One of the first kinds of business to start closing en masse upon the recognition of a pandemic last year, the gyms of America are, broadly, opening back up. They’ll certainly find a wealth of customers who are keen to get back to their old routines. From those of us who have gained a bit of quarantine weight to those who just missed their old habits, people want to get back in the gym. And that’s a widely-held intention.

Of course, it’s not true for everyone. After a year of life-changing developments, returning to our old ways is not something that’s going to come easy, and getting back in the gym is going to hold some concerns for a lot of us. You may initially be reluctant to return, and for the reasons listed below, you won’t be alone. Hopefully – by whatever combination of factors it takes – we will all be able to get back to our ideal workout sooner rather than later.

Will the gym be safe from transmission?

Public health responses do not aim to halt all activities until there is no transmission risk at all. That would be all but impossible, so the judgement is made on what is safe enough. So if you return to the gym as soon as it reopens, it would be unwise to assume it’s risk-free. All you can ask is that the gym is taking precautions to markedly minimize exposure to the virus. 

Regular cleaning of machines, appropriate social distancing, and mask mandates are some of the policies that can reduce the risk. You may also choose only to return once you have been vaccinated, and when vulnerable people in your circle have had the vaccine. The bottom line is: don’t go back unless you’re confident it’s safe.

My routine has slipped since I last went to the gym

Unless you are fortunate enough to have access to the wide range of facilities any gym has for your home workout, maintaining the same routine you had before has been next to impossible. So, there may be some cause for easing yourself back to the level you were at before. If you’re worried that you have gained some extra pounds, you won’t be alone in that. The best advice is to don a pair of comfortable black leggings and make every effort to get back to the shape you want. But don’t worry about carrying a bit of extra poundage. If ever it was understandable to be behind on your plans, that time is now.

I had the virus, and I’m worried about regaining my fitness

There has been a lot of speculation about “long Covid”, which is the continuation of some symptoms after a patient has recovered from the virus. In truth, most of what we have right now is speculation because it’s hard to study the long-term effects of a condition this early in its life cycle. However, we do know that many people who had the virus are reporting deep exhaustion after minor exercise, difficulty with breathing, and exponentially higher recovery times. 

If you have had the virus, returning to exercise is going to be a big part of your return to normal, but this is not a time for exercising through “the burn”. Slow and steady is the key, and if you’re concerned about your wellbeing, speak with a member of gym staff about what can be done to make it less daunting. Providing seating options for a quick rest may be one thing that helps.