{"id":19066,"date":"2020-07-21T10:21:57","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T15:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abodo.com\/blog\/?p=19066"},"modified":"2020-07-22T10:22:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T15:22:56","slug":"apartment-gym-safety-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/apartment-gym-safety-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Tips to Use Your Apartment Gym Safely During COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many people, gyms have been closed for over four months. Many, such as myself, have been itching to get back to weight training.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But going back to the weight room may pose several risks if one isn\u2019t careful. Even for those who\u2019ve contracted COVID-19 &#8211; these tips will be helpful by helping to not spread it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gyms (regardless of size) are environments where the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/heres-why-covid-19-can-spread-so-easily-at-gyms-and-fitness-classes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">virus is easily communicable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is generally due to the enclosed nature of most training facilities and the fact that people have elevated levels of oxygen consumption in these environments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meaning: lots of droplets in an enclosed space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But by being smart about training in a gym, you might be able to do so safely inside your apartment complex. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Understand the Risks of Going to The Gym During COVID-19<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1534438327276-14e5300c3a48?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"woman standing surrounded by exercise equipment\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve touched briefly on it, but we need to revisit them for better clarity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The risks associated with going to the gym are going to be as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enclosed spaces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More droplets in the air than normal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People are generally closer to each other (b\/c of space restraints)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gyms are germy, by nature<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because gyms can be grounds where the virus is easily transferred &#8211; you need to be extra careful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many apartment complex gyms will have posters and different techniques in place to try to minimize the possibility of the aforementioned scenarios. But you also need to take extra precautions yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wear a mask (even if not required)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disinfect (always)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your distance (even if not enforced)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid \u201cspotting\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid the busiest hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are all generally helpful tips that should allow you to have productive sessions in the gym while minimizing your risk of infection or transmission.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you understand the risks of going to your local apartment complex gym &amp; you\u2019re taking the necessary precautions to avoid the virus: there shouldn\u2019t be a reason for you not to be able to enjoy your workouts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s go over the most practical &amp; effective ways to minimize any risk of infection while at the gym.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Disinfect Yourself &amp; Surrounding Area<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1540497077202-7c8a3999166f?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"black spin exercise bike lot\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most athletic facilities, there are disinfectants and wipes all around to maintain a certain degree of sanitation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, most people have never paid enough attention to the correct ways of disinfecting the surrounding equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s terribly important to read the label on the disinfectant. Many of them will say to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Rarely is this advisory note practiced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this era, it\u2019s in your best interest to familiarize yourself with the instructions per product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some require as much as ten minutes and double disinfecting before use!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the wait is well worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Bring Your Own Water Bottle &amp; Towel<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1553531889-65d9c41c2609?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"A Boxed Water carton in the foreground with a woman doing yoga in the background\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I suppose this one might be self-evident, but it\u2019s important to mention, also.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bringing your own water bottle not only keeps you away from commonly shared equipment (like water dispensers) &#8211; but it\u2019s also one less factor about gym attendance that you need to worry about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same goes for towels: yes, most apartment complex gyms will offer them &#8211; but during these times, it\u2019s best to bring your own personal sanitary items.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Wear Your Mask<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1584634731339-252c581abfc5?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"green and white striped textile\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What masks do best is help to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/heres-how-wearing-a-cloth-mask-helps-fight-the-spread-of-coronavirus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fight the spread of the coronavirus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, however, there may be some people who might feel more comfortable in a gym environment by wearing the clothing article.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The general consensus being that if people are wearing masks, and stay outside of a six feet range from each other; then the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than if the scenario wasn\u2019t so.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if other people around you aren\u2019t following these practices, it\u2019s sometimes best to leave by example.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which leads us to the next point:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Social Distancing Techniques Inside Your Apartment Complex Gym<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1517343985841-f8b2d66e010b?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"man exercising inside room\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all of the research that\u2019s been conducted to minimize exposure to and \/or transmission of the virus, the most agreed to measure that\u2019s been widely promulgated has been social distancing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The less you come in contact with other people, the better off you\u2019ll be &#8211; in general.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some good practice tips for ensuring that you\u2019re minimizing your exposure to other people, while maintaining your gym sessions productive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Consciously Keep Your Six Feet of Distance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This should go without saying but maintaining your distance is going to be the most critical.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Avoid \u201cpacked\u201d areas<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or areas that are commonly used in your apartment complex facility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the dumbbell racks, the free weights section, and the bench sections are among the most crowded areas of the gym.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People FLOOD to these parts &amp; it\u2019s generally going to be the most difficult to maintain a fair degree of distance here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your workout program REQUIRES the use of these, I would most likely pick set weights (so that you don\u2019t have to use a ton of dumbbells).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I would also try to <\/span><b><i>stick with barbells<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Why?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because with barbells, you\u2019re using the same instrument throughout the duration of the workout.