I have no problem wearing a mask or social distancing or observing any measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, during high intensity exercises at the gym, I find it quite annoying that I am policed to always have the mask on above my nose.
Let me make it clear, before entering the gym, I wear my mask. I sanitize and while in the gym I try to keep my distance while wearing the mask despite the discomfort of my breathing being inhibited.
A few days ago, I was engaged in a heavy leg-day session in an almost empty gym with no one anywhere nearby. After three heavy sets of squats for 10 reps each, I sat down for a breather and I pulled my mask down below my nose. Lo and behold a trainer bellowed from across the room that I should pull my mask back up. I told him, “Bro, there is no one around me and I just finished up some heavy squats”.
This senseless policing of masks at the gym is quite surprising. I know that the trainer was just doing his job and he pointed out that in the local gazette order it states: “(1) No person shall, without reasonable excuse, be without a face mask fitted to cover the nose, mouth and chin of the person when the person is in public; or
the person is travelling in a vehicle, vessel or aircraft”.
I would imagine that these rules were made for normal situations as opposed to being under distress.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a cloth mask (not surgical masks or N-95 respirators) when social distancing is difficult and when wearing one is feasible.
I also turned to Google for answers.
I typed the following: “Does the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend wearing face masks while exercising during the coronavirus pandemic?”
The answer was: “People should NOT wear masks when exercising, as masks may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably. Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms. The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others.”
It is therefore ridiculously dangerous to enforce the use of masks for people exerting themselves at my level.
Gyms, which are beholden to different laws enacted to fight the coronavirus, typically should make the choice of wearing a mask up to the individual exerciser.
Some of my colleagues have shared that they have cancelled their membership because they are of the opinion that wearing a mask during intense exercise will cause more harm than good.
For that reason, gym membership here has plummeted. I am of the firm belief that if mask wearing is made optional in the gym or just enforced for certain classes, there will be a spike in attendance.
Let me reiterate that I agree with putting every measure in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but in my humble opinion, I think the gazetted orders for the use of masks solely provide rules to be followed under normal circumstances.
Do these rules still apply for high intensity workouts? Must I always have to keep my sweaty mask on although the gym has been inspected and only a limited number of persons can enter at a time to adhere to social distancing rules?
I do believe the rules are there to protect everyone but at the same time, the use of mask wearing (at all times) during high intensity exercises here needs to be re-examined.
I mean, think about it, sports leagues and tournaments all across the world have resumed, but I don’t see cricketers, footballers, basketball players, tennis players, jockeys, boxers or even golfers competing with masks. There is a logical reason for that.
I digress.
Masks aside, the gyms are taking other measures to reduce the potential spread of the virus. They have added cleaning stations, rearranged equipment to be farther apart, limited locker/washroom use and check guests’ temperatures with touch-free thermometers. Reminders about keeping machines clean and maintaining a social distance are also all over the place. I just wish the mask police would apply common sense.
