Coronavirus impacted us all and those around us. Gyms and centres of yoga are no different, they are ready to be reopened after they have been closed for almost a year. But many of us have been suspicious of the ambiguity of the coronavirus pandemic in the gym or yoga facilities. The measures we need to take to avoid the coronavirus are quite well known to us now.
The most serious risk of contracting coronavirus is getting close contact with other individuals and being exposed to their respiratory droplets, which are spread by coughing, sneezing, or breathing heavily. Gyms are challenging because you are in a comparatively confined space and are usually difficult to keep social distance, therefore the major precaution is to maintain distance from people and to uphold proper hygienic practices. Some of the best ways to protect yourself from others at the gym in this pandemic situations are mentioned below;
Follow Gym’s Safety Protocols
First of all, it is necessary to be aware of all the safety rules and protocols of your gym, and unlike other random days, you must follow every protocol strictly. Many gyms have restricted the people count per session, so wait for your turn and try to work out during off-peak times to reduce the risk of this viral disease. Use every facility at the gym like; locker rooms, saunas, showers, and restrooms with directed protocols.
Maintain Social Distance
Most of the gyms have very confined spaces as many of them also bulked with machines and equipment therefore it is sometimes difficult to maintain the required distance. However, during such pandemic situations, it is mandatory to maintain at least six feet distance from others because of safety reasons, so one should wait for his/her turn or should pick an alternative workout. A better option is that one must book his workout hours online beforehand despite waiting outside.
Use A Face Cover
It is sometimes difficult to cover your face during heavy workouts as it might bring a big inconvenience in breathing. However, everybody knows that the virus enters primarily through your nose and mouth and one could hardly resist touching his face therefore wearing a mask all the time makes a safety barrier for you. Also, try to switch towards mild workouts at the gym so the heavy breathing would not bring you inconvenience.
Practice Hand Hygiene
Make sure you sanitize your hands before moving on to another exercise machine. Clean the handles of facilities with disinfectant wipes before and after use. While using equipment, use a lot of hand sanitizer to clean your hands. Avoid touching frequently contacted surfaces such as locker-room doors, changing room doors, and restrooms especially. After touching regularly accessed areas and after finishing your workout, make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
Don’t Touch Your Face
It's impossible not to touch your face when you're dripping sweat. In between workouts, wipe your face with a sanitized towel or tissue instead of using your hands. Make sure to keep extra towels in case you perspire a lot. Start to put the used towels or tissues in a different compartment of your bag and a different zip may be reserved for sanitized supplies.
Avoid Heavy Breathing Workouts
Since these workouts intensify your breathing rate and speed, you may unknowingly spread the virus or become infected by others. Exhalation droplets can pass a distance of more than 6 feet when heavy breathing is used. So, for a change of pace, make an alternate workout or use large outdoor spaces for such heavy exercises, keeping a distance of at least 12 feet.
Remain Conscious About the Symptoms
You have to be responsible for your health and the health of your household. So, if you're experiencing any symptoms, stay at home. Do not go to the gym or any other public facility if you have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, shortness of breath, coughing, or diarrhea because health and safety always come first.
