Opinion
Social distancing in the gym: less people, more workout
by Patrick Bardelli
Home gym: meet my new housemate the Gorilla
8/2/2021
Translation: Julia Graham
I’m fed up. I’ve not been able to train properly for months because gyms had to close as a result of the pandemic. But now something has to be done, which is why I’m building my own little home gym.
In the first lockdown, it was still OK. And predictable. Gyms closed in the middle of March and were open again two months later. Like many others, I bridged this time by working out @home and using my own body weight in exercises, where press-ups and pull-ups replaced deadlifts and bench presses. Having said that, I noticed even then that I was missing real weight training.
No end in sight
But now the situation is different. In Basel, gyms have been closed since 23 November. And there’s no sign of that changing soon. I’m not anticipating that the Swiss Federal Council will ease measures at the end of February. Quite the opposite, in fact. I reckon we won’t be able to get back into gyms until April at the earliest, or even later than that. And we can’t yet predict what the situation will be like next autumn. Of course, there are a lot of ways to work out without using dumbbells. Take TRX (total body resistance training), for instance. TRX or full-body suspension training is where you use your own weight. I’ve got one of those at home. And it works OK. It’s great being able to pack your fitness routine in a bag and take it on holiday with you so you can do your workouts in the hotel or holiday home. But I find being limited to your own body weight, well, limiting. What’s particularly unsatisfying is training my leg muscles without extra weights.
Meanwhile, gyms keep opening and then closing. This back and forth is annoying and makes it difficult to stick to a sensible workout plan. I’ve had enough of this uncertainty, which is why I’m setting up my own mini gym at home. Or at least, as far as space permits.
Gorilla Sports: gorilla by name, gorilla by nature?
If you’ve had a look for sports equipment online recently, you’ll have noticed that a lot of products are unavailable. Most of it is sold out – from bikes to fitness equipment. But I have a spot of luck with Gorilla Sports and can still find the odd few products. Order quick before even the last of the dumbbells are gone.
With my order placed, I eagerly awaited the postie, who turned up a week later on my doorstep, sweating and parcel in hand. Thanks, postie and the courier company who delivered the over 30 kg barbell. Then it was time to get busy with the hammer and screws.
Home gym vs working out at home
Not long after, my little home gym is ready to use. I can work on a lot of different areas with this set-up, for example, the upper body with the bench press and barbell rows with the barbell. You can also do renegade press-ups and dumbbell swings with the dumbbell. Or whip your hamstrings into shape with the barbell. And that’s just to name a few of the exercises that are possible. It’s good that there are also protective mats to stop your parquet floor from getting scratched. The set-up looks fairly stable, and I can hardly wait to try it out for the first time. Let’s see if Gorilla Sports products live up to their name or if it’s just a marketing gimmick. Watch this space for reviews of the dumbbells and bench. But first you’ll have to give me time to try them out in my workouts.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.