2 Tips To Make The Best Of Your Gym Shower
If you spend the money to work out at a private training gym, then you will want to make the most of your time at the facility. This is especially true since the most exclusive gyms are likely to cost you thousands of dollars in membership fees and possibly over $100 per training session. This means utilizing the showers in the gym when you get a chance. If you do decide to use the showers, consider the following tips.
Bring a Pair of Flip-Flops
You may pay a small fortune to enjoy your private gym, but this does not mean that bacteria and microorganisms will not be located within the shower like every other gym facility. In fact, it can be incredibly difficult to remove the types of microorganisms that thrive in warm, humid, and dark spaces, even with daily cleanings. This means that your feet will likely be exposed to fungi, parasites, and viruses that cause skin infections like ringworm, boils, athlete's foot, impetigo, and staph. This is even more likely if your feet have any sores, cuts, or small openings.
To protect yourself, carry a pair of flip-flops with you and slip them on your feet as soon as you remove your sweaty socks and shoes. If the shower is lined with slippery ceramic tiles, like many gym bathrooms, then invest in some shower shoes or slip-ons with rubber soles. Soles that are lined with treads that allow moisture to wick through them are best to prevent falls.
Take a Breather in the Locker Room
Locker rooms are the perfect places to secure your belongings while you work out. They are also a good place to rest before you take your shower. If you rush into the shower as soon as you are done working out, then your heart rate will still be elevated and your body will also be warm. The activity in the shower along with the warmth of the water will keep you sweating and prevent you from getting clean. The perspiration may also contribute to a drastic drop in body temperature when you leave the gym and the cold outside air forces the sweat to evaporate quickly.
To prevent this problem, remove your sweaty clothes and wrap a towel around yourself. Sit on a bench and allow your heart rate to return to normal. Your pulse will reduce by about 20 beats the first minute you rest, and it will continue to drop for the next several minutes. Afterwards, your body will cool down as blood stops racing through your body, and you may start to feel chilled as sweat evaporates. It will probably take five or more minutes after your heart rate returns to normal before you are cooled down enough to take a shower. When you do shower, make sure to lather completely with soap across your entire body to get rid of sweat instead of merely rinsing off quickly.