Lockdown health and fitness.
- Jacques Durand (Head of Wits Strength and Conditioning)
The national lockdown seems to be the perfect time to start a healthy lifestyle.
No alcohol, no tobacco, and until recently, no take-away food. Numerous people are engaging in some form of physical activity such as household duties, in and around the house. There are even a few that find new ways to get the clock to speed up and get active by doing push-ups and sit-ups, moving furniture around the house and counting your steps on your smartwatch as you now mow your lawn.
Even though the local gymnasiums are not open yet, the whole lockdown experience sounds like a healthier than normal lifestyle. Unfortunately, most of the time we start like a house on fire but we run out of steam before this could be imprinted and become routine. There are only so many push-ups and sit-up combinations that you can do before losing interest, and being creative with training plans and exercises are not always everyone’s cup of tea.
I guess that is why group classes, CrossFit and similar types of training are so successful. We just want to get told what to do, and if there are a couple of people doing it with us the motivation comes naturally. Even though there is a lot of expensive apps. and training plans being advertised, the opposite is also true. I will share some ideas and links for free together with very effective training solutions, that can be done in the comfort of your own home. Some of these exercises are being done by the Wits Sport HP athletes. Feedback from the well-trained athletes on these exercises indicates that it is challenging and fun.
It is very important to remember that you need to start slowly and progress according to your own pace. Should you choose to do any of the mentioned routines or if you are trying to make the most out of the 6:00 am - 9:00 am training slot, do it at a comfortable pace and stop whenever you feel the need to rest. Getting back to fitness should be seen as an exciting journey and not a quick race. We all know the benefits of exercise on our general physical and mental health.
Below are a few links to some of the quality workouts. Try them out and share your thoughts or short video clips with us on Instagram #Witssportadmin – Hopefully you will find something for everyone in the family, from dancing, boxing, and much more.
1) Les Mills on YouTube – 28-day BodyCombat Training - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gid7mT-1YnY
2) Les Mills on YouTube – Les Mills Dance Training – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9R8gxKLPEo
3) Wits Sport – May Fitness Challenge (soon to be June Challenge)
/sport/
4) Exos Training Solutions – Might need some equipment or need to improvise a bit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f6L9fuIpkg
5) The Nike Training App – Download onto a smartphone (Currently Free)
6) 30 Minute HIIT Training Cardio Workout – No equipment needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml6cT4AZdqI
REMEMBER: Stay active long enough for this lifestyle to be imprinted and become routine.