After a gap of about five months, gyms and fitness centers have been allowed to resume operations in India. The news has brought smiles to not only those working in the fitness industry and the gym owners, but, also to all those fitness lovers who were unable to continue their workouts or get motivation to exercise in the absence of the gyms. They are keen to resume their physical fitness journeys. It is obvious and appreciable that we are witnessing a keen interest towards physical fitness among the people, but we must not lose sight of the fact that the pandemic is still raging out there. In fact, the numbers indicate that the infection is at its peak at present. There are almost 100,000 cases being reported per day on a pan India level with more than 1000 daily fatalities. Also Read – Urvashi Rautela Believes Addiction to Fitness is What Can Bring Long-Lasting Happiness
The suspension of physical gyms and fitness centre operations had been a necessity to prevent them from becoming COVID-19 hotspots. However, even when they were shut, people who wanted to continue their exercise routines without exposing themselves to the virus, were able to do so through digital fitness apps. Today, we live in a digital world and advanced AI-based fitness apps are successfully offering the required exercise and physical fitness support, monitoring and guidance at home. Also Read – Manushi Chhillar: Fitness Is A Personal Experience, Size Doesn’t Define the Level Of Fitness
Latest technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence ensure that the social element of exercising is not missing for their subscribers. Using live-stream options through the smartphone cameras and microphone, the apps allow users to join random group exercise sessions or to create their own workout groups comprising of their friends and family members. Even when it is not safe to go to a physical yoga class or gym, you can get the experience of working together by real-time ‘live’ sessions.
Such features make sure that even when you workout alone at home, you don’t feel the loneliness. What makes these apps even more appealing is the wide range of exercise options offered by them. Whether it is cardio, weights, yoga, aerobics or Zumba, there are apps that bring all these options under one roof (your own!). Courtesy of the in-built AI tools, there is no need to miss the trainer as these apps help you enjoy live sessions monitored by expert fitness coaches who ensure that you get the best guidance and outcome from your virtual sessions. The best thing about this option is that subscription to these apps costs only a fraction of what one pays to a conventional gym. In the current scenario where cutting down avoidable expenditures is a part of the protocols, subscribing to these digital health apps makes great physical and financial sense.
These apps have helped fill a major void in the routines of fitness conscious people. In the absence of workouts, people were gaining weight, feeling lethargic and experienced serious disruptions to their physical and mental health. Those who regularly exercised were suddenly denied access to their workout sessions which further impacted their sense of wellness. Had the digital apps and virtual workout platforms not been there, things could have been really difficult for all such fitness lovers.
It is appreciable that the gyms have to follow strict guidelines and ensure adherence to social distancing, temperature checks and other such measures which help identify and keep out people with the pandemic symptoms. At the same time, it is undeniable that majority of the people infected by the virus remain asymptomatic. Absence of physical symptoms such as fever etc makes them undetectable to the thermal scanners etc. However, they become active carriers of the virus and are as much a risk to others as someone with visible COVID-19 conditions. The risk posed by such silent carriers can’t be avoided in a gym even with the scanning or sanitization protocols.
Even if you feel that your needs are not adequately fulfilled by the home workout options and you need to step out, the better option would be to choose an outdoor sports, jogging, running or an activity which keeps you outdoors. This will help in maintaining social distancing more effectively and you are unlikely to be exposed to the harms of stale, re-circulated air indoors, which might have viral presence in it.
In case you really need to visit a physical gym despite the risks associated then it is extremely important to take all possible precautions. Make sure that social distancing rules are followed at the gym or fitness center you visit, and proper sanitization measures are taken. Carry your own hand sanitizer bottle along, and wear mask without a fail. Get all the gym equipment thoroughly sanitized before you use it and avoid using common facilities such as showers or restrooms as far as possible.
Overall, there is no doubt that even when the gyms are open, until we get an effective vaccine for COVID-19, the smarter and safer way of exercising is home workout with the help of virtual fitness platforms.
