How everyone can stay active at home

Advice and Information - 24 November 2020

We all need to stay at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of infection, and some people may be avoiding going out completely. We want you to be able to keep active, whatever your age or ability!
women in yoga pose black sports bra prayer hands

Try online workouts 

There are some great YouTube channels out there that make easy-to-follow, free home workout videos. We have linked some of our favourites below.

 

Join 60 yr old personal trainer @Oggiesilverfit2 for a balance workout, to help you feel more steady on your feet! Warm up, strength & balance exercises and a cool down - with modifications for different abilities.

The Body Coach makes lots of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout videos.

He has also started live streaming workouts for all the family every morning - you can tune in here at 9AM for 'PE With Joe'! 

Scola Dondo is a London-based physical trainer who makes fun workout videos inspired by Afrobeat.

FitnessBlender makes a range of videos - you can search for workouts that are a certain length, target a specific part of the body, or are low, medium or high intensity. 

 

Work on your strength, balance and flexibility

Maintaining your strength and balance is very important for older people, and people with limited mobility. Try these simple exercises:

Or, give a chair workout a go:

Or, try downloading these simple exercise routines

If you'd rather follow a guide with pictures and instructions over a video, try these helpful resources from the NHS.

Strength exercises
Download (PDF 1.27 MB)
Balance exercises
Download (PDF 959 KB)
Flexibility exercises
Download (PDF 917 KB)

Follow an exercise plan

It's likely that coronavirus has completely changed your routine, whether you're staying at home all day or completely self-isolating. This can impact your mental health. Following an exercise plan can help give you some structure. 

The NHS has a 5-week Strength and Flex plan, with a series of equipment-free exercises designed to improve your strength and flexibility. These can be done at home. 

Try Strength and Flex

Or, if you are able to go outside for exercise once a day, why not try the Couch to 5K programme? This is designed to help you gradually build up your running ability, until you can run 5 kilometres without stopping - even if you've never run before.

Try Couch to 5K

Try yoga

Yoga can help you improve your flexibility and strengthen your whole body. It might also help you to feel calmer and more relaxed.

Yoga With Adriene has a wide range of full-length, free yoga routines on her YouTube channel.

 

 

We hope you enjoy giving some of these activities a go! Please share this page with people you know that want to keep active.