Experts offer simple, inexpensive tips for maintaining your health during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Now that gyms across the country are closed due to the pandemic, you may find that your regular workout routine has been disrupted. However, experts stress that exercising now is more important than ever, especially when it comes to your overall health and sanity.

“Being active and moving, allows you to then focus more on your tasks for the day, whether it is online classes or working remotely. It allows you to relieve stress. It also helps to prevent other health related risks that could form from not being active,” says Kevin Makarewicz, the Assistant Wellness & Recreation Director at SUNY New Paltz. “Setting physical goals also helps you create structure from home in terms of having a routine and sticking to it that allows you to be more productive.”

NO GEAR? NO PROBLEM!

Makarewicz believes that there are endless possibilities when it comes to workouts you can do at home.

“It is really all about how creative you want to be. If you aren't feeling too creative with the equipment, you can do calisthenics, dance or yoga that does not require any equipment to do.” says Makarewicz.

One thing you can do is make a pull up bar using a towel and a closed door. You can make your own DIY dumbbells for under $10 or even with things you might find around the house.

Stephanie Mansour, fitness guru and founder of fitness brand Step it Up with Steph, is quoted in theladders.com article saying, “Simple stretches that open up your chest, hips, and lungs are amazing for improving circulation and even for detoxing the body. Instead of stagnant energy, you’re getting things moving first thing,” Stretching aids in allowing your body to move more freely. This makes exercise less painful and it also alleviates post workout soreness.

If you already have a gym membership, many places have adapted to the situation accordingly. Planet Fitness has frozen all memberships, and you will not be charged any fees at this time. In addition, they are hosting daily workouts on Facebook Live, featuring their own Planet Fitness trainers. Their app offers over 500 exercises designed for people of all fitness levels.

SUNY New Paltz has also been offering free virtual classes on Zoom in place of their regular, in person classes. They offer classes such as Total Body Conditioning, Barre/Pilates Fusion, Yoga, Boot Camp, and Ab Lab. These workouts can be accessed via the school’s virtual library.

SKIP THE SNACKING!

You can be prone to stress eating during this time. Makarewicz recommends avoiding purchasing unhealthier snacks.

“The easiest way to avoid eating junk food is by not buying it! It may sound simple but you are much more likely to eat something if it is in your kitchen and you have easy access to it.” says Makarewicz.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS TOO!

The app Headspace has partnered with Gov. Andrew Cuomo to provide free meditations and mindful content to all New Yorkers. Headspace is also granting all US healthcare professionals and all NHS healthcare professionals one year of Headspace Plus.

A Harvard Study found that meditation can play a critical role in both your physical and mental health. The study found that people who meditated over an eight-week long period had a changing in expression in 172 genes, which were linked to a decrease in blood pressure. So, if you find yourself stressed out about everything that is going on in the world, just like two-thirds of Americans, meditation can offer a relaxing outlet to relieve stress.

At the end of the day, you should remember that while staying healthy during this unprecedented time is important, try to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Don’t beat yourself up if you end up caving and buying three bags of Hot Cheetos because they were on sale at the grocery store. If you end up staying in bed much later than you wanted to, it’s okay. The world is tough enough already, and it’s okay to give yourself a break sometimes.