Admittedly, a lot of us have been sedentary during social isolation and the lockdown period. According to data from the company Fitbit, Australian adults have been around 4 per cent less active. This inactivity leaves most of us less fit and struggling when returning to the gym or swimming pool.

While some of our states remain in lockdown, most states are starting to come out of hibernation and many of us are looking to shed our iso-kilos, it’s important we’re taking care when returning to exercise. Exercise has been proven to not only increase our physical health and wellbeing but also supports mental health.

Exercise has many proven benefits, but when it’s cold and dark outside, it’s difficult to muster up the energy to go outside and get the heart rate up. Thankfully, government restrictions have eased and a number of gyms are now back in business, albeit with tight physical distancing and hygiene regulations.

There are several myths surrounding exercising in winter, but in reality, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Myth – Exercising in cold weather puts more strain on your body?

While it’s true that our bodies can fatigue faster in colder weather, this can be offset by ensuring that you fuel your body with enough energy to keep you going through your workout. Make sure that you’re consuming enough complex carbohydrates and protein to keep your energy levels up.

Myth – You don’t need to drink as much water because you don’t sweat as much in winter?

Dehydration still carries the same risk in winter as it does in summer. In fact, because we tend to rug up in winter, we may end up sweating a lot more than we realise. It’s important to always bring a water bottle with you while exercising, and remember that due to COVID-19, water bubblers are no longer available at all venues.

Myth – You don’t need to warm up for as long if you are exercising indoors?

Even if you are working out at the gym with a controlled temperature, your body still needs enough time to warm up for your workout. A good warm-up routine should include a low-intensity activity that elevates your heart rate with enough easy stretching to warm up your muscles. Remember that you must never stretch a muscle so far that it causes pain during a warm-up.

We hope that debunking these common myths will put your mind at ease as you start to ease back into your fitness regime – our teams look forward to welcoming you back to our venues!

Please remember, if you or your little swimmer are feeling unwell, or if you have come into contact in the proceeding 14 days with any confirmed cases of COVID-19 do not attend the Centre or the lesson.