Originally, a report on an Uhlmann Fit4Life course was planned here. However, writing a report on a fitness course that had to be canceled is hardly likely to motivate anyone to become active.
Physical exercise is said to have a positive impact on health. As Uhlmann attaches importance to the health of its staff members, under normal circumstances employees are able to choose from a wide selection of fitness and health courses. How come the cancelation of such a program?
Covid-19 measures restrict the options of physical exercise.
The government first responded to reduce the risk of infection with the corona virus. It imposed contact and movement restrictions, also closing facilities such as fitness centers and schools.
In the same context, Uhlmann also took steps – ranging from social distancing in the office, to increased working from home, to the cancelation of sport activities and putting a hold on cooperation with fitness centers.
We asked several colleagues about their sports activities …
Have all possibilities to keep fit been put on ice because of corona measures? We asked Uhlmann colleagues:
- How have circumstances changed compared to before corona?
- How do you keep fit compared to before?
Colleagues gave feedback on fitness apps, gymnastics with their kids, back problems working at home, video chats instead of training together in a hall, climbing in the living room, etc., etc.
Intrigued? Then simply click on the right through the photo gallery and find out what colleagues are doing.
Yezhen motivates her father Jing Xinting to reach his pre-corona fitness level.
It really has impacted our daily activities. All the time I tried to avoid going out to keep myself and my family safe. I only went out for necessaries once a week. Sometimes I did some stretching exercises indoors, but, unfortunately, I failed to keep fit and my weight has increased by 5 kg since the end of January. Normally I use BMW (Bike + Metro + Walk) to get to the office and walk in the park during my lunch break to reach the daily target of 10,000 steps. I also sometimes did aerobic exercises or ran 10 km in the sports park at the weekend.
Jing Xinting (Uhlmann China | Senior Service Technician Software & Automation) on 12.05.2020
Florian Wahler abseils with the help of his girlfriend.
Hanging around at home is the order of the day in current corona times, at least until the boulder and climbing halls open again. The apartment has to serve as an option with a bit of creative thinking. Simply make use of the frame of a window or door so the climbing gear stays fit at any rate…
Florian Wahler (Uhlmann Holding | Product Owner) on 12.05.2020
Monika Sedelmaier recommends using the breaks during long online workshops for short fitness workouts.
During the first weeks working from home my smartwatch reminded me often enough that my activity goals for the day had not been attained: “Close your rings.” So I started to do more sport … and felt better. While researching for this article, I came across tips on how small workouts lead to greater motivation and concentration when working from home. My Digital Lab colleague and I are currently working on an interactive “Design Thinking” webinar. Design thinking helps to solve complex problems systematically and creatively. To enable participants to concentrate on the development of solutions for three and a half hours in front of a screen, we find it essential to have regular short breaks. Consequently, we also provide inspiration on how to keep fit during the breaks – even without coffee.
Monika Sedelmaier (Uhlmann Germany | Product Owner) on 15.05.2020
Judith Liessfeld is now being trained by her sons.
Once it became clear that there is no school, my superior enabled me to work entirely from home so I could take care of my children and adapt my working hours more flexibly. I had previously suitably scheduled my sport twice a week: Wednesday evenings “functional training” and Friday mornings “Fit in the morning”, when the children were in kindergarten or school. “Fit in the morning” is canceled. Firstly, because non-parental child supervision is no longer possible and, secondly, because clubs are not allowed to hold courses at present. As for “Functional Training”, our trainer sends us videos via WhatsApp once or twice a week. I do the workout perhaps in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening – and at times I just don’t get around to it. Sometimes with, sometimes without the children – of course, when they are at home, they ask if they can join in. My boys are sports-mad: out into the open, action. They haven’t been allowed on the playing field for ages and sport has been canceled. The four of us cycle a lot in the meantime. That’s our plan B when the kids have too much energy in the late afternoon.
Judith Ließfeld (Uhlmann Germany | Project Assistant Digital Solutions) on 07.05.2020
Carlisa Chavis wants the infection curve to level out as far as possible and tries to keep fit at home.
Covid-19 has changed things dramatically for me and my household. I’m working from home for the time being and I miss going in to work. My makeshift office is handy, but company is in and out as I work.
As convenient as it may seem, it has its downsides. I miss going in and interacting with my colleagues. Just before the shutdown I had just joined a gym and didn’t get a chance to go in for a workout, so I’ve been walking in the park or using my elliptical trainer at home, trying to shed some pounds. I’m lucky my kids are older so no home schooling for me. Although my daughter had to leave college and do the remainder of the year online, I didn’t have to get involved. Of course, we are all getting restless sitting at home, but I try to keep busy and eat less because the pounds are adding up. I’m just trying to do my part in staying at home to curve the spread.
Carlisa Chavis (Uhlmann USA | Sales Assistant, North America) on 12.05.2020
Instead of soccer, Marie Neuer does workouts after work with influencer Pamela Reif.
When the situation worsened, I started to work from home. I didn’t go out at all the first three weeks – no running, no walking. I actually play soccer, but as contact sports were suspended, training was canceled. I came across Pamela Reif through Instagram. She prepares workout schedules and uploads these as videos on YouTube and Instagram. I started doing 30 minutes a day and I am still sticking to that. It is a cool way to compensate the lack of sport and one feels better for it. However, individual sport is completely different to team sport. I am particularly looking forward to doing sport again with my girlfriends when corona is over!
Marie Neuer (Uhlmann Deutschland | Commercial Sales Support) on 07.05.2020
Triathlete Martin Dangelmayr is training the disciplines cycling and running with his youngest offspring.
