Stay home, stay well: Workout can help fight coronavirus
Gymnasiums are closed, exercising outside is restricted and self-isolating mandates are forcing people to make big changes to their workout routines.
But in the days of Covid-19, exercise is especially important because it provides a physical and mental boost.
World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference recently said, "We know that for many people life is changing dramatically. My family is no different. My daughter is now taking her classes online from home because her school is closed. During this difficult time, it's important to continue looking after your physical and mental health. This will not only help you in the long term; it will also help you fight Covid-19 if you get it."
He said, "WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults and one hour a day for children. If your local or national guidelines allow to go outside for a walk, [go for] a run or a ride and keep a safe distance from others. If you can't leave the house, find an exercise video online, dance to music, do some yoga or walk up and down the stairs.
"If you're working at home make sure you don't sit in the same position for long periods; get up and take a three-minute break every 30 minutes."
So, self-isolating should not mean being inactive, instead there are plenty of exercises one can do at home without any apparatus to get a full-body workout and even some cardio, said Jashim Uddin Ahmad, principal of Government College of Physical Education, Dhaka.
"This is the golden time for family members to stay together and to work out together. Members of a household house can teach each other about exercise and can work out together," he said.
As exercising is integral to maintaining health and fitness, it is important for everyone to schedule the workout, for example, 7:00am to 8:00am, he said.
"If we can fix a time, it will help people find a focus and family members can get ready for exercise," he said.
The indoor exercises Jashim recommended were skipping, various freehand exercises, breathing exercises, and yoga. As going outside of the home is restricted, people can walk inside the room or climb stairs. A daily exercise of 30 minutes is a must for every adult to remain healthy, he said.
"We can play some indoor games like carrom and chess with family members and this will strengthen bonding," he suggested.
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