Almost everyone knows that in order to be safe during an exercise period, you should try not to go past your limits. While there are many safety precautions to take during your workout itself, there are outside factors that you need to be aware of in order to keep yourself safe. We aren’t talking about keeping your body safe in a physical activity, we’re talking about keeping yourself safe from other people or external factors you may come across. We don’t intend to make anyone fearful during this blog, as many exercise at home or in public places. It’s great to exercise with a friend, or a group, but there are times where you may go alone. It doesn’t hurt to take precautionary measures depending on the area you live in, or from any negative experiences in the past. Here are five safety tips for when you plan on exercising alone.
Bring a Lock for Valuables
If you’re working out at a gym, bring a lock in order to secure it in a gym locker. Lockers are a staple in nearly every gym, and bringing your own lock is the most secure way of keeping your stuff safe. While there are some gyms that come with locks on their own, you should make a judgment call on whether or not to use it or not. Make sure it isn’t damaged, or that the lock is different from the other lockers in the room. Thieves could take advantage of hooking their own lock onto the locker, giving themselves access to your private belongings. If you bring your own lock to tuck away your belongings in your own locker, it gives you the best chance of your valuables staying safe.
Keep Your Phone Charged and Near You
While most of your belongings can be safely stored around you, it’s good to keep your phone on you in the case of an emergency. This goes for both indoor and outdoor exercise, as you can be prepared for whatever scenario may present itself. It could be a stranger, inclement weather, or from a potential wild animal. If you’re working out in a public place, it may be helpful to wear activewear that has small pockets. Alternatively, place it in a spot that you can easily see and access it when you need to.
Listen to Reviews
Ultimately, it’s up to you where you choose to exercise, but it is important to stay informed. Reading reviews about the culture surrounding a gym can help you determine its safety. If you’re a woman, it can be very beneficial to choose a gym that a lot of women typically attend. Also, generally lower reviews, while not inherently a red flag, can be bad if they list any safety issues. In terms of public, outdoor locations, pick locations that have trails and clear guides for how to navigate the area. Avoid areas that have reported criminal activity, are affected by poor weather conditions, or have confusing layouts without many guides or trails.
Bring Your Own (Humane) Defense
There are ways you can take action in order to protect yourself in a humane way. Pepper spray is a safe and effective way of warding off people or predators that may come too close to you, or make advancing actions. You can also use public defense classes in order to get a better understanding of what to do/what not to do if you are ever attacked. There are other items that can be used for defense, and while we do recommend each user be as safe as possible, bringing a defensive item with you can be a risk to another individual, and must only be used in scenarios when you are in grave danger.
Stay Aware of Surroundings for Yourself and Others
Unless you’re completely alone in a gym by yourself, it is important to be aware of your surroundings in order to protect yourself and other customers. Survey the room and notice anything suspicious if you see it. Don’t always jump to conclusions, but be mindful of actions. If you notice a person is making someone else uncomfortable, safely try to get them away from the scenario, or contact a staff member to do so for you. If you’re on your own, in an outdoorsy area, do repeated checks of your surroundings. Avoid listening to audio in order to maintain awareness of any strange noises. Should you come across another stranger, don’t panic, it is possible they are another fellow exerciser. However, make note of them, what direction they go in, and if they attempt to approach you, do not interact. Proceed with these situations with as much caution as you can and make a direction back toward the most public space you can find.
While not all of these scenarios are foolproof, we want to reassure that this is not something to live in fear of. Numerous people go to the gym or exercise outdoors and do not come across these interactions. However, it’s important to stay aware that it does happen and to take active precaution in order to give you the advantage in every scenario to keep yourself and others out of harm’s way.
Image Credits: Thomas Hawk / Flickr
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