Lockdown fitness and activity ideas and opportunities

During the lockdown in spring 2020, Active Calderdale surveyed Calderdale residents, and found that 73% of people exercised to manage their physical health and 76% to manage their mental health.

It’s really important that we keep active again in this lockdown, to stay strong physically and mentally, and to ease the strain on our frontline workers and NHS. Here’s a big list of activity and fitness ideas to get you fitter and healthier:

Getting Active Outdoors

The latest guidance from the government is clear; once per day we are permitted to leave our homes to exercise in a public outdoor place:

by yourself
with the people you live with
with your support bubble (if you’re legally permitted to form one)
in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
or, when on your own, with one person from another household (going for a walk with someone counts as exercise) – remember to stay 2m apart from anyone outside your household or bubble.

Outdoor places include parks, public gardens, the grounds of heritage sites & playgrounds, be sure to check the Calderdale Council service updates page to make sure that certain sites are open. Also please note that we should not travel outside our local area, and that you cannot meet anyone outdoors for recreation, it must be for exercise only.

We know that fewer people will want to get outdoors during the winter lockdown, but with 47% people who were active outdoors last time also reporting improved mental health as a result, then wrapping up warm and getting out for a walk, run or cycle is a brilliant opportunity that we should all take if we’re able.

Keeping active Indoors

There are plenty of ways to stay active in the home too, even for those who are extremely vulnerable, so long as they’re fit and able to do so.

See below for a list of resources for people of all levels to try at home.

For those who want a more leisurely pace:

Together with partners, we created the Active At Home Booklet for Calderdale – filled with handy tips to get moving at a slower pace.
Living Streets have created a fun #Try20 checklist for you to take out on a 10-minute walk around your local area.
The NHS ‘One You’ campaign has a range of free apps for keeping mentally and physically well
The NHS ‘One You’ campaign also has a range of entry-level workout videos.
The NHS have also created these simple exercises for:
‘Move it or Lose it’ have several follow-along videos for chair-based and simple activities on their Facebook page. You can tune in to their live broadcast, or watch them whenever you’re ready.
You could join the ‘Make Movement Your Mission’ Facebook group for 3 live videos of 10-minute exercises every day!

For people with long term conditions or disabilities:

We Are Undefeatable have a range of exercises, tools, and videos to inspire those with a long term condition to keep active.
Change4Life accessible activities for children and young people with disabilities
The Activity Alliance have compiled resources for helping those with disabilities to get active at home
Cerebral Palsy Sport have put together a wellbeing guide including nutrition tips and exercise

For those who want to get a sweat on:

Our very own Marie Conway has a “Take Ten” ten-minute session for you to try to break up your day.
The NHS have a range of ‘Gym-free’ workouts, which come in a handy poster format.
You could follow an NHS yoga workout to improve strength and tackle stress
Try Joe Wicks 7 days of sweat or have a look into some local personal trainers on social media
Have a look on YouTube or other social media channels for free videos, there are loads of options out there!

For those who want to get active as a whole family:

Yorkshire Sport Foundation and leading national organisations are working with Physical Educators from across the country to support parents to teach PE at home.
You could download the 50 things app – it has plenty of ideas for things that you can do in the home.
Active Imaginations have some great videos to give you ideas for all sorts of activities.
Looking to get active with your children too? Change 4 Life have some ideas for you.
Ready Set Ride have some fantastic videos and tips for helping teach your kids to ride a bike.
The GoNoodle YouTube channel has hundreds of fun little videos to dance along to
For a little mindfulness, try Cosmic Kids Yoga
For all the Disney lovers out there, there’s the This Girl Can Disney dance-along
This Girl Can have a range of ideas to keep active with children, babies and pets too.