Staying Active during COVID-19
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many sports have been postponed. Similarly, with the rise in active cases, your original plans for physical activity may need to be adapted.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways we can maintain our sport and physical activity connections, even within social distance guidelines. Not to mention that staying active during the pandemic is more important for both your physical and mental well-being than ever before. The facility is still open and operating! We have many guidelines and protocols in place to guarantee your safety. There are sanitizing wipes located for your convenience. The machines are socially distant to ensure the 6.5 ft. rule.
If you are healthy, try these 8 simple tips for safely exercising while in the facility and maintaining social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tip 1: Exercise in the facility or outdoors
Take your fitness outdoors and into fresh air outside. Consider hiking a new trial in Birds Hill Park or taking a walk down the Seine River if the weather permits.
Tip 2: Exercise with a friend
If you’re planning on taking the first tip, consider tip #2. Bring a friend or family member to keep you company but keep the Province of Manitoba’s guidelines in mind. Choose activities that allow you to maintain that social distance and save high-fives and fist bumps for another day.
Tip 3: Engage in non-contact activities that allow spacing of 6ft between participants
Limiting physical contact is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing guidelines recommend 6.5ft of distance and there are plenty of activities that allow for this such as biking, skating or skiing.
Tip 4: Rethink Recess
If you have children, it’s important to consider their physical activity needs. With children at home, ensure that they are getting enough time outdoors. This will help with their mental focus and concentration. Be sure to include a combination of structured time as well as unstructured time.
Tip 5: Work on improving your general fitness
It is important to consider improving your general fitness during this time. Improving aerobic fitness and having a strong core is necessary for good fitness. You can work on strengthening your core and cardiovascular condition by consulting your wellness coach or watching home-based video workouts.
Tip 6: Clean and disinfect any equipment you use alone or with others
Ensure that you have proper sanitizing wipes at home. Cleaning equipment before and after will confirm that your equipment is sanitized and ready to use. Using a cleaning solution that contain at least 70% alcohol is important.
Tip 7: Exercise using your body weight
Using your own body weight as a form of exercise can be an effective way to maintain strength and aerobic health in a short period of time. Bodyweight workouts can incorporate a variety of movements that don’t require equipment, including:
- Squats
- Lunges
- Tricep dips
- Push ups
- Burpees
- Jumping jacks
- yoga
Tip 8: Join an online fitness community
Staying in touch with people you meet through an online fitness community can keep you motivated and inspire you to continue your fitness journey. Here at Wellness Institute, we have many online classes that you can easily join through our app. These at home workouts will be led by exercise professionals. Contact your fitness coach for more details.
Remember if you are feeling unwell, have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, stay home and avoid contact with others. Make sure you contact health links if you believe you may have contracted COVID-19. Contact 204-788-8200 for more information.