5 tips to help you return to the studio after lockdown

Have you lost your drive to exercise during lockdown?

For many of us in Sydney, enduring 3 months of lockdown has been hard – from both a physical and mental perspective. Without a regular routine, and an instructor, or workout buddy to give you a reason to get out of bed, and push yourself that little bit harder, it’s only natural that your fitness level may have declined. Those who have managed to stay active, and jump online to access classes, or change their routine to incorporate exercising outdoors may find the transition a little easier.

Monday 11th October is looking likely as our return to the studio date based on current NSW Government advice. A reminder, that only clients who are fully vaccinated will have access to the studio from this date, all of our instructors are also fully vaccinated, and it’s likely that masks will be required during class.

Here are 5 tips to help you prepare for your return to the studio:

1. Be ready for the Covid-safe protocols: Ensure you’ve received both Covid Vaccine doses and have proof of vaccine ready to show on returning to the studio. Following on from pre-lockdown, you’ll need to bring your own towel, face mask, and water bottle. We will be social distancing, white gloves will also be provided, and all equipment cleaned between classes.
2. Don’t be too hard on yourself: Even if you’ve maintained a certain level of activity during lockdown, it’s not the same as being in the studio with access to lots of equipment to make your routine more challenging. You will most likely find that your strength and flexibility is not quite at the same level as before lockdown, but don’t be discouraged, it will return!
3. Ease back in: As mentioned in tip 2, your body may take a little time to adjust back into a regular Pilates routine. With a decline in activity levels and poor posture from sitting at a makeshift desk at home, you may find that your back, neck and shoulders are stiffer than usual. Before launching back into the more difficult exercises and loading up the springs or resistance, take a step back and start with the basics, gradually working up to more challenging positions, and more frequent classes.
4. Focus on form: When exercising at home (even under the watchful eyes of our instructors on zoom), it’s difficult to tell whether you’ve been doing so with the correct form – engaging the right muscles in the right order, at the right time, and focusing on breathing too. Aim for quality over quantity, and be patient by correcting your form before worrying about how many repetitions you’re achieving, or the number of springs you’re adding for resistance. Achieving good body alignment and undoing any bad habits formed through lockdown will help you move forward with your practice, and limit any potential injuries.
5. Listen to your body: After each session back in the studio, pay close attention to how your body is feeling (and note this down for your next lesson). Some may feel totally energised after their first session, and others may walk away feeling totally exhausted. Whichever point of the spectrum you’re on, listen to your body, and give it the rest it deserves.

We look forward to welcoming you back into the studio very soon, and for those who would prefer to continue working online, we’re always happy to accommodate where possible. Maintaining a regular routine and staying active is so important for both physical and mental health, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with you in person!