Sadly, as of Monday night Bayside playgrounds, skate parks, basketball hoops and other outdoor equipment have temporally closed in line with the State Government COVID restrictions.
Now, more than ever, it's super important for everyone, including our young people, to stay active at home or within your 5km for up to two hours exercising with one other person.
Here's a list of ten ways you can stay active during this lockdown:
#1: Virtual running challenge with your family and friends
Download a fitness app and record your runs or workouts as you smash them out. Share the results with your pals virtually and encourage each other to run faster and harder.
Did you know there were running apps that can teach you to run 5km, away from zombies and ready for a marathon? There really is an app for every skill level.
#2: Boing!
Trampolines, they have their ups and their downs. What are the most spins you can do in one jump? Who in the family can jump the highest? Let us know.
#3: Exer-clean
Double your do-goods by adding a workout to your chores. While cleaning the house or your bedroom incorporates a lunge here and a squat there… and when your mum asks you why you are cleaning, say Bayside City Council made you do it!
#4: Make your own tennis wall at home
With a grown up's permission (tennis balls break things), you can set up a nifty tennis wall.
Outside: grab some chalk and draw a horizontal line measured 1.07m from the ground on a wall - the exact height of a net - and get hitting. You can get your parents or siblings involved too and bounce the ball of the wall to each other.
Inside: Lean a mattress against the wall and practise your serves. Note: 253 km per hour is the current fastest serve… betcha can beat it ;)
#5: Bayside Ninja Warrior
Create an obstacle course for your pet, parents, siblings or yourself. Drag cushions, balls and furniture (if you're allowed) into your backyard or front room and let your imagination run wild. Make sure you include climbing, jumping, dodging and rolling.
Level Up: start timing yourself with the obstacle course and challenge your family to beat your time. Still too easy? Why not add blindfolds, or completing the course backwards.
#6: Have a stroll along Bayside's coastal trail
From Brighton to Beaumaris, there is 17km of foreshore, cliff tops and beaches to explore by foot or on a bike. Keeping within you 5kms from home, set off and soak in the view, art and history as you walk. Support local and treat yourself to a take away coffee or hot chocolate… but remember not to linger and keep moving once you have your drink.
#7: Get skipping
There are many health benefits to jumping up and down with a skipping rope, including increasing your heart rate and improving concentration. You also don't need much space which is very handy when you're at home during lockdown. Here are a few techniques you can try out: criss-cross, toad, double under, Awesome Annie, elephant and side swing. See if you can master one or all of the variations.
#8: Lucky dip
Get everyone in your family to think of five different physical activity ideas to do at home and pop them into a bowl. Every day, you can all take one out at any time, shout out the activity, and the whole family has to give it a go at that moment… whatever they are doing (tee hee).
#9: Bayside Bingo
When you're out and about exercising within 5kms of home, take a list of items you recon you'll see and cross them off as you spot them, shouting BINGO when you're done. Here's some inspiration for your bingo board: A cavoodle, a swooping magpie, a car park, a starfish, a recycling bin, a paddleboard, a pelican, a train, a closed library, a kid on a balance bike, a woman in active wear, a man in lycra on a pushbike, a sausage dog, seagulls, art sculpture, a swimmer, a coffee drinker, a postman, a tennis court.
#10: Teach yourself some gnarly skate moves
Skate parks might be off limits for now, but you can keep shredding in your backyard and driveway. Whether it's an Ollie, a Nollie or a Shuvit - keep practising those tricks and you'll have them conquered in no time.
Get some inspiration from last year's Shredability backyard challenge video. These 30 young Baysiders sent in footage of the new tricks they had mastered in their backyards and driveways.
However you decide to stay active this lockdown, it is important to remember that these restrictions will ease. Keep connecting with friends, tell them about your creative responses to our challenges above and keep moving.
We will get through this together Bayside, one step (or push up) at a time.
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If you or someone you know has been affected by COVID-19, you are not alone. Reach out to Council on 9599 4444 and talk to one of our friendly staff.
