To think that we need to Reopen Gyms

[Coconut1978]

With the weather this time of year it’s so horrible to exercise outside and the parks are packed making it difficult to run.

It’s really hurting my mental and physical health not being able to adequately exercise.

I’m at a low risk of covid if I was infected and have already had the virus and recovered.

We know that obese nations like the US, UK and Mexico have done worse with the virus than nations like Japan and the Netherlands who are healthier.

I think as long as numbers are managed you should be able to book to use the gym and social distance and clean in there.

There are so few cases linked to gyms and they are a really low infection risk but are so beneficial to many of our mental and physical health.

Aibu to think gyms should be included in our daily exercise given our climate and poor health.

I think ventilation in gyms may not be that good - probably outdoors is better. not ideal with weather etc for exercise, but it is possible to go for a walk if you time it right - maybe early morning?

Coconut1978 I love my gym and was going regularly when they reopened, though so many stayed away. I get it.
But they can’t prioritise gyms over schools.

Running in a park is such a cliche. Why would you need to head to this set place for a run? The streets are much quieter - here’s a tip go out just around sunset every day. Most walkers are back at home/ streets so empty of cars you can run on the road which is so much nicer than bumpy pavements. Don’t wear headphones so you can hear a car coming and move if needed. But it’s truly a joy, running on near empty streets as the sunsets.

Look up madfit on YouTube for amazing 15 min toning workouts, no equipment needed. But they really work.

Completely agree, I've slipped and fallen 4x in a week now due to the weather.

Exercise stops me reaching for booze during this shitty time. 2 bed flat too OP. Barely any space at all.
Sick of the dirty looks I get from people walking dogs etc yet it's me that has to run in the road. Oh and I have tried running at 5am etc but while it's still dark I feel vulnerable

Completely agree with you OP and everything Bogroll says (except we don't have Lego!) It seems ludicrous that we are getting fatter and less fit when exactly the opposite is needed. Particularly for older people who rely on swimming or equipment to avoid injury.

It is very easy for gyms to be made clean and safe and for social distancing to be maintained.

I'm not convinced it is. I haven't been to my gym since February. People I know from my dance aerobics who did go when they were briefly open say that, while classes seemed safe (in a gigantic sports hall, big squares marked out for each person etc), people in the areas for weights and treadmills etc were careless about distancing.
And now, with the more transmissible variant, I wouldn't fancy my chances even in a sports hall.

I am missing group classes greatly, but I've accepted that I just have to deal with it.

Making gyms clean and safe is only as good as the people who use them.

If people don’t wipe down after themselves properly (not just a quick wipe), or go when they are ill, or meet people they shouldn’t then all the good work of staff is easily undone

YABU - is very difficult to keep gyms COVID clear - people heavy breathing all the time and little airflow. It's a recipe for disaster.

yabu
not many people use gyms compared to exercising in parks etc.

and for the weather, sorry that's just an excuse. on the plus side shit weather means less people about

imo gyms and swimming should open for physio treatments though.

Absolutely not! You can exercise without the gum and if you can't think how, you need better imagination.

So many exercise available online that can be done at home and of course everyone can exercise outside.

There are no good reasons at all to open gyms when everything else is closed.

Oh god how I'd love to go and do my classes at the gym, I'd prioritise that over sitting in the pub with a large Sav (that's my second favourite thing to do). I'm so bored at weekends and was at a real low last Saturday. I'm exercising (and drinking) at home but not the same. Gyms did not contribute to the rise in numbers.

People definitely didnt always clean their equipment after. no one was monitoring it or telling them to if they didnt, apart from one board with it written on. Plus people were using equipment with friends from another household and pretty sure a lot of them didnt bother wiping between sets so transferring stuff between each other.

@Desmondo2016

You can absolutely exercise anywhere and in a 1 bedroom flat without any equipment. No gyms should not reopen at this time. Pretty sure the parks aren't packed at 7am or 8pm. In the space you've got in your bedroom where you get dressed you can easily do a very effective fill body cardio and strength workout if you're committed to it

In my first flat, the 'space where I got dressed' had the bed in it.

When I've gone past the parks at 7am on the bus on the way to work (when sunrise is before 7), there are lots of people in them. I wouldn't know about 8pm because they're all locked at sunset to avoid illicit activity/crime. In the summer, they're packed then, though.

In my lunch 30 minutes, it takes 14 to walk to some greenery and 14 to walk back. It's bloody boring walking up and down a knackered concrete path on the edge of a busy main road - and there's no time for actually eating then. Not great for breathing, either, with the amount of traffic that rumbles past. That and I have to be careful not to cause further damage to my joints - the entire reason why I am supposed to use a gym/pool for controlled, safe movements in a safe environment.

I wish they'd reopen. But they aren't going to in the very near future.

@Sirzy

Making gyms clean and safe is only as good as the people who use them.

If people don’t wipe down after themselves properly (not just a quick wipe), or go when they are ill, or meet people they shouldn’t then all the good work of staff is easily undone

I think in some parts of Australia, or perhaps all they have to have a Covid marshall to open. Might be an idea for reopening here.

Without mitigation, gyms look to be moderate/high risk, which is what you'd expect. Probably lower with more mitigation, but lots of the stuff I can find about gyms with mitigation seems to suffer from cases in general being low and not many people with covid going to the gym.

I way should gyms open before schools. I don’t think it would be financially viable for gyms to open for only a few people at a time either. Don’t forget they’re private companies, not government funded unless a local leisure centre.

Definitely! I was a member at pure gym and they went above and beyond. Felt safer there then in a supermarket. Cleaning stations throughout. Use before and afterwards on all equipment, limited numbers and everything was spread out.

There is so much stuff you can do on line at the moment!
I've done kettlebells, pilates and band fit training this week all on zoom but there are loads of free things on you tube & Facebook!
Dance glasses, yoga HIT work outs! I shuffle off to the utility room to do my classes so I don't get in everyone's way so large amounts of space not required!

I normally do the gym and classes but actually I'm enjoying the home work outs more!

Why should they? No one should be doing anything bar the essentials and a bit of outdoor exercise.

You can do as much outdoor exercise as you like, there is no limit providing you stay local.

Our BETTER gym, swimming pool and leisure centre was the only place where people roamed free (right up until the most recent closure) without masks - both staff and customers.

The changing rooms were filthy. There was nothing in place for social distancing etc It was the MOST likely place to catch COVID.

I miss going there. So much. But there's no way that should be one of the first places to open.

Yes, and no.

I think it's really important for mental and physical health that gyms are open and it also means people clogging up the parks and the paths.

However, they certainly aren't Covid safe. No masks, sweaty people using the same equipment all day. Social distancing difficult.

Completely agree OP. Yes i can run, but no option to do any weights.

Gyms need to open, they should never have closed, and should be classed as essential

My gym and lesiure centre were perfectly safe, equipment cleaned after every use, and the gym staff cleaning as well. Limited people allowed in. I've never know the gym to be so nice and clean!

@Lazypuppy

My gym and lesiure centre were perfectly safe, equipment cleaned after every use, and the gym staff cleaning as well. Limited people allowed in. I've never know the gym to be so nice and clean!

Same with climbing wall. Constant hand sanitising and no contacts traced at all from all the users. All users had to scan in and numbers were very limited

School shouldn't neccessary be the first thing to open if there are other low risk activitys that could be opened before.