As stores face ongoing shortages of home gym equipment, it remains unknown how long the home exercise trend will last

By, Anna Wdowczyk

Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions have forced many gym enthusiasts to get creative with their workouts at home. 

Throughout the pandemic, retailers have seen drastic spikes in demand for home workout equipment. But will the new trend of home exercise carry over into a post-pandemic world? Fitness experts and Ryerson students have mixed opinions.

Dione Mason, an RU Recreation fitness instructor, said working out at home is nothing new and is probably here to stay. Home exercise videos have been popular since the 80s, and accessing online workout content is only getting more accessible as technology evolves.

No matter what the global climate is like, “we can keep moving and realize the importance of physical activity for not just our physical health, but also for our mental health,” said Mason.

Although Mason prefers having access to equipment in larger facilities, she acknowledged that everyone has their own style and that working out from home can be just as effective. 

“It might sometimes feel a little bit disheartening. But just keep in mind that everybody is going through very similar circumstances,” she said. “Take heart in knowing that you’re not alone, and we can reach out to each other a lot online.”

To mobilize others, Mason offers remote classes and posts health and fitness tips on her public Instagram account. Her students include a mix of Torontonians alongside participants from countries around the world.

Creating space

Michelle Parlevliet, a former track athlete, is a  fourth-year creative industries student currently taking a break from her studies. Not being able to access fitness centres has led her to a new sense of appreciation for the gym.

“I never really liked to go into the gym before [the pandemic], but having it taken away has made it seem a lot more appealing,” she said. “Trying to stay active from home was challenging.”

Despite her struggles, Parlevliet managed to stay in shape by taking up cardio and stretching. In her bedroom, she manages to set aside just enough extra space for her stretching routine.

“Creating space in your apartment, especially if you live in Toronto, can be challenging. But I think we’ve all had the time now to reassess what we actually need in our spaces,” she said.

Parlevliet describes working out in her bedroom’s privacy as feeling “more freeing” since it allows her to focus on her progress.

She likes how working out around others allows her to socialize more. However, she said it can lead to self-confidence issues if she lets herself worry too much about whether other people are watching her.

Negin Khodayari, a social media and marketing coordinator at RU Recreation, favours working out in privacy or with her closest friends. 

“I just always felt more comfortable in my own space and doing [exercise] in my own time at home… It’s a bit harder to stay in that headspace when you have so many distractions around you, and it’s just so easy to turn off the class.”  

To stay in the zone while exercising, Khodayari likes having Zoom calls with her friends where they all follow the same fitness video. 

To keep students active during the pandemic and create a focused environment, Ryerson launched MOVE Everywhere. A workout program students can join from wherever they may be – whether it’s at Ryerson home or out in their neighbourhoods.

Students who participate in the programming can choose between taking fitness classes via Zoom, engaging in fitness socials, intramural esports, sport club meetups and on-demand classes. Students can also choose to participate in movement breaks that run for a few minutes per session in between lectures.

Ryerson community members who prefer to go on casual strolls can engage in Mood Routes, a program that allows students to get some fresh air while de-stressing. The events are held on Thursdays at noon on Instagram live when student staff members film their walks for viewers to follow along.

Deena Shaffer, the coordinator of student transition and retention, said adapting the programming to the pandemic wasn’t easy, but her staff stepped up to the plate. 

“The perk that emerged was one of ingenuity and commitment. My student staff team right away thought of creative ways to reach our community and keep them moving, outdoors, and connected,” said Shaffer.

It doesn’t mesh well

Eduard Tatomir, a fitness centre and facilities supervisor for RU Recreation, said cramped and limited home workout spaces do not create the same vibe as going to the gym. 

“When you’re stuck at home, your home becomes your bed, your movie theatre, your workplace, your gym, your kitchen,” said Tatomir. “It’s everything in one place. And honestly, trying to work out in the same place that you sleep, and eat, and work, it doesn’t mesh well.”

Tatomir bought his resistance bands to train with at home, but he still misses using the larger pieces of gym equipment that he could not afford or fit into his room.

Certain sports, like tennis or badminton, cannot be played at home due to the space they require.

Former varsity badminton player Alison Chiu wishes she could compete at her final tournament with the Ryerson Rams. Chiu used to train three to four times a week but now feels out of her element due to the COVID-19 regulations and practicing less often. 

She added that visiting the gym inspired intense workout sessions for her, “I feel more motivated to work out [at the gym] because I see other people working out.”

While waiting for gyms and badminton centres to open with fewer restrictions, Chiu stays fit at home by following YouTube workouts and using her own weights and resistance bands.

At Ryerson Summer Day Camps, participants and staff members are eager to reconnect in-person.

“Parents are extremely anxious to see [the return to camp] happen,” added Thomas Appleyard, a member of the Ontario Camps Association. “They know that the pandemic has been very tough on their children’s mental health and physical health and social health.”

Last summer, day camps ran virtually.

According to camps and aquatics coordinator Matt Edmonds, student staff and camp participants alike could sustain their engagement levels by playing games and doing community-building exercises. 

Planned activities cover different subjects that range from engineering and sciences to 3D designs. Edmonds said campers have the freedom to choose between the subject-based activities that interest them most.

While unsure about what this summer will hold, camp organizers are working with the Ryerson School of Occupational and Public Health to prepare programming. To accommodate the uncertainty, Ryerson Summer Day Camps is prepared to launch two separate plans: one for remote programming and another for in-person activities.

After receiving instructions from the Ministry of Health, campers and staff members will know whether they can expect a physical reunion or another summer of virtual connections by no later than April 21.

Just like these camp organizers, none of us can be certain what the pandemic will allow us to do. Though, as we look at the future, we will each have to make decisions about staying active – whether that be at our home, outside, or a mix of both.