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas, if you\u2019d be doing dumbbells &amp; having to switch weights to adjust to the exercise, you\u2019d have a higher chance of exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not just from having to use so many different instruments, but also the constant back &amp; forth walking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, try using barbells &amp; looking for programs online that are dedicated to <\/span><a href=\"\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">barbell strength training<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The advantage is that you\u2019re going to be using the same piece of equipment throughout the training &amp; simply switching the weights on and off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are also free to bring the barbell to a spot that\u2019s more isolated, and do all of your training while being distanced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my opinion, barbells offer far more flexibility in this kind of scenario. But it\u2019s not everyone\u2019s preferred method of training.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Aerobic Machines &amp; Cardio sections<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1540111970170-b1c4d4fbadaa?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"black and grey treadmill and stationary bikes\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often the most popular section of any training facility, the cardiovascular sections are going to be the most problematic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The primary purpose of these machines being to elevate your heart rate, the necessity for increased pulmonary activity makes these areas have higher droplets in circulation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means higher chances of you being infected. Even while wearing a mask &amp; practicing social distancing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardio machines in most gyms tend to be very close to each other, and even if management has only allowed more spaced use of them &#8211; it\u2019s very difficult to contain people\u2019s heaving breathing and the resulting droplets in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add on to that ventilation &amp; the enclosed spaces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During these times, it\u2019s best practice to <\/span><b><i>go outside<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and do your aerobic activity outdoors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of walking on a treadmill, find a park and do some laps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For HIIT \u2014 try doing wind sprints or cone drills. There are all kinds of cool jump rope exercises and tutorials.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are follow-along videos on the internet that you can try for LISS or even HIIT training.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this is a guide on going back to the gym during COVID &#8211; there are certain areas in the gym that should just be avoided at all times. This is one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In theory, it would be fine if the gym was completely empty &amp; you thoroughly cleaned your machine. If that\u2019s the case, go for it, as the risk in this scenario would be minimized.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Avoid Group Classes<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1520877880798-5ee004e3f11e?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"women taking exercise on black stationary bikes in front of gray concrete wall\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By this point, this should seem self-evident.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most group training classes not only are conducted with a significant amount of people, but they are also commonly held in tightly packed rooms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This not only goes for spinning classes but also other types of classes such as boot camps or other group training environments. It\u2019s much easier for the coach to handle the class while everyone is close &amp; within speaking distance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of proximity in enclosed areas presents various challenges from a transmission standpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to that, most group classes also focus largely on cardiovascular exercises (since they are the most popular), and in turn create a similar environment as the aerobic machines section<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In all &#8211; it\u2019s best to avoid these. Completely.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Wrapping Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, when attending your apartment complex gyms, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind to avoid the COVID-19 virus as best as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first one is understanding the risks involved when going to the gym. Knowing that gyms are inherently places where viruses (in general) are easily transmitted. Which means that when attending a gym, you have to be even more attentive to things like social distancing, sanitation, disinfecting, and avoiding certain areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you make the decision to go, you\u2019re going to want to follow best practices for making sure you\u2019re not putting yourself or the people around you at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Disinfecting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (&amp; following instructions on the disinfectants as closely as possible &#8211; making sure to do it multiple times before use)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Wearing a mask<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (this ensures that other people, and to some extent yourself, don\u2019t infect or get infected by others)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Bringing Your Own Water Bottle &amp; Towel<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Avoiding the Busiest Hours <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(or days)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also practicing social distancing in an effective manner. Although it is challenging to do it in an enclosed space, by being more deliberate, you may be able to accomplish doing so.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can take into account the following practices:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Consciously Keeping Your Six Feet of Distance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (just generally being mindful of being a little \u201con your own\u201d)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Avoiding the Busiest Areas<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (such as the free weights &amp; dumbbell racks)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Using Barbell-Based Exercises<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (to avoid having to jump around machines or dumbbells &amp; increasing your exposure)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b><\/b><b>Try Not to Use Aerobic Machines\/Areas<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (in today\u2019s world, it\u2019s far better from a risk management perspective)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Do Your Cardio Outside<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (to emphasize that prior point)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Avoid Group Classes<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (for obvious reasons)<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, taking all of this into consideration will ensure that you are able to maintain and active &amp; challenging lifestyle without putting you, your loved ones, or the people around you at risk.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of all: remember that you are in the gym to improve your health; and if there\u2019s anything that could potentially negate those effects, it would be best to avoid it momentarily.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if your apartment complex gyms have an environment where the aforementioned practices can allow you to train safely &amp; without worry:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then go ahead &amp; crush it!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many people, gyms have been closed for over four months. Many, such as myself, have been itching to get back to weight training. But going back to the weight room may pose several risks &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Key Tips to Use Your Apartment Gym Safely During COVID-19\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/apartment-gym-safety-during-covid-19\/#more-19066\" aria-label=\"More on Key Tips to Use Your Apartment Gym Safely During COVID-19\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":19067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[149],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19066"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19083,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions\/19083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}