Germs, 2026

Staying away from people with flu-like symptoms and washing our hands with soap and water after being in public places is always sensible.

And what about the gym? Gyms can be a notorious breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

Good gym managers do their best to keep things sterile, with frequent equipment disinfectant wipe-downs by staff. Still, truly sterile gym conditions are nearly impossible. I’m certainly not denigrating gyms. My wife and I worked out in commercial health clubs for years and taught classes in them.

I wonder how many senior subscribers belong to a health club or gym? If you happen to be a gym member, have you ever considered switching to working out at home?

Your own weights, resistance bands, and/or bodyweight exercises make it easy to create a home gym. For years now, I’ve been exercising at home exclusively. It’s unlikely that I’ll ever join another health club. At my age (89), home workouts are too convenient.

If you have the self-discipline, the hours saved by not having to drive to a health club are another good reason to create your own gym. My home gym won’t pass for Gold’s — but it’s effective. Take a look. Even when I belonged to a health club, I would still use my home workout gear on days when I was pressed for time.

Home gyms can be as simple or extensive as you want them to be. Look at George Boedecker’s home gym as an example of a home gym that has everything. Younger seniors still pumping heavy iron would find plenty of it at George’s. Yet nothing more than a set of dumbbells or kettlebells, plus some bodyweight exercises, can be highly effective too. Add resistance bands, and you’ve made your gym portable. Multi-purpose machines take up more space but are worth considering if your budget allowsit.

There’s a place on my website where trainees can create their own personal story page and include a picture of their workout space and equipment. Take a look. Fitness devotees, bodybuilders, and lifters of all ages are always interested in seeing where other people train and the kind of equipment they use. If you have a home gym, why not share the history of your training space and how you decided on your equipment? It could be a couple of kettlebells in the corner of a room or a big space filled with everything from free weights to fitness machines.

There is an easy-to-use form to walk you through your contribution. I promise that plenty of people will be interested.

Stay healthy. Stay fit.

Logan

Senior Exercise Central

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Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com