Worries from Aylesbury PT over gym closures
There has been a campaign across the country to keep leisure facilities open.
Last updated 5th Nov 2020
Gyms and leisure centres have been told to close, of course, but there have been protests, including from gyms and gym-goers in Aylesbury.
Yesterday in London, protesters were outside the Houses of Parliament calling for leisure facilities to be allowed to stay open.
We've been talking to an Aylesbury personal trainer, who has spoken out before about recognising the link with fitness and mental health.
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Macauley Morrice told us:
"Closing gyms has a lot of impact on people's mental health.
"For a lot of people, going to the gym is an escape, chance to see other people and build a bond.
"It's a chance to better yourself every day and it's often a nice family atmosphere, so the thought of gyms closing presents that idea of loneliness, which correlates with anxiety and depression."
Macauley argues that since lockdown was lifted and gyms opened, over 25 million people have entered gyms and only around 70 cases of coronavirus have been linked with these.
He added:
"So the evidence backs gyms staying open and I don't understand why they are not."