Variety of lessons can be found online

ALTHOUGH those 5km walks and runs are a welcome relief after the weeks spent exercising within a 2km radius, many of us continue to miss the activities of our local gym and sports team.

To help combat this, a number of local fitness instructors have begun hosting classes online. Using the now ubiquitous video conferencing apps these classes seek to mimic the gym environment, albeit from the comfort of your own home.

And while it’s not always possible to have access to the same amount of equipment, with a little improvisation, and enough space, you can ensure your exercise routine is adhered to.

In addition to live classes, there are also now a number of apps which can be downloaded onto any smartphone and will provide daily challenges and goals for those missing the competitive spirit of their gym.

Furthermore, for those whose sporting activities take place on a playing field, there are classes and lessons being posted on social media by members of not just the Wexford GAA teams but also other county players. These classes not only keep sporting minds active but also provide some humour and relief from the psychological impact of living in lockdown.

However, not everyone has access to a back-garden, and some are still choosing to self-isolate. For those, there are a variety of lessons which can be found online which cater for more sedate forms of exercise such as chair-yoga and other indoor exercise routines.

Although it’s impossible to recreate the atmosphere of a intense game out on the field, or mimic the exertions of a workout at a fully-fitted gym, there is ample opportunity to stay fit and keep your skills sharp while we await the reopening of our sporting facilities.

And while many of your contemporaries may be using this time to relax and binge on television shows, you can ensure that when you do get back out there you’re ahead of everyone else and as sharp as ever.