Staying sane during a lockdown isn’t easy. But it’s critical to maintain your physical and mental health to stay healthy during this period.
Whether you are only partially in lockdown; meaning you are able leave the house and go to work most days, or you’ve committed to staying home and away from everyone entirely, one thing is certain. All gyms, yoga and pilates studios, and most outdoor fitness training groups, are closed until further notice. So how is the BB team keeping fit and staying sane?
How BB Writer Ruby Keeps Fit:
“I have been doing home workout videos since our first lockdown in 2020 – especially those from Youtuber Natacha Oceane. Natacha is an online fitness influencer from London. She has her own website with training guides, resistance brands and clothes and recipes.
Her HIIT workouts are short and sweet, around 15 to 30 minutes long, but you will get your sweat on and get those post – workout endorphins going.
I addition, each day I also make sure I get some much – needed fresh air outside by going for a walk. There are so many beautiful walks in the eastern suburbs area; I’m currently loving those around Darling Point and Rose Bay
The Vitamin D produced by the body through sun exposure makes me feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and healthy, and also helps reduce depression, boosts weight loss and even helps facilitate a normal immune system function as well as fights disease according to a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”.
How BB Writer Claudia Keeps Fit:
“I like to try and do a 20–30-minute yoga session everyday just using a video from YouTube – this allows me to not only build strength but also to release tension and increase my flexibility.
Studies show yoga helps with multiple issues including lack of sleep, stress levels, back pain as well as increasing energy and boosting moods.
I’ll also try to do an at-home weights session – I only have a 25kg bar so I get creative with how I use this for lunges, squats, deadlifts, and thrusts.
Combine this with band work and I get a good booty pump going. Lastly, I like to complement my yoga and weights with daily long walks”.
How BB Writer Czelene Keeps Fit:
“In my pre-lockdown daily routine, I didn’t go to the gym, nor did I have any strict fitness routines I followed. However, during lockdown, I realised I had so much time in the world so, why not do home workouts?
I decided to follow Youtuber Chloe Ting’s ‘2-week shred challenge’ which focuses on the abs and tummy area. She is an Australian with over 20 million subscribers and over 2 billion views.
Her workout videos were at peak in 2020 and her most popular video currently sits on 381 million views – and continues into 2021 as her routines are very easy and effective for beginners. Each workout is approximately 10 minutes which is perfect for someone who doesn’t know where to start.
As well as these workouts, I walk two or three times a week, following the trail leading to my local park which takes about 30 minutes, to and from my home. Something as simple as going for regular walks is very beneficial; it strengthens your muscles, regulates blood pressure, improves blood circulation and reduces stress.
It’s simple, yet effective. Walking also ensures social distancing and is a change for me to go outside in the sun instead of being stuck inside all day”.
How BB Writer Monique Keeps Fit:
“I have just started the Yoga With Adriene, “BREATH – A 30 Day Yoga Challenge”. It’s 30 days of yoga and meditation that is great for all levels. I personally am not the greatest at yoga, but it has been a really great way to make sure I am moving every day, it gives me something to strive for and commit to whilst in lockdown.
I usually do that in the morning and then go for a walk in the afternoon and has been a great way to keep my mind healthy and keep active”.
How BB Writer Maya Keeps Fit:
“To keep fit and healthy I enjoy doing weighted workouts from home by following YouTube tutorials. My favourite ones to follow are by ‘Madfit’ and Heather Robertson. These weighted workouts engage my whole body, allows me to build my strength and keep me engaged as well as they can be a challenge.
To do the workouts I use a 6kg kettle bell and two 3kg dumbbells which are very affordable:
- (6kg kettlebell)https://www.kmart.com.au/product/kettle-bell—6kg/1936817
- (3kg dumbbell)https://www.kmart.com.au/product/3kg-dumbbell/694311
Both above items can be purchased online doer delivery”.
How BB Writer Phoebe Keeps Fit:
“Lately to keep fit in lockdown I’ve been taking walks 3-4 days a week. It helps keep my body moving rather than sitting inside all day. I use the ‘Nike Run Club’ app.
It has quite a few functions like tracking where you’re going, how far you walked, etc. and when connecting it to an Apple Watch it will track your heart rate as well”.
BB founder Renae says:
“I am much stricter on my workout routine right now. I’m running or at the gym in my apartment building every day. At the apartment block, they have a very strict schedule of two people at a time which is helping me also be strict with my commitment. Once I have booked in, there is no way I am not turning up.
I’m also walking with my family early morning first thing which we all enjoy.
As for staying healthy, I’m obsessed with trying new on-line recipes. Louise Keats has excellent vegan, low sugar, healthy recipes. And @pixiehands are a sugar free chocolate you can purchase online, delicious.”
Recent Post: Recipe: Make Your Own (Mega Healthy) Infused Raw Protein Chocolate
BB writer Anisha says:
“Weirdly enough, I have been more active this year during lockdown than I have been out of lockdown. After binging on Friends for the umpteenth time, I needed a new sitmulus and there it was – the gym equipment our family had invested in years and years ago, still untouched, sitting in the garage.
After committing to an at-home gym routine for a week now, it feels strange not to exercise daily. I usually start with cardio on the treadmill and then head to my room to follow a pilates class online or come up with my own strength exercises. I’m yet to take on the world of weights but if this lockdown goes on for a while I’m sure I’ll get there soon enough.
I would really love to make use of my exercise trampoline which is collecting dust in the corner of my room too. From what I’ve heard, trampolining is a great for cardio and it’s super fun too.”
BB writer Rebecca says:
“In all honesty, I have been a little slack with the whole fitness thing since the yoga studios closed down. Until they all then announced they would be doing online yoga through Zoom. So for the last week, I have done a yoga class a day, which is more than what I was doing before lockdown.
Crazy how that works. It’s also given me the flexibility to connect with yoga studios I wouldn’t normally go to, as they are either too far from home, or are in another state. Isn’t great how we can find some sort of positive in all this craziness right now?
However, with the amount of sitting down I am now doing being stuck indoors, compared to always running around doing things before lockdown, the tension in my head and neck have increased massively. A few yoga teachers I follow on Instagram have been talking about how Dolphin Pose, Head Stands and Hand Stands help to relieve this tension. So, after sitting for too long, I find a wall and get right into that head stand.”
BB writer Zoe says:
“I’ve always struggled to remain motivated when it comes to home workouts, as I love nothing more than being able to escape to my local gym and pump out some weights. Now, that’s obviously not an option, so I’m having to adapt my training methods, and it hasn’t been easy.
I’ve recently been using Chris Hemsworth’s app CENTR, which I have found great as the workouts aren’t too long or difficult. In particular, I love the CENTR 6 workouts, which are a part of a 6 week plan, 6 days of workouts per week. It’s fast, effective and I get a real sweat on.
I’ve also really been enjoying skateboarding at the moment, as it gets me out of the house. I’m still learning at the moment, but I really enjoy heading out at night and skating under the stars. It’s a great way to keep active while getting some much needed fresh air.
I’ve also recently invested in TRX ropes to add to my home gym. They can be strung up almost anywhere and are great for using your body weight as resistance. My favourite exercises to do using them are one legged pistol squats, standing push ups and rows.
All of these target different parts of the body, and most require a bit of balance and core strength, so it’s a really effective way to get a workout in. Plus, they take up next to no space – once I’m done I simply fold up the ropes and store them away until my next workout.”
*First Published in May 2020, and updated August 2021.