A Guide To Gyms Reopening 2021

If you’re like us and eagerly anticipated the gyms reopening, so that you can get back into your usual fitness routine, instead of curling your remote control or home-works where your dog decides to join in. We get it.

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease for the THIRD time, some people may be feeling hesitant to venture out again to public places – regardless of how appealing letting off steam at the gym may be. So, how can you keep yourself and others safe when exercising? We’ve created your own guide to gym etiquette post-lockdown.

When did gym’s open?

The UK government announced that gyms can reopen their doors on Monday 12th April 2021.

What are the rules with gyms reopening?

Although you may be excited to head back to the gym and adding a bit of normality back into your life – there are various rules to follow when attending the gym.

You may remember from last time there was a tier system. However, this time the Government has stated that gyms, swimming pools and all other indoor exercise venues will open on 12th April - all dependant on a continuous drop in cases of COVID-19. 

There will still be rules emplaced to help protect gym-goers with households still not allowed to deliberately mix within the facility.

But ministers are keen that there is no indoor household mixing until later in the year, so it will remain against the rules to meet someone who is not in your household for an indoor workout.

Exercise classes will also be banned when gyms reopen in an attempt to reduce contact between people as they work out, whilst social distancing, regular cleaning and other Covid-secure measures are also expected to apply.

Further easing of the rules will come in the third stage on May 17, when people will be allowed to mix indoors again. Saunas and steam rooms will also reopen in stage three.

Gyms are thought to be more high risk than other indoor venues because people exercising expel more droplets and aerosols as they breathe more deeply. But many gyms are well-ventilated and have Covid-secure measures such as regular cleaning. 

Do you need to wear masks in the gym?

The government has said that they have to not taken the decision to require the wearing of face masks in respect of gyms. However, it does state “wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet'.

However, this guidance could change over the coming days or weeks. Therefore, please do continue to research what the current Government guidelines are.

Do I need to be sanitising in the gym?

Yes! You should always be sanitising in the gym. Our Proverb Refillable Sanitiser was born from elite sports, professional rugby and lots of training – which is why we created the perfect sanitiser specifically designed to aid your workout experience.

The best way to clean gym equipment

It’s a tale as old as time, when you have finished on a piece of equipment at the gym, you should sanitiser it. This a procedure in place at gyms pre-coronavirus, however its more important now, than ever, to be making sure you’re sanitising the equipment correctly.

There are various different forms of sanitising in gyms that a gym-goer can use. For example, antibacterial wipes are a cheap and easy sanitising product – however, these aren’t great for the environment. They can clog up our ecosystems or will end up in landfill, not to mention the fact that you will have to keep carrying lots of dirty wipes around the gym, gross!

Not to mention the fact that nearly 1/5 of UK beach waste is wipes that have been flushed down the loo! Why not, do your part for the environment and ditch the wipes?

During the formulation process of Proverb Refillable Sanitiser, we initially created the product to be used within gyms – spraying anything you may come into contact with. Our sanitiser is built predominantly for the gym, created to immerse your olfactory system with positive vibes – in order to aid your best workout.

How to get the most out of your workout

You may notice when returning to the gym that will have reduced opening hours, time limits or slots where you have to book in order to go - all to make sure that Covid precautions are in place. But what does this mean for your workout?

Creating your own fitness plan is a great place to start – identify what you need to work on at the gym and what you can get away with doing at home. It may be the case of doing cardio, yoga and Pilates etc at home and weights when you go to the gym.

This is also useful for knowing where in the body you are going to be targeting your session – avoiding wasting valuable time in the gym, whilst getting the most out of your workout.

In addition, working on your diet and nutrition will aid your performance in the gym and encourage you to create a better workout each time you visit. Depending on your own personal targets, depends on what you should be eating – but cutting down on fatty junk food is always a great place to start, as this won’t supply you with energy.

Most importantly, remember...

Healthy cell = Healthy body = Healthy skin