons. I hope people return to them as so much work has been done to make them as safe as possible.

Yes mine is council run and concerned it might not be able to keep going. I also get a good rate due to health conditions which is very useful. I also want to support my yoga teacher who is returning. they may not keep her class on if the numbers fall too much.

Also, health is important in terms of our immune system, another point the Guardian article fails to mention. and prevents diabetes and heart disease, risk factors for the virus...

With all the SD measures I think class sizes will be smaller which makes it even harder to get a place. There are some excellent classes on line and I think some instructors will now do a mix of online and gym.

Ours still seems to be booking 40 on to Zumba classes, 25 for yoga...wonder if this is just as set up from the past online though and won't get that many.

My gyms= is run by the council, and they used to be nearly empty during the school day. If they were as empty as that, I would be right in with no worries. But I expect it will be like my friends who are hillwalkers have encountered out there, everybody and their brother suddenly are out on the trails, with no idea where they are going, dropping rubbish and parking all along these of the motorway as the trailhead parking lots were never meant for more than a couple dozen cars at the most.

When I do go, I am walking in dressed for it, not going in the dressing room longer than it takes to lock my jacket and bag away, (it would be great if they shifted the lockers out to the hallway from the cramped dressing room, actually) then taking it all home again. social distance was already the sort of rule, and they may divide the space up somehow, but still no way am I changing and showering in a communal space.

@Orangeblossom78 I'm in a rural Midlands county.

I'd always assumed that the Texas Medical Association chart was based on those particular activities without any social distancing or other measures in place - e.g. pre-covid - so they're of limited use when working out what risk there is now. I'd want to go and see what the gym is now like before making any decisions.

I don't know. I go to a tiny gym. They are doing circuit training again but slightly different! They've marked out rectangles on the floor like attached. Each person will be in their 2m x 1m rectangle. You'll have a mat, handweights, kettlebell etc., in your rectangle and you stay in your rectangle at all times. Equipment will be sanitised after each group.

I'm not sure as it feels claustrophobic, especially in the middle row. I'm not sure how I feel having people breathing out heavily that close to me. I am contemplating giving it a while and seeing how things go before returning as it doesn't feel safe to me. Am I overreacting about this?

I don't go to the gym at all but if I did I would definitely return now. I will be going swimming as soon as the pools are open I'm really excited

Ours has parent and child spaces too but these are all booked up already. So the small pool must be open alongside the main one. Good to see children are being included in the plans.

Not going near the gym for the moment. I have been doing Pilates and am now adding Joe Wicks kettlebells. I've got some new aches today after my first kettlebell session yesterday!

Our council owned swimming pools and leisure centres aren't opening on Saturday (nor have they given a date)

No way you will get me back at the gym. Heavy/ exaggerated breathing (so singing or during exercise) is one of the most likely ways to spread COVID. I'm very surprised they've been allowed to reopen, it must be purely economically driven.

In lockdown I have taken up other forms of exercise though so I'm not losing out on the health benefits.

My gym has used updates on the steps they are taking to keep everyone safe. No back to back classes so that there is cleaning time in between, no sauna or jacuzzi, no cafe, additional cleaning stations, restrictions on numbers. Am really impressed on what they have done. Have been online and booked my classes.