March 15, 2020

In this newsletter . . .

Coronavirus
and the Gym

But what about going to the gym? After all, health clubs are notorious breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Even frequent disinfectant wipe-downs by staff make sterile gym conditions nearly impossible.

I wonder how many Gray Iron Fitness subscribers belong to a health club or gym? I don’t know the answer to that. But if you do belong to a gym and have ever considered working out at home instead, now might not be a bad time to make the switch.

My wife and I worked out in commercial health clubs for years, and taught classes in them. We've also exercised at home, doing combinations of weights, resistance bands and bodyweight exercises. So we’ve switched back and forth between home workouts and gym workouts.

For a few years now, I’ve been exercising at home, exclusively. I probably won’t ever join another health club. At home workouts are too convenient. Patty goes to a recreation center for Zumba classes. She will stay away until the virus has run its course.

Still other reasons to consider home workouts

If you have the self-discipline to workout regularly at home, the hours saved by not having to drive to a health club are another good reason to create your own gym. Our spartan home gym won’t pass for Gold’s — but it’s effective. Take a look. Even when we belonged to a health club, we would still use our own home workout gear on days when we were pressed for time.

Home gyms can be as simple or extensive as you want to make them. Look at George Boedecker’s home gym, for example. Very complete. Younger seniors still using heavy iron would find plenty of it at George’s. Yet nothing more than a set of dumbbells or kettlebells, plus some bodyweight exercises, can be highly effective too. Add resistance bands and you’ve made your gym portable. Multi-purpose machines take up more space but are worth considering, if your budget allows it.

At my age, 83, I’ve graduated to resistant bands for most exercises. I’m a big fan of the bands and can workout almost anywhere with them.

There’s a place on my web site where trainees can create their own personal story page, and even include a picture of their workout space and equipment. Take a look. Fitness devotees, bodybuilders and lifters of all ages are always interested in seeing where other people train and the kind of equipment they use. If you have a home gym, why not share the history of your training space and how you decided on your equipment? It could be a couple of kettlebells in the corner of a room, or a big space filled with everything from free weights to fitness machines.

There is an easy-to-use form to walk you through your contribution. I promise that plenty of people will be interested.

Finally, until the coronavirus has run its course, gyms and health clubs may not be the best places to workout.

Logan

Senior Exercise Central

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Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com