Long Islanders Embrace More Flexible Workout Routines In Pandemic

LONG ISLAND, NY —The coronavirus pandemic changed the way many Long Islanders lived, worked, went to school and exercised. With gyms closed and normal routines altered, new ways of working out at home became a must for many. One New York City fitness expert saw an opportunity to share her time and space-flexible workout routines with those struggling to fit working out into their post-Covid daily schedules.

Jennifer Jacobs founded the J Method fitness brand and routine after working with Peloton. Last summer, she visited Long Island Jewish Medical Center to lead hospital staff in as group workout, demonstrating how fitness can be incorporated into busy working days.

"The pandemic changed so many things for so many people. Our daily routines were disrupted in ways we least expected. For many of us who were forced to work from home, and school our kids from home, we became busier than ever. But in reality, the convenience factor of training from home was and still is ideal in order to help establish or adapt a new routine," Jacobs explained to Patch.

"The demand for at home fitness has surged with many of us looking for quick and effective workouts that you can easily do anywhere even from your living room between Zoom calls."

Jacobs recorded a series of YouTube videos for Northwell employees and donated her exercise bands to use in the five-minute "break room" workouts.

"It is so much easier to make a quick workout part of your daily routine. More importantly, I believe many people have learned that a quick workout can still mean an effective workout. The ability to train anytime anywhere in five to 20 minutes several times a day can be just as effective as completing one 45 to 60-minute workout," Jacobs said.

Jacobs noticed while working in the fitness industry that many people were unable to make fitness a consistent part of their lives because the time commitment of hour-long workouts and expensive equipment were prohibitive.

"If the routine doesn’t fit your lifestyle, it will not become a habit."

During the pandemic, watching frontline healthcare workers inspired Jacobs to want to give back.

"I wanted to give back to them in a way to help them take care of themselves and also improve their overall health and wellbeing. Developing a program that offered convenient, quick, and effective sessions that they can perform within the hospital in their breakroom."

"After a 12-hour shift I knew that the last thing people would want to do is go home and workout so I created a routine they could do within five minutes: something that would help re-energize them and just feel a little bit better after such a long day or night."

Jacobs is now hoping others can benefit from her flexible workout philosophy and apply the same concepts to their busy, post-pandemic lives.

"It's a practical approach for those who lead a busy lifestyle and always think they cannot find the time. When you perform a quick training session, your body will flood with feel-good endorphins, creating a happy mindset and an energized body that will fuel you for years to come."