Let’s get physical
For anyone that wants to maintain their fitness while in lockdown there are lots of options.
The UK is currently in lockdown with the aim of slowing down the spread of
Covid-19.
With the population being told to stay at home, it is more important than ever to look after your physical and mental health.
As part of the Government’s guidelines we have been told that we are allowed to leave our homes to undertake ‘one form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household’. So what can you do to keep active and make the most out of the time you have outdoors?
Ben Hulme is a personal trainer based in Crawley Down, and has moved his bootcamps online.
“I have live boot camps and my app TheBootCamper is a community driven app helping our members to stay focused and positive during this time,” said Ben.
The app is free for seven days then £9.99 a month with no contract. The sessions take place on Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 10am for a family friendly boot camp, and the same on Sundays at 10am.
A single dad-of-two, Ben also knows the importance of keeping you and your family fit, and has set up a free family Facebook group.
He recommends getting outside and doing a HIIT (high intensity interval training workout).
“Get out in the fresh air either in your garden or safely in a park subject to the Government guidelines respecting the social distancing regulations,” he explained. “Of course this can be done in your living room or anywhere at home even without kit.
“A walk would be good but to get your heart rate as a LISS (low intensity steady state) cardio option but it takes time to burn enough calories so a sprint/walk combo in a LIT (lactate interval training) style would work well so a 30-second sprint/oneminute walk repeated would be highly effective.”
Sports therapist Ryan Keats, who lives and works in Eastbourne, is calling on people to keep active and is offering a weekly video, which will be posted on the Eastbourne Herald website.
He said: “It’s really important to keep moving and to avoid sitting down for long periods throughout the day.
“My videos aim to help people with their posture and improve function.”
Physiotherapist Victoria Adie’s website Pilates Live (pilateslive.co.uk) has a number of free workshops available for different abilities.
She said: “We have a new class for kids to help keep them entertained and active at home.
“There are also relaxing Pilates classes, classes for runners, post work class and much more. There are various different lengths of classes ranging from ten minutes to an hour class. We are continuing to add new classes every week.”
Freedom Leisure, which has gyms across Sussex including Rye, Hastings, Bexhill, has made Les Mills classes available online through its website.
Yoga Life Studio, in Eastbourne, is helping students find their zen from the comfort of their living rooms by offering several virtual yoga classes throughout the week.
Classes are designed to accommodate a variety of skill levels and needs, ranging from beginners yoga, to pregnancy yoga, to healing yoga.
There is no direct cost, but students are invited to donate to the studio’s pay pal account in order to help keep classes, up, running and as regular as possible.
Yolanda Martin, who runs TeamYo in Brighton, ran a free Couch to 10k Steps, live at home from her living room, on Saturday, March 28.
Yolanda said: “I’ve dreamed of the moment my work can reach people who want and need it anywhere, and now I can.
“Join me live on Facebook in your living room. We will be moving until we hit 10k steps. All moves will be low impact and will take you into a fat burning heart rate. Yes, I will be chucking some dance moves in!
“I expect the full 10,000 steps to take two hours. A stretch will be included.”
Ben said: “Like I always say... ‘We adapt to any environment were in’.
“So in this case we’re adapting to our new environment and going online.”
I’ve dreamed of the moment my work can reach people who want and need it anywhere, and now I can.
YOLANDA MARTIN TeamYo, Brighton