Watch: Diana Moran, aka The Green Goddess, leads a gentle standing workout ideal for those wanting an easy introduction to exercise
With the coronavirus pandemic still dictating our daily routines and keeping us at home more than we would like, it is more important than ever to keep active.
While gyms and sports facilities have reopened, not everyone will feel comfortable going to exercise with people outside their own household or some may not have accessible facilities nearby.
The barriers to regular exercise have been exacerbated by the pandemic and many of us have gained a few pounds since lockdown began in March from increased sitting and snacking.
A recent study involving over 800 adults in the UK found that two in three adults found it difficult to manage their weight during lockdown due to increased snacking, less physical activity, stress and anxiety and difficulties getting to the shops.
The over 65s have been particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic so it is even more important to stay as fit and healthy as possible.
Fitness fanatic Diana Moran has created three easy to follow workouts for older people, with some requiring no equipment at all, and others using accessible household items such as a bottle of water and a pair of tights!
Watch: Exercise guru Diana Moran leads a short and easy-to-follow workout using just baked bean cans and rubber bands to encourage strength and movement
The 81-year-old fitness guru is not taking no for an answer when it comes to staying active, and she’s encouraging the over 65s to get moving and release those endorphins as often as possible.
Diana rose to fame in the 80s with her glamorous BBC Breakfast workouts in her eye-popping emerald green leotard, and she doesn’t show signs of slowing down any time soon.
Dubbed the ‘Green Goddess’ she became the face of fitness, in part driven by her mother’s premature death aged just 47 from a blood clotting disorder that Diana also inherited, making her live every day to its fullest.
As well as a fitness instructor, Diana is a published author and knows her stuff when it comes to the health of the nation, having recently teamed up with the Royal Osteoporosis Society for her latest book Beating Osteoporosis, which seeks to inform and advise osteoporosis sufferers about the research and treatments for the condition.
So as winter approaches, there’s no better time to get into good at-home exercising habits.
Diana says: “As we age, good health can prove to be more important than money, so exercising your body will help maintain both your physical and mental wellbeing.”
Diana targets a different area of the body in her workouts, from strengthening and stretching the arms, to working your core and extending all your back and abdominal muscles.
Diana also explained: “The coronavirus and lockdown have affected all of our lives immeasurably.
“At 81 I didn’t have any choice but to self isolate throughout the entire period.
“But it also reminded me, like all of us, that we are infinitely resourceful when we need to be!”
Watch: Follow this easy seated workout tutorial, ideal for those struggling with mobility but wanting to keep fit
Exercise has a whole ream of health benefits for us all, including improving our mental health; the NHS even calls it “the miracle cure we’ve all been waiting for.”
Health promotion consultant, Dr Nick Cavill, says: “If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented.”
Exercise can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 50% and osteoarthritis by up to 83%, and can even lower your chances of developing dementia by up to 30%.
These are just some of the countless health benefits from regular exercise, and the NHS says that over 65s should try to be physically active every day even if it’s just light exercise, and the more you do the better.
For more of Diana’s fitness guides visit her website
