Is going to the gym a good idea, at the moment?

Probably, but start preparing to have other options, such as working out at, or around your home (Tips on getting the most useful equipment on all budgets, including free-coming soon! Subscribe for updates at the bottom).

While we don’t have a community outbreak here in New Zealand at the time of this writing, it is eminent. But we can all do our bit to postpone it, slow it down and hopefully, one day in the future, almost eliminate it.

If you are attending a gym, some of the best things you can do to keep your self and others safe are:

• WASH YOUR HANDS, AS SOON AS YOU COME IN – even if you are coming from your home, you’ve probably touched few door handles on the way in. You’ll be protecting your fellow gym buddies, and ultimately yourself, by not spreading it further. (I’ve provided some soap in the room next to the water fountain in the main gym feel free to use it!). MORE INFO
• COUGH OR SNEEZE INTO YOUR ELBOW – It keeps the virus off your hands, so you won’t spread it to other people and make them sick too.
• USE YOUR TOWEL, BUT USE IT WISELY – if you are using the same towel to put on the equipment and then wipe your face, and vice versa, you are likely helping to spread the virus (and the rest!). It’s either an equipment towel or face a towel – a bit like at home, one for the face and one for the toes (and the rest!).
• AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE, ESPECIALLY THE T-ZONE (eyes+nose+mouth) – why we do it and how to stop it 
• START PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING, AKA SOCIAL DISTANCING – Two metres is the recommended physical distance to keep. It doesn’t mean that we have to stop all the banter and fun, we just need to start being conscious of physical distance between us. In practical terms you may want to: use every second treadmill, spread out in classes or ask for the format to be changed (we are changing our boxing class format to a circuit style – we know this is very disappointing, but it is the best thing we can all do, at the moment) and where you can, keep a bit of space. MORE INFO
• WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE GYM – what ever your next stop is (should be a wholesome healthy meal after a good workout, but no judgement here!), don’t take the gym germs (and the rest!) with you. MORE INFO
• STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK – IF you have any of these symptoms:
  • a fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • sneezing or a runny nose

  THEN call your GP, before you visit. If you do not have a GP call Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453. You also need to:

  • stay at home
  • avoid close or prolonged contact with other people
  • stop having visitors to your home, and
  • stay off public transport

Be kind. Stay strong.

#UniteAgainstCOVID19

Alex & Billie

UPCOMING BLOG POSTS:

• Tips on getting the most useful equipment for home training on all budgets, including free! (for the likely event of having to self-isolate)
• Working from home and exercise
• How to exercise for optimal immunity and more…

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