Week two of “lockdown iso” has begun and things are already starting to feel a bit strained (working at home with kids? no thanks!). Our usual daily routines are out the window and a new normal of restriction is setting in. What can we do about this? Let the tension get to us or find the silver lining (and free online activities) and make the most of this strange ‘vacation’ from regular daily life? We say the latter!
We’ve been trawling the web for you guys to find ways to get you out of bed each day and keep your mind and body busy and balanced during this time. We hope this list helps a little. Also, as always, stay safe and stay home! Share with us in the comments below if you know of any other businesses and ideas that are helping us to get our minds and bodies working during this crazy time!
Image – Shut Up and Dance on Instagram
1. SHUT UP AND DANCE INSTAGRAM LIVE CLASSES
Wanna learn Beyoncé’s Single Ladies? Napolean Dynamite’s talent show performance? The iconic Dirty Dancing routine? We hear your excitement and no, this is not a dream. It’s real and it’s FREE during Lockdown! Described as “Tik Tok on steroids”, Shut Up and Dance is just what you need to shake off the cobwebs and let off some iso steam!
2. TVNZ + LES MILLS DAILY WORKOUTS
TVNZ and Les Mills are helping us stay fit and healthy while we’re in lockdown!
The free-to-air adult workouts, ranging from high-intensity training to stretching and meditation will be available Monday through Friday at 9am on TVNZ 1. They’ve also got workouts designed specifically for kids and teenagers airing at 3pm daily on TVNZ 2. Don’t sweat it (excuse the pun) if you miss the class due to your hectic schedule, all classes are available on TVNZ OnDemand.
Image – thecoast.net.nz
3. MY LOCKDOWN DIARY
This one could be for you or the kids! Find ways to appreciate Lockdown and record some memories from this strange time. Christchurch artist Stephen McCarthy came up with the idea for My Lockdown Diary on day 4 of isolation in the hopes that it might be useful and fun for children everywhere.
It’s downloadable and printable so just print it at home and get busy working through the daily prompts and activities. It could be a pretty cool moment at the end of this! Here’s a couple of sample pages to check out!
Image – My Lockdown Diary
4. E-AUDIOBOOKS FROM YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
If you are a Library member here in NZ now is the chance to give audiobooks a go! A librarian writes, “You can download ebooks and e-audiobooks onto any device. Listening to e-audiobooks is particularly handy on a smartphone. There are thousands to choose from and your library website should have instructions about how to set it up. And if you’re not a library member you can likely still join by emailing your library staff, who will be working from home to provide a digital service.”
Also, you can check out lots of NZ ebooks at mebooks.co.nz and don’t worry if you don’t have an e-reader, just download the free Kindle app or use the Apple Books app on any device you have.
5. AT HOME YOGA & PILATES
Find inner peace at home in your PJ’s! Stretching and breathing are key to staying balanced in daily life, and now, more so than ever! Most of your local yoga studios will have gone digital and be offering online classes. Just check out your local studio on Instagram to find out how to register for a class. NZ has some really amazing online yoga websites too, specifically designed for at-home yoga. Check out Yoga Online, Yoga with Me, Awhi Yoga, Hoi Pilates and Yoga Light. Some of these businesses offer a free trial so you can give it a go before committing and some are offering totally free classes online – now is a great time to get stretching!
If you want straight-up free yoga straight to your living room, our absolute favourite is Yoga with Adrienne! Her YouTube channel has 6.6 million subscribers and hundreds of at-home yoga videos. She’s amazing, you’ll love her!
For Pilates check out Suna Pilates and their new Pilates on Demand plan created to keep their staff employed, and clients well and fit, during New Zealand’s lock down!
If you’re looking for an eco friendly workout mat, check out our Yoga Tribe mats.
Images – Yoga with Me and Suna Pilates
6. GET YOUR LIVE MUSIC FIX!
George FM is teaming up with music artists who’s shows have been cancelled due to COVID 19 and they’re bringing you Lounge Sounds – Live Music Streaming in Instagram – and there are probably loads more of these out there…
And if you’re tired of just singing in the shower all on your own and you’ve always wanted to join a choir but just haven’t managed to get off the couch to do it, well now you can sing your heart out and stay on the couch! Get involved with Pub Choir’s Couch Choir sessions and sing a long on zoom with other random people without having to leave the couch! And don’t worry, the rest of your choir won’t hear you sing, you’ll just be entertaining your fellow housemates 😉
Image Source: Pub Choir on Facebook
7. TREAT YOURSELF!
And if all this activity is leaving you feeling like you need to rehydrate and get your chocolate fix, we’ve got just the ticket! Check out our range of drink bottles, reusable cups and tasty treats to keep you going while you, get your yoga, dance, sing and reading fix (not all at the same time obviously!).
Do you know of any other great ideas or businesses that are helping us to keep our minds and bodies going during this crazy time? Share them with us below!
And remember, we’re all in this together, stay home and stay well!