Posted by Tia Patel | JUL-21-2020
The return of the gym goer
Did you know that gym weights carry 362 times as many bacteria as a toilet seat? Or, that treadmills have 74 times more bacteria than a tap in a public toilet? What about the fact that exercise bikes had 39 times more bacteria than a tray from a well known fast food restaurant?
With gyms around the country closed for the majority of the past year in order to control the spread of the coronavirus and with facts like the above, we can totally understand why!
Gyms are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria and with the reopening set to happen this week, it's important to know what changes have been made and what you can do to stay safe.
What to expect?
There has been some changes at the gym...
Booking. A last minute decision to go attend a class will no longer be allowed with many gyms requesting earlier arrival times and pre-booking. Geoff Bamber, CEO and co-founder of Digme Fitness, has said that they will ask all customers to arrive earlier, with amendments made to the timetable to allow class participants to fully exit the studio before the next class begins.
You'll need to arrive in your kit. To reduce the amount of time spent at your gym facility, many gyms will be closing their changing facilities and lockers are likely to be out of bounds. Therefore it’s essential that you arrive ready in your kit.
No more showering. Some gyms will also close their showers, while others will reduce the number that are open to allow for social distancing. Gym-goers will instead be encouraged to wash at home after a workout session.
Prepare to have your temperature checked. Many gyms will require clients to have their temperature taken at the door with David Lloyd gyms trialling a discreet thermo-scanner to take your temperature the minute you walk in the door.
Gym equipment will be spread out. Once your gym reopens, you may find that the number of machines available for use is reduced. Jonathan Sattin, founder of triyoga has said that there will be one metre distancing between mats with planned flows to ensure that social distancing can be kept at all times. Similarly at PureGym, user numbers of equipment will be monitored and limited with extra cleaning taking place.
5 tips for a successful return
1. Give yourself 48 hours rest between each session to allow muscles to recover and prepare for the next workout.
2. Don't pick up the same weight you used pre-lockdown, we suggest starting at 50% and gradually increasing by 10% each week.
3. Warm up at the start of your workout targeting the muscles you will use to increase mobility and activation of the muscles.
4. Eat well and sleep well - nutrition and rest gives you energy to maximise on your workout.
5. Ice any niggles to avoid injury ❄️
Prevent injury on your return to the gym
Read the Importance of strength and conditioning training here
Watch this video on treating injuries with your 3 in 1 gel pack.
Sold out
How to protect yourself at the gym?
Stay home if you're unwell. The most up-to-date version of coronavirus symptoms by the NHS includes a temperature, new or persistent cough and loss of taste or sense of smell. For anyone experiencing these symptoms, it's important to self-isolate at home so you don’t spread the virus.
Bring your own equipment. With water fountains likely to be out of use, it's important to bring your own full water bottle. For anyone doing yoga or pilates, you may also be required to bring your own mat.
Use hand sanitising stations. There will likely be hand sanitisers stations on arrival and throughout the gym, it's important to use these regularly to minimise the spread of the virus. If you do use the changing room, it's important you wash your hands correctly. Follow this simple guide using Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Follow the social distancing signs. Keep to one-way systems and try to stay at least two metres from others as much as possible.
Clean your equipment and mats. You are encouraged to do this before and after working out using sanitising stations around the gym.
Keep to a one-hour workout max. This is so that other members can use the gym if it is at maximum capacity.
Exercise is important for keeping a fit and healthy lifestyle! However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to the gym to workout. Why not give some of our other blog posts a read to kick start a new journey into open water swimming or trail running. After all, nature is a more natural form of medicine, keeping us healthy both physically and mentally.
Check out this if you want to learn more about why you should use a gel pack!
