Categories: WELLNESS

HOW GOOD IS THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR GYM

*This is a guest blog post by Samantha Braddy 

Why do you choose to go to the gym? Perhaps you’re trying to lose weight, or you’re hoping to get back in shape after you’ve been too focused on work. Maybe you just need a bit of physical activity after spending hours in the office? Whatever the reason may be, going to the gym is a great decision bound to make you healthier. That is, of course, if the conditions in your gym are appropriate, meaning everything is clean and the air is good.

The air you breathe can make you weak

It has been known for decades now that air pollution is bad for our health. It weakens our immune systems, and it’s been noticed that people who live in urban areas, where pollution is worse, suffer from asthma and abnormal heart rhythms much more than people who live in rural areas and countryside. You might feel protected knowing that the air in your office and home is purified, but what about the air in your gym? In some fitness centers, indoor air quality is as bad as it is outside and you don’t want to breathe bad air when you’re working on your cardio.

Air quality at indoor fitness centers

Researchers from a university in Portugal did a study where they assessed air pollutants at 11 different gyms. They did so during peak hours in attempts to see what you breathe when you’re working out. The results were stunning – not only were there rather high amounts of dust, but also carbon dioxide and formaldehyde. This was particularly noticeable in spaces where you take special classes like Pilates and spin class. This type of pollution isn’t too dangerous, but for people who already have breathing issues such as asthma, it can worsen their conditions. In addition, this can also tire you out, so you won’t actually be getting the most out of your workout, no matter how hard you try.

Is your gym moldy?

A lot of people come to the gym, they work out hard, they sweat and take deep breaths, they take a shower and go on with their day happily. All this means that there is a lot of humidity in gyms, which further implies that there are high chances that there will be mold too. If you have problems with respiratory organs or you’re allergic to mold, don’t hesitate to ask them about their conditions. You don’t have to sound too pushy, but merely ask if they have an air purifier for mold installed. People working in gyms are professionals and they’ll understand why you’re asking, and you will make sure that you’re working out in best conditions.

Gym quality is almost as important as food quality

You probably wouldn’t eat in a place that isn’t safe, so why would you work out in a place that’s not safe and/or is even bad for your health? Sometimes, the solution is as simple as changing the time you go to the gym – avoid those peak hours when you can’t move around freely and it feels like it’s too crowded anyway. You might also try changing your gym completely – perhaps there is another one whose conditions suit you perfectly and it’s only a couple of blocks away. In the end, remember that nothing beats intense exercise in clean, fresh air, no matter how brief. If you’re working on your cardio, go for a run in your local park or around your neighborhood.

When you’re going to the gym, it’s important to pay attention to every detail: how clean the surfaces are, how fresh the air is, and how the locker rooms and showers look. Compromises are generally a good thing, but not when it comes to gyms. You are going there to take care of your body and stay healthy, and it’s only natural that you want the conditions to be the best.

mariann.yip@gmail.com

View Comments

    • Thank you Zarrah! I definitely think it's important to be aware of our gym environment.

  • Thank you for sharing this post. I attend spin classes just about every day. Now I have to really take notice of my surroundings. You made me become aware.

    Xxgracie

    snappedbygracie.com

    • I haven't tried spin classes but I really want to since so many people rave about them. And this topic is definitely one that I don't think a lot of people are aware about so I'm happy that Samantha was able to shed light on it!

    • I love being active and outdoors in the summer but I always go to the gym during the winter since it's way too cold outside to be exercising.

  • I actually never thought about the air quality in my gym but this makes so much sense! I definitely need to start paying more attention to how clean the facilities are as a lot of time you can even catch colds and stuff from the gym. Great post! xoxo, Christine
    http://dailykongfidence.com/

    • Air quality isn't something that I ever thought about too but I'm so glad Samantha was able to bring this to our attention.

    • You’re totally right! Now that winter is coming up, we should be extra quality about the air quality in the gym.

  • Great post. When I first joined my gym back in Canada, I really loved it. The air flow was so good, but then it was a membership for hundreds of gyms across the country and I remember going to one where there was so much steam from sweat in one studio, it was so gross! It really does make a huge difference how good the air flow is during your workout. Especially since I was a jock as a kid and really only cared about sports and being the best in every track/sport lol - it's really noticeable!

    Xo,
    Miki
    http://mikialamode.com

    • I'm so glad you were observant and noticed the change of the air flow at your gym. This wasn't something I was aware of but I'm glad Samantha was able to bring this to my attention.

  • I definitely never took this into consideration when going to the gym, but it certainly makes a lot of sense. I definitely don't want to be defeating the purpose of working out in the first place!

  • Thanks so much for this post! I never really thought about the air quality in gyms before. This is definitely something I'll be mindful of now the next time I visit a gym. For now, I think I'll continue working out at home :)

    xo, Jo

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