To Gym or Not to Gym?

     COVID-19 may have drastically changed the way we see the world and possibly impact decisions we make about our own health for the future. Many of you may have begun the new year with fitness goals in mind and were poised to fulfil these ambitions this year. Maybe some of you were already engaged in some sort of fitness training and felt unstoppable. Maybe you had that unbreakable gym schedule, that routine of work, school, gym, home in whatever order suited you. It seems unreal now, but in the not so distant past, gyms were loaded with people. It was either very annoying or quite enjoyable, pending if you’re the type of person that can handle the crowds.  

     Now we are faced with one of the most severe global health crises the world has seen in 100 years. As the county trickles with re-opening, I’m sure you cannot help but grapple with the question of “is it safe to go back to the gym”?  Should we risk bring infection back to our families? How will I stay fit and healthy if I cannot go to the gym? And how can I work out with a mask on my face?  I believe people may have become used to the idea that in order to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle, we had to lift dumbbells in front of a mirror and watch ourselves grow, or that we needed to run on that beefy treadmill in order to lose weight. Although if you spend enough time at the gym that may be apparent, it is another thing to realize that maybe it is ok to skip the gym and with small adaptations you can grow into a new fitness regimen free of risking the health of you or your family. 

     Again, as the world tackles the pandemic and provides us with timetables of potential vaccines being ready at years end, that does not mean your physic must wait a year either. With a little creativity, a couple YouTube videos, or a chat with a physical therapist, you can learn how to exercise minus the fancy equipment. It doesn’t take much really, other than the mentality of - that’s how they used to train in the old days.  Take a minute and evaluate your own residence. Is there a place to thrown down an exercise matt and crank out some pushups, abdominal work, or squats? Is it all unusual to think that we can become stronger with just the use of an exercise matt (or carpet) if we only adapt our thinking and utilize our own resources? 

     Here are some thoughts for you. Number one, I believe you can! I truly believe that you can adapt your normal routine outside of the gym and still achieve your goals. You are fully capable to engage in active and fit lifestyle. Number two, use the environment around you, for example maybe use a chair to work on some dips. Use a matt while you plank, or lunge down your hallway. Maybe speed up the routine and challenge your cardio fitness. Number three, be resourceful and creative with what you have when you want to add some resistance. Weights are expensive now if you can even find any!  Think outside the box and try lifting a gallon of water during your squat routine. Don’t forget inexpensive resistive bands are very helpful and just as challenging to work with.

     In conclusion, I do not think need to give up your exercise routine and healthy lifestyle during these challenging times. Personally, for me exercise was a way to vent the everyday stress of life away and I know that was the case for many of you as well pre-COVID. Now among the many challenges and adaptations we are facing, I challenge you to adapt your exercise lifestyle today. This maybe something you do temporarily, or it may start you on the path of something new in the future.
     
​     -Anthony Durant PT, DPT