PE with Joe and #StayInWorkOut: videos to help you keep fit and active at home

Staying indoors should not be an excuse for a lack of exercise. That’s the advice given by health experts and sporting bodies during the coronavirus pandemic.

With gyms closed and millions of adults and kids being advised to stay at home, there’s a risk of many people slobbing out in front of the TV, laptop or games console.

For this reason Sport England is launching its #StayInWorkOut campaign designed to encourage people to keep active in and around their homes.

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Speaking to the BBC, Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: “Even if social isolation means being inside - if you feel well, it is easier than ever to get active.

“We all know that right now what matters most is listening to what the official advice is telling us to do, so we can save lives and protect the NHS. What that doesn’t mean is that we stop being active, which we believe is now more important than ever.

“From the Prime Minister down, everyone recognises the vital benefit that being active can have. It’s not just a means of building and retaining your physical wellbeing, but also crucially it’s a way of supporting your mental health and battling back against some of the worst moments of isolation and fear that the coronavirus has instilled in all of us.

“I believe, however, that we will also see a profound change in the relationship in our communities to sport and the need for physical activity, realising more than ever how much it matters to our own sense of wellbeing, and more importantly, how powerful it can be in ensuring the connectivity of communities and in bringing people together.”

Social distancing when outside

If you are heading outside to walk, run or cycle, remember to follow the government guidance on social distancing.

Sport England said: “Advice for people who are going outside to get active: do it locally, staying close to your home and avoiding going to places where it might be difficult to follow the guidelines.

“If you don’t think that’s possible - there are loads of great ways you can get active inside your home or out in your garden if you have one!”

PE with Joe Wicks

Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has this week launched his “PE with Joe” live video exercise class for kids and parents.

The live stream of Monday’s first fitness class was watched 1.7m times on YouTube as kids (and bigger kids) started their day with a morning workout. The free online classes will take place Monday to Friday at 9am.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph Wicks said that he wanted to become a “PE teacher for the nation”.

The 33-year-old added: “When things started to get bad, I had lots of parents asking me how they could keep their children active while they were home schooling, or if they were self-isolating. I started to feel quite emotional.

“So I decided I’d become the PE teacher for the nation and do 30-minute live kids’ workouts every weekday. The free workouts will be very similar to what I did on my school fitness tour, with a mix of HIIT workouts, including jumping jacks, ‘climb the ropes’ and squats.

“The exercises are fun, easy, and aimed at toddlers through to teenagers. My daughter Indie is nearly two and she tries to copy me when I do them. The whole family can do my PE lessons together, or parents can leave older children to it while they catch up on work.”

Feeling inspired? Watch these videos...

There’s hours of videos on YouTube to get you active when at home. This Girl Can and Fitness Blender are two channels which give top tips, plus we pick some other great fitness classes for the home and garden...