Gym goers, get out your old duffel bag, water bottle, sneakers, Fitbit, it’s time to get back in the gym! As California gets back in the new-normal swing of things, we are excited to open our doors and welcome new members. Naturally, there have been some changes and precautions in place for the health and safety of our members and staff. This article will have all of the coronavirus tips you need to know to safely get back into the gym!
Are you ready?
Is it Safe to Go to the Gym?
We have all dealt with the stress of living under lockdown and may have even developed some anxiety being around others. There may be a new sense of insecurity that comes with being in crowds, especially indoors, and with high-intensity activities on top. As we enter a more relaxed phase in the post-pandemic world, it is important to put things in perspective to put our minds at ease. Additionally, we will discuss ways to get back into a routine safely and effectively.
Yes, things have been far from normal for well over a year. For months on end, we heard about how unsafe it was to participate in certain activities. However, it is finally time to start putting some of these fears behind us. As more and more Californians receive the covid-19 vaccination, infection rates drop, and as we all collectively understand the best practices to stay safe, our desire is for all our members to walk through our doors feeling safe and comfortable as they seek to get back into a gym and fitness routine.
Coronavirus Tips
Our leadership and staff have taken all the necessary precautions to keep our members safe. We conduct temperature screenings; have structured our gym floor in line with social distance guideline distances between machines, and all our staff takes great care to disinfect between use.
The culture of our gym is one where we all look out for another. We are all here with the common goal of getting healthier and vibrant and the last thing we want is for Covid19 to get in our way. You can rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep our fitness family safe.
Take a Deep Breath
As you pull into our lot, we invite you to take a few seconds to breathe if you are feeling weary at all. Practice “4-4” breathing, that’s a breathing technique where you inhale for four seconds and exhale for four seconds. This simple exercise has a very powerful calming effect.
As you inhale, remind yourself that you are a healthy individual and tell yourself that you are walking into a safe and positive environment. During your exhale, let go of the anxiety that you might be holding onto.
Assess Your Physical State
If you’ve been absent from working out for a few months, chances are you are a little bit out of shape. You might be inclined to jump back into an old routine. Take some time to figure out where you are physically though.
Here are some questions to ask yourself: has your weight changed? Were you able to exercise during quarantine? Do you remember what you used to do at the fitness center? How many repetitions of your favorite exercise can you still do?
Some of these questions will help you get a sense of what your approach should be like when you get back in the swing of things. We are here to help guide you back into that process and we would love to connect you with one of our Meet the Cavalry.
However, if you decide to go at it lone-warrior style, we have a few suggestions:
- Ease into it. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Do not try to jump right back into your old routine. Allow yourself at least two to four weeks to acclimate back into the training life. Our team will help make sure you don’t push yourself in an unhealthy way.
- In a similar vein, consider coming to the gym more often will serve two purposes, getting you accustomed to getting out and about (exposing you, safely, to our facility), and allowing your body to adapt to the physical demands of exercise.
- Mind how hard you’re pushing yourself, take care not to push yourself too hard so your breathing remains within your control.
- This is a great time to try something new. Check out the scheduled classes in our 3 fitness studios. They’re all designed to be fun and engaging and you will also get to meet other inspiring members of the community and make some new friends.
Take Extra Safety Precautions
Don’t forget to wash your hands in the locker rooms when you’re finished! The rates of contraction are way down, but it’s still important to practice good hygiene and take the extra steps to keep your immune system strong, against all infectious diseases.
You Can Do This
We are so excited you’ve made the decision to come back to the gym. We are looking forward to seeing your growth and progress with us. If you have any questions, please reach out to our staff and we will guide you the best way we can. We know things are different, but we are taking all necessary precautions, following the given coronavirus tips and are creating an environment where all our members can feel taken care of. Please keep in mind our policies and procedures are subject to change along with guidelines set by the government and the situation unfolds. However, keep in mind that that you are part of the Fort Fitness family, and we have your health and safety in mind with all that we do. Stay safe, and find your freedom with us!
