(Yes, this is clickbait.)
Over the past week a certain fitness influencer’s video went viral for all the wrong reasons. I was planning on doing a takedown, but Pinoy internet beat me to it so I won’t need to address that anymore. But that incident led me to think about why people go to the gym in the first place, and how we can still stay fit at home and don’t need to go if we’re not comfortable about the risk of viral exposure.
While gyms have adopted strict safety protocols that decrease crowding and improve sanitation and airflow, if you’re still not comfortable going to one I’m here to tell you you don’t have to.
As a former fitness professional and with many friends still in the industry I do feel for the financial crunch felt by trainers and gym owners. But concerns about the coronavirus are valid; while I haven’t completely cancelled my gym membership I did opt to freeze my account for the next six months. Like many people, I’ve taken a wait-and-see attitude about returning to the gym. Even though studies and statistics are coming out that gyms in places with few COVID-19 cases are no greater vectors for exposure than workplaces and supermarkets, how widespread the coronavirus is in our communities as well as the social nature of Filipinos may drive transmission here. I want to see that gyms here are safe before venturing out at least three times a week to exercise in that sort of facility.
People get gym memberships primarily so they can access exercise equipment without having to pay the full amount for their purchase and upkeep. For many gym-goers, the gym is also their social circle where they can meet up with friends. And of course the gym is also where many people are able to find and hire the expert help they need to reach their fitness goals.
But while the country was in strict lockdown, the contestants of the Century Tuna Superbods were able to keep themselves fit, healthy, and strong even with at-home workouts and they looked fabulous at the recently concluded Finals which was filmed in an actual events space according to DOH and FDCP safety guidelines for filming. So this certainly debunks the claim that you can only get fit and healthy in a gym setting.
Watch my full vlog below.
So how do you stay fit without gym access? In my experience, I’ve gone running outdoors, cycled on a bike trainer indoors, used suspension training as well as body weight exercises, and done workouts from Nike Training Club as well as other fitness professionals on Youtube. I’ve also subscribed to Les Mills On Demand and similar programs, while I have friends who use Zoom to meet their personal trainers and attend group fitness classes.
The world has changed, and those businesses and trainers who can pivot along with it will see the most uptake and success during this time.