I am a triathlete, which means swimming, cycling, and running. Swimming is the discipline with the greatest restrictions – zero training at present. In the winter season, we usually train in an indoor pool, with the addition of open-water training before competitions. Swimming is a very technical sport. As many exercises are necessary, these are easier in a group or under the supervision of an instructor. Being a triathlete means not only individual, but also group sport. I often previously trained the two disciplines cycling and running on my own, and these are not so restricted at present. I have been working from home since the corona measures have been enforced. I find mobility exercises important when one has to sit at home such a lot.
Martin Dangelmayr (Uhlmann Germany | System Engineer) on 08.05.2020
Michael Mader is joined by his children on a jog.
I am usually active in a club, in the fire department sports group, or go walking with friends. I also really enjoy cycling to work (20 km). Meeting friends and doing sport together is what I miss. As I mainly sit at work, I find physical exertion important as compensation.I still get my exercise in times of corona. For example, I go jogging on my own, sometimes accompanied by my children on their bikes. Furthermore, I have been doing “bodyweight training” for some years now. All that is needed is your own body and a few square meters of space. My appeal to everyone – take a look at YouTube, you will find plenty of videos. Everyone can find what is suitable for them. My watch displays significantly fewer steps working from home than in the office. The usual distances to/from the parking garage as well as to the machines in the halls are lacking. Even the distance to the coffee machine is shorter at home. Sports greetings and stay healthy.
Michael Mader (Uhlmann Germany | Automation Engineer) on 13.05.2020
Edith Merz at her desk at home – unfortunately the height cannot be adjusted.
I have converted the former children’s room into my “home office”. What I miss most of all are my colleagues and my adjustable desk. As far as sport is concerned, I am not particularly active in these corona times because I prefer to exercise with a group. Walking and cycling keep me reasonably fit, but I sorely miss my sports groups (Uhlmann back-fitness, aquafit, cycling group).
Edith Merz (Uhlmann Germany | Commercial Sales Support) on 15.05.2020
Instead of swimming, Arnold Luigart is jogging more – in good company with his daughter.
I still go to work in my function as Evaluation Technician. Privately, prior to corona, I swam once or twice a week at the “Parkbad” indoor pool, jogged once, and cycled once. Swimming is now off due to closure of the Parkbad. Added to that, I have a four-year-old daughter who can longer go to kindergarten. Taking care of her has reduced my free time. Nevertheless, I still manage to cycle once a week and jog my usual distance. Two short jogging circuits have been added to the agenda, on which my daughter accompanies me on her bike. This is then more a family activity for me.
Arnold Luigart (Uhlmann Germany | Evaluation Technician) on 13.05.2020
Raphael Büchele and his handball team strengthen team spirit online.
I am co-trainer and goalkeeper of the Laupheim handball team (HRW1). For us as team athletes, who practice sport in a hall, a lot has changed. Halls were closed early on and groups were longer allowed to meet. We promptly looked around for alternatives – how to stay fit individually and as team athletes. When the season resumes, we should ideally be able to continue at the former level. However, it is difficult to prepare for a season when no-one knows when it will start.
Definitely no longer possible is practicing playing as a team. Everyone must maintain his own fitness. We trainers have given the players exercises that focus on endurance and monitor this to a certain extent (e.g., using fitness apps). The team also has a fitness trainer, who has drawn attention to alternatives to fitness centers, e.g., bodyweight training. As team athletes, what we badly miss is not only training itself, but sitting together after working out. Instead, the team currently meets online once a week and talks about things other than sport.
Raphael Büchele (Uhlmann Germany | Project Manager) on 08.05.2020
Connie Lee jogs in her neighborhood in Singapore.
Most of our colleagues have to work from home now due to what is referred to here as the “circuit breaker”. We only leave the house when absolutely necessary (e.g., for groceries, medical appointments, etc.).
Many facilities that have not been classified as essential are currently closed, such as gyms, cafes, and cinemas. I have reduced my exercise time since the start of this pandemic. Now I only exercise within my neighborhood and try to restrict it to 30–60 minutes per day. Usually it’s just taking a stroll with my husband.
Connie Lee (Uhlmann Singapore | Sales & Marketing Executive) on 15.05.2020
Kevin Sommer has become more active since corona.
I like to dance in my spare time and also have many dance schools as clients as they use software developed by me. Consequently, I see firsthand how this sector is affected by corona. I am very glad that we have few restrictions at Uhlmann in comparison. Unfortunately, dancing as before is not possible so my fiancée and I sometimes visit one of the many online dance courses offered by my clients. Furthermore, we use the time gained from not traveling to and from work to walk or cycle. Overall, I am more active than before corona.
Kevin Sommer (Uhlmann Germany | Architect Digital Solutions) on 25.05.2020
Because he is not running to and from work, Karlheinz Kösling has to find new routes for barefoot jogging near his home.
Working from home means that I no longer go to and from work. I always cover the route on foot (barefoot or with barefoot shoes) or by bike – seven kilometers mornings and evenings. While working from home, I still go jogging, but only every second day.
Karlheinz Koesling (Uhlmann Germany | Design Engineer) on 07.05.2020
There are plenty of ways to stay fit.
Even though the COVID-19 measures are gradually being eased (begin of June 2020), many of us have felt very restricted by them. And yet each of the colleagues we asked found a way of motivating themselves to be physically active over the past weeks. While some had to reduce their customary exercise, others have discovered new forms of physical activity.
It cannot be denied that the range of options to keep in form is much wider than it would appear at first glance. Those finding it tedious to wait for the next Fit4Life course, or who are in danger of rusting, will hopefully be inspired by these reports.
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