How to Improvise When You Can’t Go To the Gym?
All around the world, people are staying home, sheltering in place, and keeping at least six feet apart from each other. Most gyms are still closed, which leaves you with a big dilemma: how do you stay fit in the era of COVID-19? How do you keep up a regular routine when you can’t get to the trainer you hired or the equipment you need to get and stay strong?
You can improvise at home, that’s how. There are plenty of ways to keep working out while you’re away from the gym, even if you don’t have a set of weights with which to do bicep curls or your own treadmill.
The obvious solution is clicking on one of the many free workout videos on You Tube, clearing away the sofa and chairs in the living room, and doing a routine three or four times a week. You may not find the perfect workout, and the trainer may not be like the person you’ve come to love at your local gym, but it’s something, right?
Options on You Tube abound, with everything from cardio to yoga to stretch classes for seniors available for free. And if you try one you’re not wild about, you haven’t lost anything; tomorrow you can log onto another one, and give it a try. And there are plenty of solutions other than trying to follow a trainer on a computer or TV screen.
If you’re a treadmill fanatic, give running or power walking outdoors a shot. The weather is warming up just about everywhere, and getting fresh air while you exercise is an extra bonus when you’re working up a sweat. Find a path or trail that doesn’t have a lot of foot traffic, if you can, or hit a busy trail during off peak hours. Try early in the morning or supper time, when lots of folks are home taking care of the kids instead of heading out for a run. Just remember — wear a mask, out of respect for other folks you may encounter along the way.
Strength training is trickier, but not impossible. Use canned goods as weights, or bottles of water. Keep a journal of how many reps you’ve done each workout, and at least aim for the same number you do at the gym. That way, once you’re able to go back — and sooner or later you will be able to go back — your trainer will be impressed that you didn’t slack off during COVID-19. Doing squats, lunges, Abs crunches and arm curls is easy at home, providing you with space and motivation, which the hard part is. Many people need the discipline of a trainer to get them inspired to work out, so try to hear their voice while you’re exercising. It will keep you going.
You can’t hit the gym right now but you can work out. Though it’s tempting to ditch your workout for a Netflix binge and a big bowl of buttered popcorn, resisting that urge isn’t just good for your body, it’s good for your heart and soul, too.
These are difficult days right around the globe. Getting some exercise on a consistent basis keeps you sane, trim, and balanced in mind, spirit and body.
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