No matter what your favorite way to sweat is, we know how important it is to keep up a consistent workout routine to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Hopefully, you have been keeping up a good exercise regime using one of our virtual training programs while our Fit clubs are temporarily closed. However, we understand that you enjoy working out at the gym for a plethora of reasons like the equipment, environment, personal training, classes, and culture to name a few. It is challenging to stay motivated when you are thrown off of your routine. So, don’t feel bad if you’ve taken a step back without having access to your usual amenities. We miss seeing your shining faces in person as much as you miss having access to the facilities, and we can’t wait to get you back to Fit! We are taking this time to prepare for a sweet and safe post-pandemic reunion with our beloved Fit Family!
As the vaccine rollout is happening, now is the time to get your body ready to return back to Fit and a little sense of normalcy. We are eagerly awaiting the news of when we can open our doors again. Don’t worry, you will be the first to know when we get the go-ahead! In the meantime, here are 4 tips on how to safely prep your body for a post-pandemic return to the gym.
- Take it slow – If you try to jump right back into movements you haven’t done in months, that’s a sure-fire way to hurt yourself. Could you imagine reuniting with the gym only to injure yourself the first week back?? What a nightmare that would be!! Oftentimes, fitness injuries are avoidable with some patience, preparation, and diligence. Try practicing some endurance exercises at home, and remember to be intentional about your form. This will not only increase your muscle endurance and burn calories, but it will also strengthen your mind-body connection.
Some tried and true muscular endurance exercises you can do at home are plank, body-weight squats, walking lunges, push-ups, tricep dips, and calf raises. If you can perfect your form at home, you will be ready to dominate at the gym, safely, in no time. Be gentle, listen to your body, and ease yourself back into a good routine. Your body will thank you later!
- Focus on stretching + flexibility – Don’t get it twisted, mobility exercises pack a punch! Exercises centered around stretching and flexibility can give you a solid workout, they’re easy to do at home, and they help get you some improved range of motion.
A nice basic, beginner stretching routine you can do at home is quad stretch, swan stretch, triceps stretch, bend stretch, neck flexion, side reach, and hamstring stretch. Check out this blog post for detailed instructions on how to perform each of those stretches at home. This routine will prepare your body to perform at a high level when you get back to the gym, and it will decrease your risk of injury.
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Add in some cardio – Again, think about things you can do in your living room/neighborhood. You may not have a treadmill, but our low-impact HIIT virtual training programs are designed to be user-friendly and performed anywhere and everywhere! It might not be the same as working out in the gym, but you will be drenched in sweat after one of these cardio-focused classes.
If you have a safe place to jog outdoors, that is another good way to build your cardio endurance back up. Even a brisk 45-minute daily walk can make all the difference when it comes to staying in cardio shape and improving immune function!
- Warm your body up – No matter what exercises you’re doing or where you’re doing them, please please please do not skip out on the warm-up! Warming up your body is a vital part of exercising safely. Budget 5-10 minutes before your workout to get your blood pumping and prepare your body to work.
Some movements you can do are skipping rope, jump squats, jumping jacks, light jogging, and dynamic stretching. Not to sound like a broken record, but be mindful of your movements during this time. The warm-up is not only an important part of getting your body ready for your workout, but it also jump starts your mind-body connection. This will prevent injuries and have many mental health benefits such as improved memory function, decreased anxiety + depression, and increased energy levels.
We’re Getting Ready to Welcome You Back
While you are getting your body ready to head back to the gym, Fit is getting ready to welcome you back to our clubs with the amenities you’ve been missing during our temporary closure. We miss you all so much and are taking necessary precautions to ensure that our facilities are clean, safe, and ready to kick your butt once it is deemed safe to return! In the meantime, you can take advantage of our Virtual Training to help stay on top of your fitness goals and prep your body for the sweet post-pandemic return to the gym!