Don’t let lockdown get on your wick –make it fun and keep fit at the same time
June Peebles urges those stuck at home to use the opportunity to improve their health
During this period of lockdown, we want to share some good, practical advice on keeping active, both physically and mentally.
For 22 years, we’ve been keeping the city of Edinburgh healthy and active. Now is no different. Our venues may be temporarily closed, but we can still help you look after your health.
We all know the benefits of exercise and now especially we need to be more creative with our choice of activity and equipment.
Join us in keeping active and bring a piece of Edinburgh Leisure into your home with five ways of keeping active during lockdown.
It is important that we continue to follow Government guidance to tackle the spread of coronavirus and it’s equally important that we take care of our own health and well-being during these unsettling and worrying times.
Government advice currently allows us to leave home to exercise once a day, such as for a run, walk or cycle. This should be done either alone or with people that you live with. When you are outside, you should keep at least two metres (6ft) away from people you do not live with.
Whether it’s by stretching out or becoming your own personal trainer, staying active will help keep your mind and body healthy. Now is the time to get creative and try something new.
In partnership with Les Mills, we’re offering free access to 100-plus Les Mills classes during the Covid-19 disruption. These cover post-pregnancy, kids dance sessions and mindfulness as well as the hugely popular Bodypump, Bodybalance and Bodyattack classes.
You can also take part in Edinburgh Leisure’s Fit for Health fitness class and welcome coach Mari into your home to take you through this 45-minute session. You can find this class on Youtube by entering Fit for Health Fitness Class delivered by Edinburgh Leisure into the search bar.
You can also join in with the nation’s favourite PE teacher, The Body Coach, Joe Wicks, every weekday at 9am on his own Youtube channel.
The workouts are fun and aimed at kids but suitable for all ages (even
adults!) and you don’t need any equipment.
If you do not have any gym equipment, now is the time to get creative with products that you can find around the house
Fill some different-sized plastic water bottles with water or sand (if you are lucky enough to live by the beach).
Put your tins of baked beans, or bags of rice or flour to good use. They make great dumbbell substitutes or, if you tie them up in a carrier bag, you have an improvised kettlebell.
Dust off your skipping rope (or borrow one from your kids) and use to increase your heart rate and work your cardiovascular system.
Don’t have an exercise mat? You can always use a fresh towel. Park one up on your living room floor and use the space to work on your flexibility or do some core strengthening exercises, such as sit-ups or planks.
You can also get creative with your workout space. As we adapt to our new normal, it is important to make space in your house or flat to allow you to take part in daily activity.
Move your furniture back to create a safe space and avoid injury and try walking briskly around the house or up and down the stairs.
When making your daily calls, walk around your house rather than sitting down
Put on some music and dance for 10-15 minutes, two or three times a day. This is a fun activity for all the family and can help blow any cobwebs away. Throughout this time of uncertainty, remember that something we can take control of is our health and well-being.
Remember, the key advice is #Stayhomesavelives. We’re in this together.
June Peebles, CEO, Edinburgh Leisure.