As people continue to struggle with the impacts of quarantine due to the coronavirus, many people have had to find ways to replace or drastically alter the things they used to enjoy doing. Many restaurants, bars, and retail stores have had to close to help slow the spread of the virus. Realistically, almost any business (save for a few essential ones such as grocery stores and gas stations) have had to shut down any of their operations which create large congregations of people. One of the most relevant types of businesses related to people’s health which have been forced to close are exercise and fitness gyms. Many people rely on their gym memberships in order to keep themselves in good shape and good health, so their sudden unavailability has been a drastic and unwelcome change. However, there are still ways to maintain your fitness while still following social distancing guidelines. In this post, I’ll explain some of the scientific evidence supporting the importance of exercise for both mental and physical health, as well as some different exercises that people can do either at home, or while still practicing social distancing.
You have probably heard people say before that “exercise is good for you!”, or something similar. Of course, everyone knows that exercise is vital for your body’s overall wellbeing and health, and can drastically decrease the likelihood of chronic illnesses such as coronary artery disease (Penedo, Dahn, 2005). However, what some people may not know is that exercise and physical activity can also benefit your mental health. A 2009 study found an overwhelming association between mental disorders and a lack of physical activity (Saxena, Van Ommeren, Tang & Armstrong, 2005). Because of these various benefits, it is a good idea for people to try to maintain some regimine of physical activity within their daily lives. But how can this be done while gyms are closed due to coronavirus, in order to accrue these benefits? In the remainder of this post, I will give some examples of ways you can still exercise while abiding by government regulations related to COVID-19.
Home Exercise
There are various methods of home exercise which individuals can practice while quarantined. Depending on the resources you have available to you, there are a wide variety of exercises which can be done within your living room or bedroom. Even without any equipment, there are many exercises you can still do at home. YouTube is a great resource for finding workouts and workout programs to do at home. Because it is a video based platform, you can see exactly how to do a particular exercise or stretch, so you know if you are using the proper technique.
Another important resource to consider when planning at home workouts is online marketplaces. Online retailers such as Amazon and eBay are still offering home delivery, as well as other sellers with an online shopping option, such as WalMart and Target. Using these websites, you can shop for additional workout and exercise equipment to bolster the effectiveness of the exercises you are doing.
Outdoor Exercise
Outdoor exercise is still an option! As long as you are taking necessary precautions, such as maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face covering when appropriate, you can still do some exercises outside. Biking is especially popular, and jogging, running, or walking are great ways to get cardio fitness. Hiking can also be a good way to burn calories, but as previously stated, be sure to maintain social distancing while on the trails. As an added benefit, it can be good for your mental health to get out of the house and spend time in nature (Hari, 2018).
One final important note is to make sure you cancel or postpone your payments on a gym membership, if you haven’t done so already. Gym memberships can be expensive, so if you aren’t going to be able to use yours you shouldn’t still be paying for it. However, just because you don’t have a gym to go to, doesn’t mean you can’t still get your exercise, as evidenced by this blog post. Stay safe, and stay healthy!
Sources:
Hari, J. (2018). Lost Connections Why You're Depressed and How to Find Hope.
New York, NY: Bloomsbury.
Penedo, Frank Ja; Dahn, Jason Ra,b Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity, Current Opinion in Psychiatry: March 2005 - Volume 18 - Issue 2 - p 189-193
S. Saxena, M. Van Ommeren, K. C. Tang & T. P. Armstrong (2005) Mental health benefits of physical activity, Journal of Mental Health, 14:5, 445-451, DOI: 10.1080/09638230500270776