The haze that’s all over Singapore right now has had a negative impact on people who want to exercise. In fact, many runners are complaining that the haze is preventing them from training for the annual Standard Chartered Marathon which will be held in December.

But you don’t have to stop working out completely. There are plenty of things you can do so that you can keep yourself healthy.

Work Out in a Gym

Obviously as a personal trainer I fully recommend this option. I live and work in Singapore, and every year without fail the winds blow the smoke of the forest fires in Indonesia to our country and other nearby countries as well.

So your best option is to work out inside a gym where it’s safe. The advantage of working out in a gym is that you have all the equipment you’ll need, and you can even get proper advice on what kind of workout to do. You can exercise safely indoors, and you minimise the pollutants you inhale into your system.

If you like to run, gyms have treadmills. You don’t have to be bored staring at a wall, as there are TVs around you which can entertain you when you run. Of course, the air may not be as fresh as you’re used to if you used to do your exercises outdoors. But that’s the point. Right now when there’s a haze, the quality of the air outside is definitely worse—and bad for your health.

Work Out At Home

If you want to stay home, you can still do some exercises. Some types of exercise equipment such as dumbbells are very affordable, and adjustable dumbbells don’t take up much space. Even treadmills are more affordable now. You don’t have to delay your workout, especially when you’re trying to lose weight.

But you don’t even need any equipment to exercise at all. There are many types of exercises you can do which only require your bodyweight. All you really need is an Internet connection so you can do your research on bodyweight exercises and watch online videos of how they’re done properly. Push-ups, squats, crunches, and so many others can be done at home.

For best results, get a foam roller or even a rubber mat so you can lie down on the floor safely and do your exercises without getting dirty.

Play Indoor Sports

You can also play sports to keep yourself fit. It’s very enjoyable, and it also helps you to socialise with others. Of course, the indoor sport you engage in will depend a lot on where you are. Here in Singapore, we have lots of indoor facilities for badminton and futsal.

Bowling is also very popular all over the world, and it gets your body moving. A more challenging activity is indoor rock climbing. There may not be many places to do this, but you may have them where you live.

Proper Nutrition

Proper nutrition is important. But if you’re stuck indoors most of the time because of the haze, you’ll need to compensate for the lack of sunlight in your daily activities.

For that, you’ll need more vitamin D. You may want to put in more egg yolks and fatty fish in your diet. Or you can just take a vitamin D supplement. Even taking a teaspoon of cod liver oil a day helps. If you want to be sure, talk to your doctor or your nutritionist. Just keep in mind that the pollutants can still get inside your home and contaminate your food, so keep your food safe inside the refrigerator!

Staying indoors keeps out most of the pollutants, so you can exercise without worrying about the ill effects of the haze. Besides staying indoors doesn’t mean you can’t stay active. Just try some of the tips we’ve provided above and you’ll do just fine.