Get your exercise but skip spin class!

Now that businesses are beginning to reopen, you may be itching to get back to the gym. We get it! Exercise is one of the best ways you can keep yourself healthy, both physically and mentally, during this stressful time. And nothing beats the energy of a group fitness or spin class when it comes to motivating us to work out.

But even if your favorite classes are starting up again, you are better off sitting them out right now. A lot of classes are trying to limit exposure by reducing class size and duration. Even still, you are in an enclosed space for an extended period of time with other people who are breathing hard. COVID-19 spreads when those infected cough or sneeze, so an enclosed space is especially high risk. And since you can still spread the virus even without symptoms, it’s impossible to know if you or the people around you are contagious. Recently, there was an outbreak of over 100 cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, linked to participants who attended Zumba classes.

So what can you do instead? Your local gym may be doing online classes, or there may be groups doing outdoor, socially distant workouts where participants are at least 6 feet apart. You can also find lots of workout videos online, even if you have a small space and no equipment. You can also take walks, runs, or hikes outdoors. There are lots of ways to get a great workout without the gym.

Last update: June 28, 2020, 8:54 pm
Science review: GNA, JAB