9 ways to keep yourself fit during lockdown in Liverpool

We’ve all been guilty of reaching for the wine or the box of chocolates in lockdown – anything to help us get through.

But even though the gyms are closed, it is still possible to keep fit and stay healthy in body and mind, and you will feel better for it!

Here’s our nine top ideas…

Absolute Body Solutions Online PT

Instead of PT sessions in the gym, you can now switch them to PT sessions on Zoom! Like its other programmes, the Liverpool gym’s online service can be tailored to suit your goals, fitness levels, lifestyle and equipment available, wherever you are. “And our current clients are loving them,” says owner Connor O’Brien.

If you sign up, you get an initial assessment which will be used to work out your training and nutrition background, your goals and how best to tailor a programme just for you. 

You get weekly catch ups with your trainer who can make any changes or updates as you go and give you a new workout plan every two weeks. The options include six sessions for £85 and 12 for £165. “The cost is less than our in-gym training and aimed to help you stay on top of your goals, ready for when we reopen again!”

Watch our latest chat with Connor for loads of advice above.

More info yet.

At Home with Harriet McGuffie

Harriet promises that with her workouts and support you can and will feel fitter and stronger, and she encourages you to take back control, gain confidence and feel good about yourself. And who doesn’t want a bit of that?!

Liverpool-based Harriet is a 40-something woman who is passionate about health and wellbeing: “I believe that in taking a sensible approach to your whole wellbeing – exercise, food and lifestyle you can sparkle!”

The At Home with Harriet programme costs for £75 a month which includes 6 zoom classes a week, access to its website featuring bespoke workout videos and a library of technique videos. It also features a tried and tested recipe book, help with calories and macros, all alongside weekly check-ins and coaching calls with Harriet. There’s also the option of Zoom classes only for £40. (6 classes a week).

Initial sign up is for 8 weeks with At Home with Harriet, or a month for Zoom only.

Watch our chat with Harriet above as she gave her reaction to gym closing and lots of advice for staying fit at home.

More info here.

Girl and a Gay in the Gym podcast

This one will keep you entertained as well as fit. Scouse personal trainers Harriet Jeffries (The Gym Bird) and Richie Swan give their own unique take on how to get fit and stay motivated.

They give realistic advice on what to eat and how to train, and they chat to guests about their fitness regimes. Be warned though, they don’t sugar-coat anything and if you’re easily offended this one isn’t for you.

Their motto? If you want to be more Victoria’s Secret than Victoria sponge, then this is the podcast for you!

Listen on Apple here.

Jay Standish PT

Jay is a personal trainer based at Derby Lane gym in Old Swan, but currently delivering his programmes online.

His Four Weeks Fit Ultimate Online Training Experience offers seven live workouts a week, available 24/7 on catch up, plus additional workouts, diet tips, advice and recipe book, for £19.99.

You can follow him on Instagram @stand.out.fitness

Liverpool Yoga Studios

LYS On Demand provides access to over 200 pre-recorded yoga and fitness videos for people to practice in the comfort of their own home at their own time!

There are also specialist classes including Meditation, Backbending, Hip Mobility and Journaling, and fitness classes including Strength & Conditioning, HIIT, Legs Bums & Tum’s, Dance Fitness, Pilates and even Virtual Spin!!

New members can join the LYS Online Community for just £14.99 for one month’s access with no contract.

Find out more here.

Kadampa Meditation Centre

Looking after our mental well-being is every bit as important as our physical health, and never more so than in lockdown.

The Kadampa Meditation Centre teaches meditation for simple relaxation – they say meditation can help unwind your mind, reduce stress and help you overcome anxiety, and more –  and Buddhist practices. The choice is yours.

It offers livestreamed meditation classes, courses and retreats (also available on catch-up) with a special lockdown streaming offer of £25 per month.

More info here.

Family Fitness (Neil Parsley)

Getting everyone in your household involved not only keeps everyone fit and healthy – but keeps them occupied too. Strength and fitness coach for premiership footballers and Olympic gold medallists Neil Parsley is using his 25 years’ experience to get families across Merseyside into a regular fitness routine with his YouTube channel, Family Fitness TV.

Sessions vary but might include a warm-up, and then two sets of 10 varied exercises like squats, lunges and jumps. Neil, from the Wirral, has also produced shorter clips which give ideas of fun things to do in the garden – like noughts and crosses with sticks and socks – and there’s health tips and nutritional recipes the kids can try.

Watch the series here.

Get out for a walk in the fresh air…

It costs nothing but a walk outside can do you the world of good, and you can fit it in to your day routine exactly when you want to.

Here are 10 of our favourite walking routes in Liverpool City Region.

You can power walk to get your heart-rate increasing for a cardiovascular workout or take a more leisurely stroll and just admire the scenery and get to know the area you live in a little bit better.

Picking up the pace will give you a great daily exercise but, let’s not forget, that fresh air and getting out into nature has also been shown to have a positive effect on our mental health too.

If you’re stuck for ideas too, The Ramblers have some great advice and short walks for free.

More info here.

Get Buzzin With Bez

No, we’re not kidding! Set to take the celebrity lockdown fitness crown off Joe Wicks, Happy Mondays favourite Bez – real name Mark Berry – is planning to lose his lockdown pounds, and help to inspire others while he’s at it.

The 56-year-old will be sharing videos on YouTube under the title Get Buzzin’ With Bez and he’ll be following the orders of a personal trainer as well as visiting a psychologist, learning yoga and trying hypnotherapy.

He says: “I’d like to think I’m somewhere between Joe Wicks and Mr Motivator.”

Now that’s one none of us can resist!