How to Ride Safely and Stay Fit Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, countries worldwide went into lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. These restrictions are changing the way people spend their money. Sales of home exercise equipment soared as people turned to home fitness regimes to stay healthy.
One of the main concerns of coronavirus was how quickly it can spread through the air via respiratory droplets, especially in areas with confined spaces. According to the researchers, the moist, warm air in gyms and fitness centers, which when combined with turbulent airflow from exercising can create an environment where respiratory droplets can spread rapidly.
You can continue to ride outside as long as you maintain safe social distancing practices, which is at least six feet apart. Consider choosing a less crowded route or riding alone to reduce the risk of transmission. It is still advisable to ride alone or to do indoor exercises in order to reduce the risk of infection while keeping others safe as well.
With the closure of fitness centers and gyms, people turned to at-home workouts to take control of their fitness routine and keep their health in optimum condition. With indoor cycling rising in popularity in recent years, it is no surprise that riders are going back inside their homes as an alternative to their usual riding outdoors.
Since most gyms will remain closed for the time being, this is a good time to try out an indoor bicycle. Aside from its health benefits, it's also a good form of investment as it saves money in the long term since you no longer need to go to gyms for a workout.
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Benefits of Indoor Cycling:
1. Reduces levels of stress.
Exercise allows your body to release chemicals called endorphins, which triggers a positive feeling in your body.
2. Beneficial to cardiovascular and respiratory functioning.
Cycling is healthy for your heart and lung capacity. It is also an anaerobic exercise, meaning it can break down glucose without the use of oxygen. Since cycling is usually done in short periods of time with high intensity, it improves muscle endurance over time. It helps strengthen the surrounding bones, tendons, and ligaments, improving overall strength.
3. Strengthens your core.
Although most people think cycling targets the legs muscles, it actually strengthens the core also. Make sure you maintain the correct posture while cycling, this will target the central and abdominal muscles.
Keep in mind that indoor cycling is an intensive type of training. If not done correctly, it may lead to dehydration. It is important to bear in mind to never exceed 1hr 30 per session. 1 hour of indoor cycling is tantamount to the fatigue incurred in 2 or 3 hours training on the road. Bear in mind that high training loads (long duration or high intensity) can suppress the immune system. The goal right now is maintain the fitness level and keep the legs fresh while remaining safe.
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Sep 09, 2020 08:20 AM EDT
