At the risk of seeming to give you a case of déjà vu…
Remember how last month’s post started with Gov. Roy Cooper extending the Phase 2 COVID restrictions for another three weeks?
Well, those three weeks are up. And now he has extended Phase 2 another five weeks, to Sept. 11. North Carolina, in fact, has some of the strictest pandemic restrictions in the country.
So you know what that means, right?
If you answered, “It means I can’t go to a bar,” you lose points. Points will only be awarded if you said, “It means I can’t go to the gym!” Which you can’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in shape — or get in shape, in the event you’re not quite there yet.
The tennis and basketball courts here at Stephens Grove are currently being renovated — but that’s no excuse, either, as that is expected to be done in a few days. We’re not sure about basketball, but tennis, of course, is one of the safer sports during COVID, so plan to get out there if that’s your athletic jam.
Meanwhile, you know the pool is open for another few weeks, and you can hardly find a better form of exercise than doing laps during adult swim time. Be sure to study the COVID rules, to keep yourself and your neighbors safe. And this month, we had a new activity at the pool: A Water Dance aerobics class hosted by a resident looking to have some fun and exercise during this time! Check Facebook to see how that went, and learn about future classes.
But you know, you don’t even have to leave the house to get your workout on. Google “how to stay in shape at home” and you’ll get more advice than you can shake a stick at. Of course, there are all sorts of Zoom-based and other online classes you can join — opportunities that never existed before this crisis. Here’s one that streams from an island in the Caribbean.
If you prefer to figure out your own exercise routine, here’s some advice from WebMD. They say to remember that every workout should contain the following five elements:
- A warmup.
- A cardiovascular (aerobic) workout.
- Resistance (strength-building) exercises.
- Flexibility moves.
- A cooldown
From that same source:
If you’re a beginner, aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week, and 20 to 30 minutes of strength work three times a week. Be sure your strength workout covers all major muscle groups, in your upper body, lower body, abdominals and back. Shoot for three sets of 10-15 repetitions of each strength exercise…
If working out is brand-new to you, or it’s been a long time, check first with your doctor. We want you to get in better shape, not worse. Here’s some more advice about that — from Harvard, no less.
We’re looking forward to seeing a stronger, fitter you next time we get out and see each other…
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