Can We Still Exercise During Covid-19?
Last updated: 4 January 2021 (Phase Three)
The answer is YES. Most of us are afraid of catching the virus. Besides washing our hands regularly and practicing good personal hygiene, boosting our immune system can also reduce our likeliness to fall sick. This includes resting well, eating a healthy diet (does not include packets of instant noodles and canned foods), and exercising regularly.
If you are not sick, there is no reason why you should stop exercising. Besides doing home workouts and full body stretches here are some helpful tips to keep yourself safe when exercising in public/shared spaces (while following the safe management measures).
Gym
Just like in every enclosed air-conditioned space, the virus is more prone to survive than in the hotter outdoors. However, this does not mean that you should avoid the gym. Do ensure that your gym practices good hygiene and clean their equipment and machines regularly. If you are still not confident about the cleanliness of the facility, most gyms provide cleaning agents for your use. You can do dumbbell exercises so you only have to clean just one or two dumbbells. In addition, remember to wash your hands before and after your workout before touching your face. You are unlikely to get infected unless there is someone coughing or sneezing, which is improbable since people should not be exercising when they are feeling unwell in the first place.
Fitness Classes
As fitness classes generally do not require physical contact with one another, it is fairly safe to attend. Those feeling unwell will not be allowed to participate in the class. Keep in mind that high-fives and handshakes are also a form of physical contact so it is not recommended. Do remember to keep about 2-3 meters away from other participants depending on the physical intensity of the class.
Running/Walking
Running and walking are individual activities with zero physical contact with another individual. In addition, both running and walking have also been proven to reduce stress which helps in increasing your immune system. If you would like to improve your running posture and performance, contact us to enquire about our running coach, Eugene Quan. We are confident that you will be able to run more efficiently and effectively through his coaching.
Swimming
It is safe to swim as the water will negate the effects of the virus. However if you linger around the pool side, you may still catch the virus from dry areas such as the tables or chairs. Source: 8 Days
Indoor Sports
Although viruses tend to prefer the much cooler indoors, you can choose to participate in sports that do not require person-to-person contact such as table tennis, badminton, and squash. Do make sure you are following the safe distancing measures! Avoid anyone coughing or sneezing and kindly ask them to see a doctor.
Outdoor Sports
You are strongly encouraged to go outdoors as there is more ventilation with lower chance of getting infected by the virus in addition to soaking in the Vitamin D. Sports that have minimal physical contact such as tennis, cycling, and kayaking are preferred to sports that have closer proximity like soccer and basketball. However, if you are renting equipment, you may want to clean them before and after use.
Online Coaching
However, we understand that not everyone is comfortable to do the activities mentioned above. So we decided to launch our kickstarter online services to better guide you on your fitness journey. You will receive both exercise and nutrition coaching which will include weekly habits & check-ins with our professional coaches to kickstart a sustainable lifestyle during this COVID-19.