We have all learnt about the importance of staying active during lockdown and the positive effects it can have on the whole family - both mind and body! Lockdown has been a time of great stress: the massive change to our routines, the isolation, the trying to carry on as normally as possible whilst having to fit in work, childcare, chores and self-care into the same 24 hour days.
As humans, we are all different and react to stress very differently. Some of us will throw ourselves into work or pastimes, and whilst some will comfort eat, others will completely lose their appetite and find they have to force themselves to eat. For this reason, what our individual health and fitness needs right now are all very different.
Hopefully as a family you’ve managed a daily stroll for some fresh air, and perhaps you’ve appreciated spending some extra quality time together. If so, you might want to check out the following ideas we’ve curated for families to workout and get active together!
Dancing
A fun activity that the whole family can get down with. Either make a playlist with one song from each family member for the day, or take it in turns to make a playlist. Dancing in youngsters encourages improved balance and coordination, and may help with confidence and self expression. For the adults of the house, dancing may help you feel young once more, as well as provide a useful outlet for pent up energy and feelings, so dance like nobody’s watching and give it a go!
If you want to take your family dancing to the next level, check out these Mini Workouts - a collection of fun and easy to learn dance routines.
Gardening & Chores
Smart parents can gamify these everyday tasks so that all family members are involved with tidying, cleaning and even the weeding of the garden. Designate family members a different room of the house or spot in the garden and set a reward for the quickest tidied and/or cleaned.
PE with Joe
The Body Coach’s series of PE classes have been a phenomenal hit with kids and parents alike. The classes go out live on the YouTube channel Monday-Friday at 9am, but are also available for replay. Each class is around 40 minutes, so if you are looking for something to occupy the kids (and perhaps drain their batteries a bit!) so you can get something else done, try PE with Joe.
For Mums (and Dads) with Babes in Tow
Trainer LJ - Fit Mix Mom has created a series of fun workouts aimed at mums and families. There are baby-wearing sessions, mommy and me (where the baby is the weight!) and dance routines suitable for all the family.
Cardio for the Family
PopSugar Fitness have put together this fun family cardio workout that both parents and children will enjoy. If you get bored of this workout, check out their fun and high-spirited dance workout routines.
Yoga for the Family
We can all acknowledge that lockdown has not been without times of stress. Many individuals have turned to meditation, mindfulness and yoga to help themselves get through these challenging times.
If you’ve not tried yoga yet, or feel that your kids could benefit from a bit of calm in their lives, try this session with Yoga with Adrienne, aimed at teens through to adults. If your kids are a bit younger, they may need more than a yogi and some candles to hold their attention, so be sure to check out Cosmic Kids Yoga here. Videos are colourful, fun, sometimes educational, sometimes storytelling but always engaging.
