It's now been a few weeks since gyms re-opened in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with Scotland set to follow their example on August 31st.
After more than four months without access to a gym, many Britons are rushing back while others are more cautious. In an attempt to ease concerns, the government has laid out a series of rules for gyms and leisure centres to follow. These include:
- Limiting the number of people using the facility at any one time, for example by using a timed booking system;
- Reducing class sizes and allowing sufficient time between each class to avoid groups waiting outside during changeover;
- Spacing out equipment or taking some out of service to maintain social distancing;
- Enhanced cleaning and providing hand sanitizer throughout venues;
- Considering how the way people walk through their venue could be adjusted to reduce contact, with queue management or one-way systems;
- Ensuring adequate ventilation;
- Encouraging the use of outdoor spaces for individual, team or group activities, making sure to comply with the latest restrictions on public gatherings;
- Exercise or dance studios should have temporary floor markings where possible to help people stay distanced during classes;
- Customers and staff should be encouraged to shower and change at home wherever possible, although changing rooms may be available.
Cheshire-based Brio Leisure, which is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council, are diligently following these rules. They have also introduced a one-way system to make social distancing easier for their more than 79,000 leisure cardholders and members.
As well as ensuring that all their visitors are as safe as they possibly can be, Brio Leisure have also offered some much needed advice and encouragement for all those who might need it as they try and get their fitness goals back on track.
Writing on their website, the Cheshire-based health and fitness experts have stressed the importance of avoiding negative thoughts, reminding yourself of your strengths and keeping motivated with friends:
‘Keeping yourself motivated to reach your goals may seem a lot harder than it is; a lot of this can be catching any negative thoughts of whether you’ve not pushed yourself, how you’re not performing as well as you had been before lockdown and more. Remind yourself of your strengths, how well you’ve kept your fitness up, or know how you can work your way towards your fitness regime from before lockdown.
Some key ways to keep yourself determined by heading back to the gym can be something as simple as keeping motivated with friends. Head to a fitness class you both love and encourage one another, or send each other encouragement throughout the week to stay on top of your new regime.’
They also emphasise the need to ease yourself back into your regime and to not be concerned if you are less fit than you were before the lockdown.
Additionally, they have also provided a guide to relieving stress as the country returns to something approaching normality, arguing that yoga, tai chi, walking and dancing may well hold the key.
