A Few More Days From Home

Gym’s still haven’t opened yet here in the UK, and there’s still no official date when they will. But I’ve seen videos and reports as well as heard from people in other countries as to how gyms are dealing with the new rules, the ‘new normal’ as it’s being called.

My own gym has actually sent out a video to describe what they will be doing to adhere to the new regulations. It will limit capacity, so it can adhere to the social distancing guidelines, while ‘strictly’ ensuring that people are keeping their distance on the gym floor. They have moved the cardio equipment and put some out of commission to ensure people don’t use side by side treadmills or bikes as such where all the sweat moves. While promising better hygiene and more rigorous cleaning regiment, they will finally provide the gym floor with sprays and antibacterial foams for members to use to wipe down the equipment after use.

While I’m excited to get back to the gym and use some full equipment and machines again, I will probably wait a short while and ask my gym mates if the new rules are actually being kept. Some reports from gyms open in other countries are that people aren’t really following the social distancing rules and the gyms aren’t really keeping to their strict cleaning regiments.

Unfortunately, I have reservations about my own gym for several reasons. It’s highly oversubscribed, they rarely kept it clean or had a cleaning crew, and never provided hand sanitizer or sprays to wipe down the equipment. We as members asked for it, but they always said “it’s not in the budget” which worries me about how it will fit in the budget now. But I will wait and see how it is.

I do really want to go back to the gym, but it needs to be done in a safe way. I have managed and almost enjoyed training from home four to six times a week. It’s been a challenge at times and brought me back to some basic training methods and exercise that I have sidestepped and neglected over the past few years. Not having a choice has made it easier to do of course, but it’s been enjoyable at times. I will keep doing it this way as long as I must.