- Lockdown has transformed our lives in different ways.
- Due to COVID, virtual workouts were introduced as substitutes.
- Disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive as the rest of the population
- Several indoor rowing machine brands changing the smart fitness market
Keeping fit and healthy, both physically and mentally, is a paramount concern as the Coronavirus pandemic rages on, reports Elle.
How the pandemic transformed our lifestyle?
As lockdown restrictions have yo-yoed, people have continued to use virtual workouts, courtesy of fitness companies such as Barry’s Bootcamp, Psycle, FRAME and Kobox, to fill their spare time and find a new work/life balance.
Others dusted off their bikes and dug out their running trainers to head outside for fresh air. In 2021 Strava saw a 38 per cent year on year increase in uploaded activities, and welcomed two million new athletes per month to its global community.
With gyms and leisure centres finally open and a new year now upon us, many of us are questioning when we’ll head back to a professional workout space and if we do, how we’ll adapt our routines to the lessons we’ve learnt about wellbeing and fitness over the last two years.
More Mushrooms
Mushrooms (the non-psychedelic kind) have adaptogenic properties that help counteract the effects of stress on the body.
‘Superfood’ mushrooms are now widely available in supermarkets and online and include names like:
- Lion’s Mane -which is full of beta-glucans to protect against oxidative stress
- Reishi and Maitake -which help bolster the immune system
- Cordyceps -which can improve lung capacity
- Shittake- to support immunity
About the Mushroom effect:
It now appears the fitness industry is waking up to the ‘mushroom effect’, with several well-known brands selling mushroom supplements to aid performance and post-workout recovery.
In wider culture, mushrooms are tipped to be hugely popular in the worlds of fashion and food too this year, with mushroom prints appearing in SS22 collections from the likes of Brandon Maxwell, Stella McCartney and Rodarte, while oyster mushrooms are believed to be the new replacement for scallops, according to the New York Times.
When it comes to mental health, several countries including the UK are also taking notice of the psychological benefits of magic mushrooms.
A year after several states in the US legalised psilocybin – a psychedelic drug found in magic mushrooms to help with mental health conditions such as depression and addiction.
Reverse Running
Reverse running creates a greater range of motion at the hip joint, creating a more aligned posture and produces greater activation of the calves and quadriceps.
When it comes to performance, reverse running is widely believed to be as effective as speed intervals insofar as it creates a greater cardiovascular demand, which therefore improves endurance and aerobic capacity.
Gym Hygiene
As Covid-19 variants continue to affect everyday life, from the way we interact with friends to the use of communal facilities, hygiene will continue to be a huge focus in 2022.
A study published in 2020 found that drug-resistant bacteria and other pathogens were found on approximately a quarter of surfaces researchers tested in four different fitness facilities.
However, research published in December from ukActive, carried out between July 25, 2020 to November 21, 2021 showed that leisure and sport facilities in the UK saw more than 160 million visits, with an overall rate of just 1.6 cases per 100,000 visits.
‘If you spray a virus onto a surface, like a dumbbell, it will just sit there,’ Simon Clarke, a microbiologist and associate professor in Cellular Microbiology at the University of Reading, told us last year.
‘The virus won’t move unless someone picks it up again. Gyms pose a higher degree of risk because people are constantly touching things that you will then go and touch yourself.’
Inclusive Fitness
It won’t surprise you when we say that the fitness industry hasn’t always had the best reputation for inclusivity.
If the pandemic has taught us anything over the last 22 months it’s that Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate, and nor should our response to encouraging everyone to be their fittest and healthiest self, no matter their shape or size.
‘The stark reality is that disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive as the rest of the population,’ says Adam Blaze, strategic lead for disability at Sport England. ‘As the sport and physical activity sector recovers from the pandemic, we must work harder than ever to ensure that disabled people are not left behind.’
Indoor Rowing
Now there are several indoor rowing machine brands changing the smart fitness market, from Hydrow, with its 22-inch HD screen which has access to nearly 3,000 workouts, to Topiom, which sells a retro-looking oak-wood frame rower with a water tank to increase resistance that would look chic in any home gyn.
According to Dr Kristin Haraldsdottir, director of exercise research and innovation for Hydrow, which was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020, rowing works out up to 86 per cent of your body, activating several muscle groups in the upper body, lower body and core all at once, which ultimately enables you to build strength and burn calories.
‘It’s also virtually zero impact, so it’s gentle on the joints, unlike high-impact forms of exercise, like running, and actively builds bone density,’ they add.
Hello, hula
However, hula hooping has had a serious makeover in recent years, with companies like Chahula, Hula Schoola!, Hulafit and Planet Hoop all teaching techniques to perfecting one’s hip movements.
According to Lucy Usher, a personal trainer at FLEX Chelsea, hula hooping is an incredibly popular workout as it not only improves one’s aerobic health and core strength, but can help burn up to 400 calories in an hour and reduce stress levels.
When it comes to choosing whether to opt for a weighted or regular hoop, Usher notes that a weighted version is easier to keep around the hips ‘as you have extra momentum from the weights and therefore you can find your rhythm a little easier’.
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Source: Elle
Choosing the right gym involves considering location, equipment, classes, and atmosphere. Research online reviews, visit potential gyms to assess cleanliness and staff friendliness. Prioritize your fitness goals and budget. A comfortable and motivating environment is key to sustaining your workout routine. https://www.heavymug.co
You are right, now there are many fitness apps and gadgets that can give you a good option to exercise even at home or just on the street. I often do heavy lifting at home and take sports supplements like creatine monohydrate to improve my performance. I’m already building my best body