With many outdoor spaces and fitness centres temporarily closed due to COVID-19, maintaining an active lifestyle can be challenging. Not to worry! We found a few helpful tips and resources to keep you motivated and moving at home.

A quick stretch

The World Health Organization has recommended that just by taking a short 3 to 5 minute break from sitting every 20 to 30 minutes can improve health and wellbeing. Just a simple quick stretch, a short walk around the house or garden, or a trip or two up and down the stairs can be beneficial.

Set a schedule

Some people rely on going to the gym to stay committed to a fitness regime, but setting up a simple schedule can also help. Signing up for regular online fitness classes or hosting your own virtual class with family and friends can help you stay on track.

Take an online class

We may not be able to go to the gym, but social media is making it easy to bring the gym right into our homes. The best part? — no memberships required!

Goodlife Fitness, for example, is posting videos on Instagram of different exercises people can do at home without equipment.

The Nike Training Club app is also offering free workouts — everything from bodyweight-only sessions and yoga classes, to full-equipment home workouts for all fitness levels.

The Kanopy video streaming platform, found in our Read, Watch, Listen section also offers a number of video resources on exercise, activity and health resources. Bonus: Kanopy is offering credit-free streaming right now, so there is no limit to how many videos you can watch.

Mental health & wellness

Along with staying active and eating well, we also need to make sure we are taking care of our emotional wellbeing. A quick online chat with family members, friends and colleagues can make all the difference when it comes to our mental health during these uncertain times.

Canada.ca/health also offers mental health information, including resources on improving mental health in our daily lives.