Almost three quarters of people in Jesmond are planning to exercise more as a result of this second national lockdown, according to a JesmondLocal survey

In our poll of 50 Jesmond residents and students, 72% said that they plan to exercise at least three times a week during current restrictions.

With local gyms and leisure centres forced to close their doors again, it seems people in Jesmond are exploring alternative ways to keep fit.

During the first lockdown, the number of people exercising every day more than doubled, according to our survey. While some used the online classes and sessions offered by gyms to get fitter at home, others took to Jesmond’s footpaths, roads and green spaces for the daily walk, run or cycle ride permitted by government guidelines.

University student Jack Grahamslaw says he established a routine of lifting weights every morning in his garden. “Being outside first thing in the morning helped me to feel connected to the world and less adrift when the days would often blur into one,” says Grahamslaw, who plans to follow a similar workout schedule during the current phase of lockdown.

However, our survey found that people are less likely to continue with new-found levels of exercise once restrictions are lifted. Imogen Hudson, a recruitment consultant who worked from home throughout the first lockdown, said: “I found it difficult to get back into the gym once they re-opened because I got used to working out at home.

“In general, exercise wasn’t really a priority once we came out of lockdown, compared with going to see family and friends.”

Local gym Pinetree Health and Fitness is providing online classes for its members, and shorter, bite-size workout videos on its social media sites.

Freelance Dance of Brentwood Avenue is running a timetable of virtual activities, including dance and fitness, yoga and pilates, and body conditioning classes.

Studio owner Brooke Brown-Adams says holding these classes is important for maintaining both the physical and mental wellbeing of the people who attend: “It’s comforting for people to still see those they are used to seeing every week in the studio, even if it is only virtually. It helps knowing that everyone is still around.”

Brown-Adams says she hopes her classes can offer people an alternative form of exercise and the chance to try something new. “Continuing with the classes via Zoom is a bit of normality when everything feels un-normal.”