Another fire season is upon us and the smoke is no joke. It’s dangerous. That’s why it’s important to use the tools online as one gauge for our air quality. During the past few years I’ve used www.airnow.gov. Their homepage allows you to search by city or zip code, then gives you back the (relatively) current reading and color code. If you dig down you can find a fire and air map: https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=38.005198&lng=-122.5582079&zoom=10 The drawback to this is that you don’t get precise air readings for each area on the map, you get colors which represent a 50 point spread. There is a big difference between a yellow reading in the 50’s and a yellow reading in the 90’s. I personally make a point not to physically exert myself outdoors when the air reading is anything over 70.
www.PurpleAir.com has a great map on the homepage which gives you colors and the corresponding numbers for each area. An upgrade compared to AirNow, PurpleAir also gives up to the minute readings. AirNow will tell you the reading 60-90 minutes ago, which is still helpful but not ideal. The air quality can change swiftly around here with winds coming from the Woodward fire in Point Reyes.
Under these smokey circumstances it can be difficult taking care of ourselves. Exercising can be a challenge. A window of clear air opens and if you procrastinate or put it off you might find that window closed and you are stuck indoors unless you want to exercise with an N95 mask which is not ideal or even comfortable.
That’s why it’s important to develop an indoor exercise routine. There are lots of options, including On Demand exercise videos. Since I was in my 20’s I’ve always had a light weight routine that I fall back on when I can’t be active outdoors. It keeps my shoulders in their sockets. I’ve got stretches for my back and knees. I’ve got my own version of Thai Chi that I enjoy doing to music. Essentially I just try to keep my body moving.
At this point in 2020 I think it’s important that we make the best of the situation we are in. The virus has held us captive since March and too many people around the world and disproportionately here in America have lost their lives. Others have become ‘long haulers’, their illness chronic. Just when we were starting to get more mobile and the economy was preparing to open up again in Marin the fires hit.
Sitting around and complaining about it shouldn’t be an option. We can take proactive measures to stay safe an healthy. We can make time and find ways to exercise. We should all wear masks, practice social distancing, wash our hands, don’t touch our faces and get tested if we feel ill or have been around someone who has the virus.
2020 has been a challenging year. There are more challenges ahead. The better your body feels from continuing to move around, the better prepared you will be to meet those challenges. And when you get your ballot in the mail this fall, don’t put off voting. Get it done, submitted and let your voice be counted.
We’ve still got many blessings here in Marin County, especially our great communities.