HEALTH CLUBS HEAD OUTSIDE
LIKe anyone who worked out how to cheat a Zoom fitness class (take a breather and blame frozen wi-fi), me and my new-found corona pounds are missing the gym.
It’s not just the personal attention from the instructor, but the camaraderie of seeing familiar faces and catching up for a gossip afterwards. David Lloyd has been working tirelessly to reassure the Government that gyms can apply all the social-distancing measures to open safely.
From what I can see at their gym in Chigwell, essex, we’ll all be sporting sleeve tans in summer and cagoules in winter as more exercise classes move outside.
As I arrive there is a spin-bike class taking place on the terrace under one of the ‘jumbrellas’ which provide both rain cover and shade.
Fresh- air sessions have been allowed for a few weeks now for groups of five plus one instructor.
Here, they’ve been a knockout success — they now hold 144 open air classes a week and come heatwave or rain they look set to continue.
As I walk in, a discreet thermoscanner, which looks like a security camera, takes my temperature. Anything over 38c and I will be asked to leave. On the gym floor I meet fitness manager Paula Maley. She’s in full plastic pinny, mask and gloves as she squirts down one of the running machines, only half of which are in use. We wait 60 seconds for the spray to work, before I can touch the controls.
The stay- safe message here is very much clean your hands and your equipment before and after. No one has to wear a mask, but the staff do when they clean. Over at the multigym, there are sections clearly marked out on the floor for four rather than the usual 15 people to work out; a member of staff will make sure everyone behaves and queues nicely.
Although queuing is unlikely. This place is about half the size of a football pitch and can fit 114 people. The advantage of out-oftown leisure centres is the floor space they have that makes distancing easier.
For indoor exercise classes, circles on the floor mark your ‘spot’ three metres away from anyone else. Classes will be smaller; if you’re worried about getting full use of your gym membership, here they are laying on more of them.
Not everything will be available though; Zumba and aerobics will
be out for the time being. There’s more yoga and Pilates in response to demand — not surprisingly we’re all searching for ways to cope with anxiety.
Forget tying yourself in knots with resistance bands and hulking dumbbells. We’re set to rediscover old- school drill moves such as planks says Paula.
Expect touch-free classes that don’t require fancy equipment, but use body weight to build muscle instead. You can even BYO for a new ‘rucksack workout’, where you use your own backpack as a weight. You’ll be encouraged to fill your water bottle at home, too.
It saves trying to find a locker for your kit — many of those will be out of action. I plan to come as I am; I’ve made peace with my lockdown exercise look of red face and birds’ nest hair. Maybe the glowy athleisure look is finally over.
David Lloyd Chigwell, Essex, three-month trial membership £199, davidlloyd.co.uk