Our lives were radically changed from the first moment the pandemic was announced. For those who loved the gym-life this caused a particularly jarring adjustment. The much loved, tightly spaced indoor class once promoted as the method for healthy living became deemed the opposite: a major health risk.
The pandemic has certainly impacted the way we train but some remnants of the old staples of fitness culture will surely remain; PT, group training, open gym memberships won’t disappear overnight but the adjustments we’ve all made during the pandemic are for sure here to stay. Here are our predictions for post-pandemic gym life.
1. CLASSES WILL THRIVE With the vaccine having been widely distributed and gyms proved themselves to have responsible cleaning routines established we’re sure that classes will be more popular than ever!! People won’t only want a fantastic workout with all the leadership of the instructor, sparkling lights and loud music but they’ll be there to socialise! We are sure that “togetherness” at work or in the gym will never be under-appreciated again. People feeling safe is our priority.
2. WORKOUTS REDEFINED We used to believe a workout had to be 45+ minutes and within a gym to be most effective. Thanks to this pandemic we have realised that 15 or 20-minute workouts streamed from YouTube using soup cans for mini weights can be an equally acceptable workout with the added benefit of time efficiency! PPGYT had such a great uptake we will continue to deliver workouts for those who will continue to embrace #PPGATHOME when the hybrid home: office ratio comes into play.
3. DATA & WEARABLES Caught yourself counting steps and enjoying accountability for sleep and recovery? The rise in wearables has demonstrated their service as a motivational tool, not to mention many serving as a community-driven device. The basic metrics of heart rate monitoring or step counting has been a great process to put in place to ensure maintenance of fitness while the trainers have been kept away from us. Continuing with the wearables and data will help us sensibly get back into our regular gym routines, possibly even improving the way we train and recover!
4. THE NEW FITNESS NORMAL Gyms will naturally have to step up their game post-pandemic with rigorous equipment cleaning, improving air flow, distancing between clients, temperature checks, and capacity limits but we predict that people will still have to be woo’ed back into gyms if they have established a successful at home routine. Instructors will have to up the ante and gyms will be working on overdrive to ensure the experience is higher quality than ever to recapture and attain clients.
Some say productivity levels and efficiency have actually increased due to better time management working from home; less travel, fewer in-person meetings, less distraction. In the same way that people will balance working from home and the office we forecast that most people will be between the gym and home workouts, so look forward to offering both the PPG experience and #PPGATHOME content in full force.
We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us a DM on instagram @peoplesplacegym.
You’ve missed it like crazy but you’re perhaps feeling anxious about a few key elements of returning to the gym? It’s fair to say the past 11 months have been difficult to say the least, with our mental and physical health taking a hit thanks to lockdown restrictions. After months upon months of workout classes on Zoom, daily walks and home-made gym equipment, gyms will finally open their doors again and you can rest easy that’s without compromising our health or safety.
So, here we tell you how to deal with pandemic-influenced concerns that might possibly resonate with you;
1. THE ‘QUARANTINE KILOS’ It will be exceptional if anyone leaves this pandemic as they went into it. Restricted movement, all day grazing and stress has created the perfect storm for our bodies to change. If you’ve been feeling trepidation over your post-lockdown looks, know you’re not alone, we’re all #inthistogether and quite likely feeling a little softer around the edges, fear not.
Great news: muscle memory. You’ll be back in fighting shape before you know it, just work yourself back into it slowly - you don’t want your muscles to be in agony after the first workout or to suffer premature gym burnout. It can take as little as 3 weeks to feel fit again!
2. SOCIAL ANXIETY? It might be a tough thought to be back in the gym or changing rooms all together. Fear or anxiety surrounding public spaces or social situations might be a bit too much to handle right now. The cure will be exposure, meaning, face the situation in a calm and careful manner, rest assured PPG will be taking all the precautions to keep you safe as you immerse yourself back into our facilities.
Tip: Remind yourself that it’s going to take time and practice — and that’s totally fine. The more you do it, the easier it will get and soon enough it will start to feel normal to be in these scenarios again, high fives an’ all!
3. FITNESS LEVEL When it comes to getting back into a workout routine it’s important not to run before you can walk (no pun intended). It is inevitable that the level of fitness you left your last pre-pandemic class will have changed but that doesn’t mean you can’t build yourself back up to that and again, most people beside you in class will have similar concerns. Grab a friend or spark up a conversation with someone on the treadmill next to you. They might need your support more than you think! #inthistogether
Tip: take your time when it comes to lifting weights, start slow when it comes to cardio and incorporate stretching as part of your routine to avoid DOMS - a common occurrence after your first gym session after months away.
We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us a DM on instagram @peoplesplacegym.
