By Boko Suzuki
Until recently I had a membership at a large gym, which might seem odd to you since I’ve been running a personal training facility for over three years now. But this large gym had amenities like a swimming pool which I used often until coronavirus changed everything. Now of course, the thought of sharing a crowded facility with other members who may or may not be wearing a mask or social distancing seems not worth the risk.
I’ve seen several gym owners online advocating for the return to normal of their large, membership based facilities, using the argument that right now health and fitness should be foremost in people’s minds. I certainly understand that the owners of large gyms want to remain financially viable and I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that one of the best things any of us can do to protect ourselves against the coronavirus is to keep our immune systems strong by leading a healthy lifestyle.
My question is: can that healthy lifestyle only exist within the walls of a large commercial gym? I think the answer is clearly no. I, like everyone, am hoping for a return to normal life, and I look forward to being able to use things like a swimming pool again. But I think the idea that we can only get fit on machines in a commercial gym is a fallacy and one of the traps that have led to us becoming a profoundly unhealthy nation.
Here’s why: most of us at various times have resolved to get fit and, although those resolutions are usually well intentioned, they tend to become derailed easily. If you join a gym more than 3 miles from your house, statistically you’re unlikely to use it regularly. If the hours or the ambience or the equipment don’t suit you, the gym becomes an impediment to working out rather than a motivator.
Here are some ideas for improving your fitness without needing a gym:
· Cardiovascular fitness doesn’t have to mean getting on a treadmill or elliptical: walking, hiking, running, cycling, rollerblading, jumping rope, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, tennis, martial arts, tai chi, yoga – these are just a few activities that you can do outdoors while observing social distancing.
· Strength training doesn’t have to mean machines or “lifting”: body weight exercises like body weight squats, lunges, pushups or pullups, resistance band work, kettlebells – these are not only all easily done outside a gym but they are also cost effective. Having an elaborate home gym setup is nice but hardly necessary.
· Getting healthy and boosting your immune system doesn’t mean just cardio and strength: paying attention to your sleep, nutrition, hydration and stress levels is vital; simple breathing exercises can have a huge positive effect; mobility and body awareness work can vastly improve the quality of your movements and your overall enjoyment of life.
· Working with a highly qualified fitness professional 1-on-1 can give you the tools you need to do the preceding health and fitness work. Is this self serving? Yes it is! Do I believe in this passionately? Absolutely!
No one can give you a bulletproof guarantee that you won’t contract COVID-19. But thinking outside the commercial gym setting and doing the little things to get fitter and healthier can help. Look at it this way: no one I’ve ever worked with has regretted getting fitter and healthier.