Our current exercise routines echo the post-pandemic version of our lives

By: Neha Myneni ‘21

Exercising with a family member at home. Photo by Sean Dreilinger.

Our lives have been shredded by the pandemic, in some ways that are obvious and in some ways that won’t be clear until later. However, one daily activity has been one of the hardest attacked. Exercise has become difficult for people during quarantine without personal equipment. 

The UC San Francisco News Center describes a new study that details the clear effect of the pandemic on walking. 

“The declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March resulted in a rapid decrease in step counts worldwide, including in the United States,” states a new study by researchers at UC San Francisco.

With people severely affected by the pandemic, it has been difficult to try and continue their daily lives before the interruption, especially in regard to exercise. 

Kate Williams, the Interim Athletic Director at Catlin Gabel, wants people to “first acknowledge that it’s really hard.” She reminded us that “we are in this together,” a simple message about hope during a difficult time. 

This message especially rings true considering the shared difficulties many student athletes face this year, trying to find ways to exercise and prepare for their upcoming sports seasons. This situation posits a question: how is it possible for people without the appropriate equipment to engage in any sort of physical activity?  

The Scripps Clinic outlines multiple options as people search for safe alternatives in the pandemic. Some popular choices have been yoga, walking, jump roping, doing push-ups, or lifting weights.

The Atlantic notes in an article released in March, “Like so many mundane experiences in a global pandemic, the way many Americans work out is about to change.” 

While not many experiences can be recreated during this time, Americans can reclaim exercise and continue to find innovative ways to preserve this beloved pastime.