We've been stuck in our homes for a good while now, thanks to coronavirus's (COVID-19) hold on the world.
While some of us are remaining in a shelter in place atmosphere, many states are looking at reopening in phases. These phases are a little different depending on what state you're looking at, but one thing is almost certain — that spin studio you spend too much time at may not be able to reopen in phase one.
Even though the federal phasing guidelines allow gyms to partially open with strict physical distancing and sanitation measures, many gyms may not be able to adhere to the initial reopening rules. Fitness studios mean a lot of sweat, and it's not a stretch to assume that all those germs can carry all those germs we've spent hours inside avoiding!
That being said, we spent the month of April figuring out how to stay fit while stuck in our homes, and we'll probably spend May doing the same thing.
Some of us are deciding that now is the time to become the runner they've always dreamed of being, while others are laying on the couch wondering where they can find the motivation to do that IGTV yoga class their favorite instructor is hosting. We're all in the same boat, though everyone's facing wildly different experiences.
For individuals who have grown to enjoy home workouts, this next month is sure to build on whatever momentum they've gained in April. By now they've purchased everything they need for their home gym set up, whether they went all out or stuck to a very zen little yoga corner. Chances are high they have a schedule of some sort, follow their favorite SoulCycle instructor on Instagram, and are taking the world by storm with new fitness goals.
Then there is the group of individuals who feel the weight of the world on their shoulders as soon as they begin to think about home workouts — or how their body should be "improving" with this new opportunity they've been presented. For individuals who are recovering from eating disorders, experiencing debilitating body dysmorphia, and just trying to free themselves of the mental war that can too easily come with free time and a mirror, all this discussion of staying fit during quarantine can imply they aren't doing enough.
Then again, many of us are in the middle of these two extremes, just taking it one day at a time.
No matter what your experience with staying fit during quarantine has been, you're not the only one. This global crisis has shed light on many things, one of which is how things can go downhill as soon as we're left alone with our thoughts and without our normal busy-ness. There is a big adjustment period that will likely have an impact far after quarantine is lifted. Maybe that impact is that you've realized how an 8 a.m. Pilates video can turn your day around. Maybe that impact is body image insecurities that you have to deal with instead of shoving them back down where they came from.
Staying fit during quarantine doesn't just mean shedding an inch around your waist. Staying fit during an unprecedented time means doing what YOU need to do for YOUR body, no matter what those Instagram influencers and their detox teas say. As I'm sure you've heard, global pandemics don't happen every day, so there isn't really a wrong answer. We love to see Amazon carts full of gym equipment, but health can also mean reading a new body-positive book or practicing some creative "me time." It's a pandemic, after all — we're all just doing our best for our health and the health of others.
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