Reopening of gyms affected by the Covid-19 Lockdown in South Africa

On behalf of all gym owners, athletes, weekend warriors and those that just love living a healthy active lifestyle. I encourage you to fight to reopen our gyms and fitness facilities during this COVID-19 lockdown.

It goes without saying that exercise has numerous benefits but let us list some for you anyway. Firstly, exercise is known to have a profound impact on the normal functioning of the immune system. Performing regular exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity has been proven to improve various immune markers in several diseases. Each bout of exercise (particularly, whole body dynamic cardiorespiratory exercise), INSTANTANEOUSLY mobilizes billions of immune cells and these are the cells that recognise and kill virus infected cells.

Secondly, the mental aspect of exercise. Many people forget the mental feel good facet of exercise and especially the benefit of group training. Very often it is in the gym where friendships and community are formed. Several people have been struggling with the side effects of the social isolation and the confinement of the lockdown. Cortisol, which is a hormone which suppresses the immune system can be elevated during periods of stress and isolation. Similarly, stress decreases the ability of the body to respond to infectious agents making you more susceptible to disease and illness. Perhaps, many people are not as isolated as they were in earlier stages of the lockdown, but I can assure you, that they are still stressed as the impact of this lockdown has been devastating for many!

People view their training time in the gym as THEIR time! Their time to get away from it all so to speak and destress and have some good, clean, healthy fun.

To put protocols in place in a gym or fitness facility is probably easier than anywhere else. We already have access control in place to monitor who enters and leaves the gym, so contact tracing is already taken care of. Temperatures can be measured on arrival, no problem. Gym members are generally responsible, self-disciplined people who regard their health as a priority. This means that they will not be training when they do not feel well. Therefore, mitigating the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Gyms and fitness facilities already maintain high levels of cleanliness and hygiene and have done so long before anyone heard of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding any other necessary protocols will be easy and simple.

Many independent gyms are small businesses owned by individuals who support not only themselves but also their staff. Similarly, to any other business! This lockdown has been devastating to them and being one of the last industries to open, has not only been frustrating, but also unfair. Especially considering that you can now sit in a casino and play cards with numerous other strangers sitting around a table!

We need to ensure that gyms and fitness facilities reopen for the benefit of everyone who takes their health and well-being seriously.

Government needs to allow the gyms and fitness facilities to open their doors. The social aspect of group training is being neglected together with the livelihoods of the owners and staff of these facilities.

We appreciate your support in this matter and look forward to standing together with all other Fitness facilities around South Africa.

Tyron , Kate and the Ringside Team

Kate Koen (Ringside Boxing Gym)    Contact the author of the petition