How to stay fi t when social
distancing during the pandemic
COURIER LIFE, JUNE 5-11, 2020 21
Many people consider
their gyms much more
than a place to exercise.
A gym can be a great place to
socialize while trying to stay
healthy. Having friends or fellow
fi tness enthusiasts around
also can provide the motivation
many people need to stay
the course and achieve their
fi tness goals.
The International Health,
Racquet & Sportsclub Association
says more than 70
million consumers visited
health clubs in 2017. That
marked a record high since
IHRSA began tracking data
in 1987. Fitness memberships
also are popular in
Canada. GoodLife, the largest
fitness club in Canada,
has 400 different locations
and more than 1.5 million
members.
Fitness centers were
among the many non-essential
businesses forced to shutter
as a result of COVID-19,
forcing fi tness enthusiasts
to fi nd new ways to stay mentally
and physically fi t. Many
creative ideas have surfaced.
• Online classes: An internet
connection is all that’s
necessary to find a number
of workouts that can
be streamed from the comfort
of home. The streaming
website YouTube can be a
gold mine for free workouts.
Some cable service providers
also may have On Demand
fitness channels or rentals
that can mirror some of the
classes taken at the gym.
• Social apps: Gym-goers
can inquire whether their
gyms are offering alternative
programs. For example,
Jersey Strong, a fi tness chain
in New Jersey, began livestreaming
many of its popular
group fi tness classes via a
special Facebook page. Class
instructors guide classes
from their own homes or
from empty gyms. Other
gyms may provide links to
subscriber-based gym training
workouts free of charge.
• The great outdoors:
Even though some parks,
beaches and trails have
been closed, workouts can
take place in and around
the neighborhood. Jogging
or walking can be excellent
cardiovascular exercises,
as can taking a bicycle ride
for a few miles down neighborhood
streets. People who
live in rural areas can run
through forested land or
even farmland. Pushups, situps,
planks, and other body
weight exercises can be done
right in the backyard. Before
making a decision about
whether or not to be active
outside, be sure to check the
latest guidance from your local
health department and
community or state leaders.
• Remote sports: Videos
of city dwellers playing
tennis across roof tops for
much-needed air and exercise
have emerged in recent
weeks. Similar benefits can
be achieved with a game
of catch, volleyball or racquet
sports over fences with
neighbors, provided limits
on participants are placed
and social distancing is
maintained.
Staying fit during
COVID-19 restrictions takes
some ingenuity, but it’s certainly
possible to maintain
your overall health. In fact,
some people have found they
now have more time to exercise
than they did before.
Health