Staying active through COVID-19 calls for consistency, creativity

This past year with the COVID-19 pandemic has left virtually nothing unchanged or untouched in its wake. People have adapted the way they work, learn, socialize and much more to align with COVID-19 restrictions.

As so many people began to work remotely, it became more important than ever to avoid the sedentary lifestyle that can sometimes happen when people don’t leave their homes.

With the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 increasing as a person ages, it became particularly important for older adults to practice social distancing and to find ways to stay healthy during the pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization, adults should do a total of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, including muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week.

Older adults or adults with poor mobility should also do physical activities to enhance balance and prevent falls on three or more days per week.

Those who cannot complete the recommended amount of physical activity due to chronic conditions should be as physically active as their conditions and abilities allow, since doing any physical activity is better than none.

WHO suggests starting with shorter, less intense activities such as walking or other low-impact exercises and gradually increasing the duration, frequency and intensity of the physical activity over time.

Lynda Firme, business manager at Haxtun school district, is also an instructor at Holyoke Fitness Club. She teaches high intensity interval training and spin classes, and she also fills in teaching yoga classes. She said she had to find creative ways to connect with people in her classes and help keep them fit and healthy during the pandemic.

Before she taught HIIT and spin, she taught a circuit-training class, where participants moved to different stations for various exercises. Due to COVID-19, the class participants couldn’t change stations, but now each participant has their own equipment that is not shared with others and is disinfected before and after use.

Holyoke Fitness Club was closed from March 17 until the end of May last year, and Firme said she taught HIIT classes through Zoom during that time. Without access to the facilities or equipment, people had to think outside the box with respect to their workouts.

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