A WARRNAMBOOL personal trainer says fitness fanatics should take a cautious approach as they return to action in the region's gyms.
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Fitness facilities reopened on Monday as some COVID-19 restrictions eased across the state. Joel Cornelissen, a personal trainer, exercise and sports scientist and strength and conditioning coach, said finding routine again was vital for gym-goers.
"You want to make sure you're easing back in to exercise again in the gym and that you're doing it safely," he said.
"A lot of people are just excited to get back into exercising and gym work and just need to make sure they're cautious with it.
A lot of people are just excited to get back into exercising and gym work and just need to make sure they're cautious with it.
- Joel Cornelissen
"There's been probably three or four months between a lot of people going to gyms and that's a fairly extended break for a lot of people."
Cornelissen advised people to monitor the intensity and frequency of training.
"Training four to five days in a row might be a little bit much initially," he told The Standard.
"As much as its exciting you want to train smart and that's what I've said to my clients. You'll regret it if you go too hard straight away."
Routine and mental wellbeing were among the benefits of returning to exercise, Cornelissen said.
"You obviously get the mental and physical benefits. I've found over the last three-to-four months, and living in a place that gets pretty cold, it's hard outside," he said.
"It gives people a good mental release. It gives them that down time."
Cornelissen said demand was strong for personal trainers throughout the COVID-19 shutdown.
"Over the last little while I've been really busy," he said.
"There's been more demand than ever with a lot of gyms being closed. There hasn't been many options out there for people to exercise."
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