2024-07-09 15:19:46
Following the easing or even removal of certain restrictions by the authorities in several cities of the Kingdom, many people are trying to gradually re-engage in their daily sports routine, by resuming their activities in gyms.
Faced with these fears, fueled by the growing number of infections with the virus, some are trying to resort to outdoor running in order to stay in shape and avoid gaining weight if they stop all physical activity.
However, practicing physical exercises at home or outside, although effective, can cause the practitioner over time to lose the desire to continue training alone, especially in the absence of a coach who will know how to maintain their motivation.
Ms. Selma Bennani, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Aerobics, Fitness, Hip Hop and Related Sports, considered it difficult to restore confidence among gym members, especially after a long period of confinement and in light of news about the high spread of Covid 19 in the world. These elements pushed the federation to conduct awareness campaigns through videoconferences, after allowing gyms to reopen their doors.
In her statement to MAP, Ms. Bennani indicated that these awareness campaigns were mainly aimed at gym managers to urge them to provide ideal conditions for receiving members, in accordance with the preventive and proactive measures recommended by the prevention guide. This includes a set of conditions, established by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for a safe resumption.
However, many practitioners still express their concerns about contracting the virus inside the halls, despite the efforts made by the Federation and the clubs to strengthen members and encourage them to continue their usual activities, reassured Ms. Bennani.
The President of the Federation also stressed that gyms, which were hit hard during the closure period, suffering from financial and social problems affecting the various stakeholders (managers, coaches and supervisors), were still unable to attract all of their members.
In addition, concerned about the well-being of their children, parents prefer that their little ones engage in outdoor sports activities, which deprives gyms of almost 40% of their usual clientele.
Ismail, a member of a gym in Rabat, hesitated a lot before taking the first steps towards his gym. His first visit to the premises was not intended for his first session after more than three months of inactivity, but rather to ensure compliance with health standards and the recommendations of the competent authorities.
“I won’t hide the fact that I hesitated at first to resume my physical activities in a club. I initially preferred to train outdoors, but that wasn’t enough, especially in terms of bodybuilding which requires exercises with the help of specific equipment. I resigned myself to visiting the gym but only to learn about the measures taken by the managers to preserve the safety of their members and avoid the risk of transmission.”
“As soon as I entered the gym, I noticed a great commitment to implementing preventive and proactive measures through physical distancing and disinfection of equipment. It is even mandatory to disinfect hands and measure the temperature of each visitor at the entrance to the gym. Therefore, I decided to return to the club which provides all the conditions for safe and secure training,” he added.
As for Younes, who trains at the same club, he did not hide the fact that the three months of confinement were tough for him. He was deprived of the pleasure of exercising indoors even though he trained at home throughout this period. With the start of the easing of confinement measures, he resumed outdoor exercises because he was not sure whether returning to the club would be a good idea, given the spread of the virus in most countries around the world, including Morocco.
“The decision to continue my usual activities in the club came after many visits in the hope of dispelling the fear, even though I have practiced my favorite sport in the same hall for several years. I was finally convinced that the measures in place are sufficient and will be able to ensure the safety of members who in turn respect the instructions and preventive measures established by the club,” he concluded.
2024-07-09 15:19:46