Local Fitness Resources During COVID-19
By Chris Newport, MS, RDN, LDN, CISSN, EP-C
While we’re under a stay-at-home order in the state of NC due to COVID-19, we’re all challenged with a lack of a gym or a pool. Several of our trusted small business fitness partners have made some amazing changes to make fitness more accessible for all of us.
Support Local Businesses!
When you spend your hard-earned dollars with local businesses (just like ours), you’re making a difference in your community. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, “small-scale, locally owned businesses create communities that are more prosperous, entrepreneurial, connected, and generally better off across a wide range of metrics.”
Bikes Shops Are Open
If you’re a cyclist, bike shops are considered essential services and are still open. Please support them! Some are offering local pick up and delivery for bike service, curbside pick up and more. Our favorite shops are Inside Out Sports (our neighbors!), All Star Bike Shops, the Cycle Surgeon, and the Bicycle Chain.
Support Your Local Running Store
Now that everyone is out running and walking more (and hopefully respecting social distancing), please consider purchasing your shoes and gear from a local shop. Our favorite partners are Fleet Fleet Sports and Bull City Running and Pace Yourself Run Club. These shops also run amazingly effective and affordable group run classes once the social distancing measures are released.
Local Gyms with Online Classes
If you’re looking for a good workout and some strength training, which generally doesn’t appear on a typical endurance athlete’s schedule, here’s your chance to change things up, try something new and experiment with different places without breaking the bank or leaving your house.
If you’re already a member of the YMCA, they provide some online classes and put tons of money back into the community, so check out their Y360 Virtual Classes program. These are great classes for a wide variety of abilities, especially beginners.
If you’re looking for a bigger challenge and a tight-knit community, I highly recommend checking out our fitness partners Hustle Cary, Athletic Lab, Republic of Yoga and Original Strength Institute.
Amanda at Hustle, with her studio nestled in downtown Cary, is running online classes for $8 each and has some killer music, great workouts and a generally fantastic community.
Mike and Cate at Athletic Lab are excellent at providing well-programmed workouts for weightlifters, sports performance and cross-fit athletes.
Nicole at Republic of Yoga has some supremely divine yoga classes. If you’re new to yoga, here’s your chance to try it at home without feeling totally lost or embarrassed (the typical feelings one might experience in their first class). If you’re a seasoned yogi, you’ll appreciate the authenticity of their classes.
Last, but certainly not least, are my friends Tim & Dani at Original Strength Institute in downtown Fuquay-Varina, who have their online programs. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more supportive, encouraging community in fitness and wellness. They do a stellar job of adapting functional movements for all sizes, shapes and abilities in their unique “resets.” In the quest to push ourselves constantly, they remind us how “pressing reset” helps us live and move better.
Another one of our partners, while not a gym, is the Running PTs, who are providing regular online content to keep you moving well. They are also providing telehealth so you can continue to get the physical therapy you need during this time.
As usual, we continue to provide our online endurance coaching, tailoring each program to your needs and resources, so contact us for more information. We are also providing our current clients with online fitness opportunities, so be sure to connect with us on our Insider’s Circle Facebook Group. Thanks for your continued support!
Stay tuned to our blog for a weekly workout from our partners.
Stay fit, stay active, respect social distancing and let’s get through this together!
