There are fitness opportunities outside during the COVID-19 epidemic, of course. You can always go for a run or hop on your bike, weather permitting. But if you love group fitness or personal training and miss the gym, there may be a solution you haven’t thought about yet: taking classes and training appointments outside, too. 

Where to go 

Many parks and open spaces remain open—you may be able to find a class or personal training session being offered outside. Permitting restrictions and class size restrictions may be in place, but a small group can spread out in the fresh air while keeping the community strong. 

If your local gym is open, consider suggesting what CSS Wellness in Lexington, Kentucky, did. They transformed the first three parking spots in front of the gym into a mini classroom. Each session allows a small group of people to work out while maintaining a 6-foot space of social distancing. “I didn’t feel comfortable going to the parks and I didn’t want to move too far from our space,” Brian Leggett, owner of CSS Wellness said. “I looked at those three parking spaces and took the flooring out of our cardio room and extras from my basement.” 

What to take 

Keep it simple—focus on training that uses bodyweight movements that don’t require equipment. 

If you do use equipment, bring your own when possible. Shared equipment should be assigned to limit exposure, with strict cleaning protocols in place. CSS is taking this approach with their classes: “We’ll move things out based on the weather,” Leggett said. (Pro tip: consider asking if you can check equipment out as rentals for an extended time.) 

Keep your eyes peeled on social media accounts for outside classes or training. Remember to check your email too, you might have creative options for working out landing in your inbox now. If you have questions or you’re not sure where to go, just ask! 

Questions to ask 

How many people can attend the class? Be sure class sizes are small enough to keep your distance. If there’s a waitlist, you’ll be alerted when a spot opens up.  

Want to join in but need to stay home? Ask if the class will be streamed or recorded for later playback.  

What precautions and sanitation measures are being taken? Ensure your instructor is on top of the effective cleaning of any equipment and plans to respect a safe 6-foot distance between students. 

CSS Wellness has found success in their newly created outdoor approach. “Our customers appreciate it,” Leggett said. “We all went from full life to full stop with no outlet. Training has been an escape from everything swirling in the news. When you’re inside that training session, you put that out of your mind.” 

This option may not work for everyone and things can change quickly. Before making plans, be sure to check any municipal or government restrictions—especially if your city or county has shelter in place restrictions. Let’s stay flexible and keep moving.  

Remember, we are getting through this together, and together we will emerge stronger. To show your local studios support during this time, please visit them on Mindbody.io or in the Mindbody app and find your favorite classes or one you've always wanted to try. Also, tag them on social media, along with @Mindbody, and we will support in any way we can.