Noel Cabrera
Sports Editor
You’re stuck inside your house, wondering how you’ll get a good workout in during a time of crisis like this. Unfortunately, the gyms are all closed, the parks are all closed, and we aren’t allowed to step on a grain of sand at any beach. So, our options are pretty limited to working out at home and at home only.
This virus, COVID-19 or Coronavirus, has been labeled a pandemic in our world. Our best option to avoid getting infected is to quarantine ourselves in our home and avoid interaction with other humans.
Many people are worried about exposure to this virus, so the world has pretty much come to a halt as many are practicing self-isolation. As that happens everything and everywhere is suspending or closing business at the moment other than essential stores and hospitals.
With that being said, all you muscle heads or exercise junkies are cut to a limited source of working out because your regularly scheduled program is on hiatus until further notice.
Yes, the best thing to do sounds like just cuddling up in bed and watching endless reruns of The Office on Netflix, but you’re wrong. We do not know how much longer we have of this, so imagine if you do that for at least a month straight. Don’t think that would be too good for your health especially after that 30th day.
Regular exercise is essential for the body’s immune system, preventing weight gain, boosting your mood, and just overall keeping your body healthy.
“Stay fit while you’re stuck at home.” That’s the advice from the World Health Organization for “healthy” people who find themselves quarantining during this pandemic.
Physical activity and relaxation techniques can be valuable tools to help you remain calm and continue to protect your health during this time.
It is important to try to limit prolonged sedentary behavior (sitting or laying down). A research study found that even one additional hour of sedentary behavior was associated with a decline in immune function in young males. A larger study found that sedentary behavior is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and the risk of dying.
There are many different ways to stay fit and active during this time of self-isolation. If you have free weights or even a bar with plates, then you’re already ten steps ahead of those who don’t. But don’t worry, if you don’t that doesn’t mean that excludes you from staying fit.
Outdoor exercise has to be the top way to stay fit during this time. Even though beaches and parks are closed, it still doesn’t mean you can’t grab a bike and go biking a couple miles while getting the rays of sunshine hitting your skin, soaking in that Vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced in your skin with sun exposure, and getting outdoors especially in nature, may even help boost
your immune system and mood. Just make sure to keep that social distancing in the back of your mind.
A great location to get a good workout in would be located right at Broward College’s South Campus in Pembroke Pines, there is a walking trail, located right in front of the school alongside Pines Blvd. This walking trail has different exercise equipment as well, which consists of lifting your body weight for all muscles of your body.
While at this walking trail, I spoke with Broward College student Cristian Rivas, who actually just finished a 3-mile run around the trail and empty campus. I asked Rivas what his thoughts were on staying fit during this crisis and he said, “I know it sounds tough, but we can get through this. I’ve been coming to this trail since they closed everything down, so about 4 or 5 times I’ve been here now. And I get a great workout every time.”
Rivas kept repeating the same statement over and over, “It’s just about applying ourselves.” Which meant actually doing these things rather than just talking about it.
Different outdoor activities could be as simple as walking, jogging, hiking, roller skating, jump- roping, or even just doing a quick 20-minute workout in your backyard.
Even for those who do not wish to break self-isolation and leave their house, there are plenty of ways to stay active and fit while in quarantine.
Pilates and yoga are a great source for indoor workouts. If you don’t know how to have a proper yoga session, there are several apps out there for free that can guide you. Online streaming services and mobile apps are loaded with a variety of free and low-cost at-home workouts for all different types of fitness levels.
Many of these at-home services, online or via mobile app, are reducing prices and giving better options due to the effect of COVID-19. Now is the time to take advantage of if you were ever curious about trying out any of those services.
cabrn9@mail.broward.edu
