Are you ready to go back to the gym?

[Alloverthegrapevine]

I don't use the gym much but I do enjoy some of the classes and have booked a yoga class and spin for this week.

Now I'm wondering how safe/sensible that is. I've enjoyed exercising outdoors. My poor body has missed the yoga but I don't need the spin, I fancy it for the social element I suppose, I'd probably have a coffee after with people I haven't seen in a while, but I can do without and I guess if I really missed them I'd have arranged to meet before now.

Are you ready/comfortable to go back?

I'm in Scotland so we don't know when gyms are reopening yet. I'd love to be able to go. I'm up over a stone since lockdown began and I know this is completely my fault but the gym being open would help me get back into a routine of exercising

No. I’m shielding anyhow but my GP practice also emailed all its patients last week to say outdoor exercise remains safer.

I’m sticking to zoom classes and the park for now even though I’d love to go back to spinning.

I have been attending the gym for the past 5 to 6 weeks. All the classes have been outdoors. All stations sanitised. No-one that of has contracted covid or reported that they have to self isolate to the club. The instructors clean and sanitise the areas have not had any infections. The club moved the classes indoors this weekend..........not entirely convinced to be honest even with social distance in place.......

Went to my gym this morning - arrived at 5am (iut was unstaffed until 6am , took my temperature but totally missed the hand sanitizing station sitting about 1 foot to my left! Fortunately I'd washed my hands before leaving home and didn't touch anything on the walk to the gym.

Lots of yellow/black tape marking out walkways, one way systems and areas around stations, several more sanitizing stations to normal, no TV (I usually watch Judge Rinder whilst warming up on the bike) and lots of barriers between treadmills. Everyone sprayed weights and bars after use but not many did the plates too. Probably the same number of people in there as normal at that time of day.

I will be back in there tomorrow

I'm booked in for when mine opens, there are so many slots where noone has booked but me! I switched to classes and thats where eryone is at! So it's far safer for me to be in the gym on my own...feels like my own my private gym

Think it helps that we can only book a class or gym not both on the same day.

I bought free weights for a few pounds on Amazon to use at home. Can’t see any point in going to the gym to use theirs.

Dear God no. Honestly can’t believe they are allowed to be opened.

Not yet

I’ve been swimming for the past 4 days. Spaces are limited by booking online. One way systems and lots of hand sanitisers. You wear Cossie under clothes and undress by the side of the pool. You’re allowed to shower and dress in the changing rooms, just not use the lockers. It felt fine, very quiet, safe and clean.

Already been.
It was lovely.
Lots of my over 70 friends were there.
Shall be there every day getting fit again

I’ve been twice since mine reopened. I wasn’t at all nervous about going. Some of the equipment has been removed so the rest is more spaced out and you are encouraged to spray down your equipment after use.

I don't see how it will work in my gym. The studios are indoors with no windows just air con. I'm desperate to go back especially as I've now changed jobs and I'm sedentary. If one person in the small studio had Covid-19 I reckon the majority of us would get infected.

In 5 weeks I will be teaching up to 36 students in a confined space for 60 minutes at a time with no PPE, a large gym with social distancing and a maximum of 30 people at a time feels safer and it's good for my physical and mental health, so yes I'm happy to go to the gym.

@Egghead68

I bought free weights for a few pounds on Amazon to use at home. Can’t see any point in going to the gym to use theirs.

How did you manage to get free weights for a few pounds on amazon??? Even a basic bodypump style bar was over £100 when I looked and for an actual olympic bar you're looking at £130 before adding any weight, plates up to 100kg is around another grand. Then I'd need a squat rack and bench. Plus dumbbells maybe up to 20kg....

I have a very basic set up at home, and have only had a barbell up to 20kg plus dumbbells up to 5kg (plus lots of functional fitness equipment), so I was very happy to go back to the gym to use theirs (my muscles are not quite so happy to have had 2 proper workouts, but they will be once the doms has reduced).

Local gym, in a very small, barely affected town. Everyone cleaning equipment before and after use. Sanitation stations dotted round. Staff also cleaning equipment at regular intervals. Dots on floor for classes so you know your space.

No Zumba for a couple of months until we get used to the new arrangements, but did yoga yesterday and will be doing spin 3x this week. All the other classes I do outside with my instructor so no issue.

Certainly not to one with air-con, no - I can't believe people are. You only have to look at studies of how the virus spread in restaurants pre-lockdown to see why deep breathing and air-con are a very bad idea.

Do they mean hand weights? I got those cheaply in TK Maxx I think it was, before all this.

I'm vaguely wondering about re-joining Fitness First does anyone go there? Apparently it is really quiet. It is quite expensive though and the sauna and steam room would obviously not be open. Just to use the pool.

Hand weights, kettle weights and a bar thing.

German gyms have been open since May - no outbreaks
Swedish gyms never closed - no outbreaks

being unfit and overweight is a MASSIVE risk factor for COVID and other diseases

I'm off to my gym again today

I've already cancelled my membership. I know exercise is good for the nation, but I can't see how gyms are not massive germ factories at the best of times - air con, heavy breathing, sweating, equipment sharing etc. I know gym's will be super vigilant with hygiene, but I just think why take the risk. I'll stick to Les Mills on Demand, Yoga with Adriene and running for now. I do miss swimming though.

I'll be going bk as soon as it's open still closed here in Scotland 😕

Had my second visit today! Loved it. They have a one way system in and out building. Cleaning stations throughout for equipment before and after use. Everything is spaced apart. Limited entry but they've been quiet whenever I've gone

Yes been twice and yoga booked for tonight. Both times there were only 3 people in and was lovely!

I went for a weights session yesterday and enjoyed it. I went to an independent bodybuilding gym as you can PAYG and the cardio, lighter weights area is mostly empty.

I'm running outdoors for my cardio and will continue to do so, but I'd planned to do that before covid anyway.

No.
I'm not prepared to risk it. I desperately miss my HIIT teacher and group but it's too much at the moment.

I have just come back from my second visit. Upsides and down sides. No air conditioning so hotter than usual, but back doors were open. No showers or changing rooms, so I had to walk through town in my sweaty gym kit. No water available, so I took two bottles this time. Not very crowded. Every other running machine is out of use, to space things out, and there is a clear one way system. Lots of sanitiser and disinfectant available. I was wiping hand grips etc before and after use but I noticed not everyone was. One twat was cocking about expressing loudly his disbelief and displeasure at all the changes made for this “non existent virus” so that didn’t fill me with confidence that he would be at all safe to be near.