Protecting yourself against germs in the gym

With the risk of illness still circulating, taking the extra precaution to safeguard yourself and others in environments such as the gym is essential. Practising good gym hygiene is necessary for protecting yourself from common illnesses such as colds and flu. With every gym member performing simple tasks to ensure personal hygiene, becoming sick from entering public gyms will fall to a minimum. It can be extremely frustrating to halt your fitness journey due to the fear of becoming ill. 

Stay Fit & Stay Safe in the Avenue Gym

• From benches to dumbbells and treadmills to bikes, please remember to clean the equipment after each use, using the disinfectant and paper towel provided.
• While you workout, please sanitise your hands regularly. Please sanitise your hands before using any free weights. We have multiple hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the gym and the club.
• To help with social distancing, please do not move the benches outside of the floor markings. You will notice the benches have yellow floor markings; this is to highlight this is a non-moveable piece of equipment. The Smith Machine and squat racks have green floor markings; these highlight your workout areas, this is a one-person zone, and you can move the bench around freely within this green zone.

Here are a few steps you should be taking :

Wash your hands before, during, and after a workout. Use soap and water and lather up for at least 20 seconds. When you wash your hands after touching various surfaces, the possibility of introducing an infection into your system is reduced. We have plenty of sanitiser throughout Avenue Tennis, which we highly recommend using as frequently as possible in addition to washing your hands. 

Even if your hands look clean, they can still carry numerous germs. This is why cleaning hands frequently is essential. Shockingly, only 1 in 5 wash their hands after going to the toilet. Many of those will then go on to eat or prepare food for themselves or others, leading to contamination and running the risk of causing illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

Disinfect equipment before and after use. In our gym, studio and Group Cycle room, we provide spray bottles of disinfectant which are readily available to wipe down the equipment. Spray the surfaces which come into contact with the body such as handles, seats and screens, then dry with paper towels. After your workout, respray the equipment, as a courtesy to others.

If you are feeling unwell, stay at home. While it is understandable that you do not want your cold to force you to skip your gym session, it is far better for the benefit of yourself and others, not to visit the gym until you are feeling better. This also goes for fitness classes, as you are in close proximity with other members. Remember, not everyone has the same immune system and ability to fight off illness in the same way, so please be extra cautious visiting public areas while unwell.

For now, no need to abandon your gym. As long as you are remaining mindful, aware of what you are touching, and are healthy, there is currently no need for fear or avoidance of fitness centres. Here at Avenue Tennis, we pride ourselves on the immaculate cleanliness of our facilities, which minimises the need to worry. By working collectively to maintain a high level of hygiene, Avenue Tennis will remain to be a safe place to workout.