Simple Tips for Getting Back in the Gym Post Quarantine

While many businesses and restaurants are still closed, gyms have started to reopen, and we couldn’t be more excited. Depending on where you live and what gym you go to, there are most likely different requirements to help maximize member safety. Some of these rules can be as simple as wearing a mask, and others are things that you should be doing anyway. Outside of what is required, there are some tips and tricks to keep you safe when you’re reading to hit the gym again after the quarantine.

A woman wearing a face mask exercises in an indoor climbing gym | Carol Coelho

1.) Get hydrated, stay hydrated

The past few weeks have left people a little out of their normal routine, and for a lot of people, that means they haven’t been doing the #1 health tip: drinking enough water. While I try to drink about a gallon of water a day, being cooped up and out of my normal routine has thrown me out of balance. This could be even worse for professionals that have to wear a mask all day — nothing is quite as deterring from drinking water as having something covering your mouth at all times. Getting back into your routine and making sure you are drinking enough water is tough, but you can use our quick challenge to help get your body used to drinking an appropriate amount of water.

2.) Ease into things

There is nothing quite as frustrating as getting back in the gym after taking a break, no matter how long or for what reason. While our muscles can recognize how to do the movements, that doesn’t mean our strength is where it was when we left off. It’s important to take things easy and not get frustrated when you can’t hit your typical max weights. Making sure to warm up and take increased weight gradually can keep us from overworking our muscles and prevent a potential injury.

3.) Stretch, stretch, and….stretch

Whether stretching is a normal part of your routine or not, stretching is one of the most important things you can do to keep your body feeling its best. Keeping your muscles stretched can help relieve soreness and tension, and can get you back to feeling your best in the gym way faster. Adding stretching to your workout routine or even to your morning routine can help get your body ready to move and can prevent injury as well as reduce soreness.

A woman attends a yoga class | Alexander ShcherbakTASS

4.) Go easy on yourself

Some of us handled quarantine by adding home workouts to our routine, and others took it as a time to rest and let their body recover. No matter what option you made, it won’t take long to get back into the swing of things when it comes to your normal gym routine. If you put on the dreaded ‘Quarantine 15′ or just aren’t feeling great about your body after months of being locked inside, know that you can bounce back.