The gyms are closed. Stores are shutting down. Schools are closed. Sports leagues and even the Olympic Games have been put on hold. There is even limited toilet paper and vitamins at shops and pharmacies.
And here we are, some of us stuck inside checking the news, watching the cases of COVID-19 go up while economies go down. It has been an unprecedented year thus far.
During these times it’s more important than ever to look after your health and fitness – not just for building a nice-looking body – but to build a healthy one with a strong immune system, so if you do get sick you’ll have a greater chance to fight off the infection.
Even more important than that, you need to have ways to deal with the stress of the situation so that you can remain cool, calm, and provide support to your family in times of need.
And daily exercise is the key.
Exercise is the single best form of stress relief that’s actually good for you.
That’s why during these difficult times while the gyms are closed, home exercises and outdoor workouts in small groups have become the latest fitness fads.
The #pushupchallenge and other forms of home exercises have been trending on social media. The National Park, D’Urban Park and the seawalls have now been flooded with persons and pets of all ages walking, jogging, skipping, biking and other forms of exercise.
Nevertheless, you should still observe social distancing and follow the guidelines set out by the health authorities. Fortunately, there are workout apps, some of which are free, that you can use at home to stay fit until the situation returns to normal.
Even if you’ve been out of the loop and haven’t exercised in a while, feel free to pull up home workouts on YouTube and invite a friend or Skype or FaceTime like-minded individuals and workout together.
It will be fun, interactive, and a great way to stay in shape if you’re stuck at home.
Home workouts like pushups, pull ups, dips, calf raises, body weight squats, lunges, curls, crunches and even battle ropes are all done using minimal exercise equipment, mostly body weight moves along with simple things like kettlebells, dumbbells or resistance bands that you can easily pick up at stores like Fitness Express on Sheriff Street.
The great thing about home workouts is you can go at your own pace. No one’s going to judge you. You don’t need to worry about looking like a fool, because you’re in the comfort of your own home.
But you will be taking pro-active steps to improve your health, mindset, and physical fitness.
The best part is you’ll feel so much better about yourself afterwards.
