Readiness Fitness takes workouts online to maintain physical and mental wellness

In times of high stress, going to the gym is often an outlet for people.

But with gyms ordered to close down in Saskatchewan last week, some are moving workout classes online.

Readiness Fitness in Regina closed down a few days ahead of the province announcing a state of emergency, but trainers like Jess Paul quickly channelled their energy into finding a way to help people maintain their physical and mental wellness.

“We really feel like we have an ethical responsibility to our members to continue to keep them active and healthy during this time because there’s a lot of stress,” Paul explained.

“The world has basically been turned upside down and for many of our members, these four walls, this is their happy place. This is where they come to get rid of tension and stress and to feel better and to have contact with a community of people with similar goals.”

All 13 instructors from Readiness Fitness have recorded a series of video workout classes that will be released on a free online portal for their paid gym members.

While staying home is key to keeping the community safe from the COVID-19 outbreak, maintaining physical and mental health is even more challenging with people isolated at home. That’s why the gym is also taking to social media to spread free advice to the wider public to improve their own fitness.

“(We did it) to ensure that everybody was taking time to stay active and also thinking about their mental health as well because for a lot of us, those two things go hand in hand,” Paul said.

“I know physical activity for me makes my mental health better. I’m a much better and nicer person when I exercise.”

The Facebook group is called the Readiness COVID Keep Active Challenge and it might remind people to take a break from the couch or kitchen office and find time for their own wellness with their families.

“Parents are stuck home with children all of a sudden. I have two kids and my husband has been sent home from work and physical activity is really important for kids. So one of the things you may see on the portal is simple ideas for home workouts you can do with your children or games you can play to keep them active,” Paul said.

In these uncertain times, many people may be struggling with controlling stress and worry. That’s why Paul said the instructors will also be sharing some simple exercises to control stress and anxiety.

Sometimes people just need to remember to breathe deeply.

“When you get lots of stress, sometimes it’s easy to get lost in all of it,” Paul said. “(It’s important) to take the opportunity — especially at the end of the day when you go to bed at night — to really just take some deep breaths and exhale all of the things that you’ve been hanging on to.”

Paul said isolation should not mean no communication. While social gatherings and going out to the gym are all cancelled for now, there are still opportunities to connect thanks to technology and the Internet.