Digital technology and exercise during the pandemic:
Into to Digital Cultures: Course Blog Spring 2021 —
INTRODUCTION
I am going to look at how people are dealing with exercise during the pandemic. I am going to look at how different gyms now are operating due to the pandemic — I am going to look at the UA’s Campus Recreation and the YMCAs in my NYC neighborhood. I am also going to look at how my Mom has dealt with exercise in the past versus the ways she is finding to exercise during the pandemic. I want to talk about how exercise has turned into a virtual activity because even though people are stuck at home they still want to exercise as much as possible and see how social media and online platforms like Zoom are being used by people for exercise.
UA Campus Recreation
The University of Arizona’s Campus Recreation is a place where UA students and people who live in Tucson are able to have access to a gym, basketball courts, a soccer field, etc. In the beginning of the pandemic Campus Rec was completely shut down. With time as the pandemic got a little bit better Campus Rec started to have limited access. Today you have to make an appointment and reserve a time for when you and one other person can use the facility. Campus Rec has started to use webcams to let people know exactly how many people at that time are using the pool, the weight area, Sitton Field, Mac Gym, North Gym, South Gym, volleyball courts, and Robson tennis center. With the Campus Rec app you have the chance to reserve a time as well as to see any updates that are happening around the gym and news that comes through. Some other adjustments they have made because of the pandemic are that they also offer live and virtual group fitness and F45 classes. You also have to wear a mask at all times when entering and while working out.
HOW IS CAMPUS REC USING SOCIAL MEDIA NOW….ARE THEY?
Facebook:
Instagram:
LIVE & Virtual Group Fitness & F45 Classes
YMCAs in my NYC neighborhood:
YMCAs in my NYC neighborhood:
The YMCAs in my NYC neighborhood are highly used to improve people’s health and people’s mental state in an urban area where it is important to get exercise and stay active. Living in an apartment where you are cooped up, it is important to have a place to exercise and stay healthy. This changed with the pandemic when the YMCA had to close down because of city orders. So the YMCA started to offer virtual workouts for people who were unable to leave their home. They decided to offer classes that take place on Zoom as live sessions in virtual workouts for family fitness and for seniors. Some of the classes they are holding on Zoom are circuit training, yoga, Pilates, express workout, senior workout, total body workout, better balance workout and another yoga session. They are also using social media to offer times and availabilities for classes — for example they are using Facebook and Instagram Live. On Facebook Live they are offering yoga, circuit training, Pilates, and total body workout. On Instagram Live they are offering express workout. They are also now opening up for outdoor classes even if your membership is on hold. People have to arrive 15 minutes before the class to do a health screening and review and acknowledge a health declaration plus your temperature check in order to participate. People also have to bring their own mask and their own equipment, which includes water bottle, etc. and they have to keep in mind social distancing from each other.
“The YMCA is here for you, your family, and our entire community, with at-home resources to improve health, empower youth, and strengthen community.”
Drop in for a virtual workout on Facebook Live, or scroll down to see on demand workouts from your favorite Y instructors.
https://ymcanyc.org/outdoor-fitness-classes
Welcome back to the Y for outdoor fitness classes! We’re so excited to see you and get healthy together outdoors at YMCA branches across New York City.
Outdoor classes are free for all members — even if your membership is on hold and/or your branch is closed. Non-members pay per class.
Check out branches and class schedules, learn more about what to expect and how to sign up, and we’ll see you at the Y!
https://rec.arizona.edu/fitness-wellness/group-fitness
MY MOM
I also interviewed my Mom about how her exercise has changed during the pandemic and how the pandemic has affected her motivation. Before the pandemic, my mom used to go every day to go exercise and take a yoga class for an hour every morning in our local community park in Riverside Park in NYC. When the pandemic hit, my Mom could not go to the class in the park because the class was canceled, so she had to figure out ways to keep herself motivated and still exercising. She started virtually taking yoga classes on Zoom with some of her friends and people who live nearby in the community.
I interviewed my Mom and asked her the following interview questions:
Did you have the same instructor who you took the class from in the park on Zoom as before?
My class is a whole body exercise. Before it was 3 times week, but now it turned to twice a week. It is the same group of women but less people taking part because a few people had a hard time with technology so they were unable to join on Zoom, for the people who are less fortunate than us who don’t have internet access.
Is it the same group of people who takes the class on Zoom as it was in the park?
Yes it is also open to whoever wants to join.
What is different for you between these two experiences of doing exercise in the park and doing exercise on Zoom?
When I work with other people and with an instructor it makes everything more of a challenge and adds more excitement to the class, while on Zoom it’s more dull, and I doesn’t get the same excitement as the live class.
Is the class as long on Zoom as it is in the park?
Yes it is the same amount of time.
How do you feel after doing workout with the class actively and outside versus how you feel now doing the class on Zoom?
I feel much more energized and work a lot harder because having eye contact with other people it can push your adrenaline which will boost your workout. On Zoom after a workout I feel happy when the class is done. Then my day starts after that. In the active class you can also socialize and talk with others, while on Zoom that completely changes.
Do you feel the same benefits as before?
No, a lot less than the active class. Because the quality of the work we do on the screen can be completely different to what we’re doing on Zoom. During the in person class the instructor can help fix and get the right position during the workout while on Zoom there is no one to look at you and spot you and give advice. During class there is also a competitive atmosphere while none of that is on oom.
Does the Zoom class keep you feeling healthy?
Yes, even though it’s at home, I try to build off of those exercises throughout the day to stay fit. I can’t wait till I go back to pre-covid classes.
CONCLUSION
I looked at the University of Arizona’s Campus Recreation and NYC’s YMCAs to see what has changed during the pandemic. I wanted to see what different exercise facilities were doing to offer people ways to stay healthy during the pandemic. Both of these places used social media and digital technology to try to get people stay fit and to stay connected with their community by offering live classes like yoga, Pilates, full body exercises, senior workouts, better balance workouts on platforms like Zoom, Facebook and Facebook Live, and Instagram Live. All of these offerings at both the University of Arizona’s Campus Recreation and NYC’s YMCAs are helping people to stay active and motivated while being at home to promote physical and mental health.
