Staying home to protect lives has become a way of life for all in the Cayman Islands right now as we strive to contain the Covid-19 corona virus, but that doesn’t have to mean giving up on your favourite exercise class. Experts agree that exercise routines also bringing about mental fitness and a sense of well-being, so regular exercise classes are a must if we want to get through this period of lockdown with some sanity left.
Cayman Physiotherapy is on a mission to keep Cayman moving, with a series of Pilates classes held by their instructors via Zoom. Pilates is a low impact series of exercises aimed at strengthening muscles and improving flexibility and mobility. Cayman Physio’s Pilates classes are aimed not only at those who are regular Pilates practitioners, they also offer beginners’ classes as well.
Catriona O’Malley from Cayman Physio said that their online Zoom classes were going really well, so much so that they have added more classes to their schedule, such as early morning and increased lunchtime classes.
“We also have prenatal and stretch/mobility classes with lots of variety,” she advised. “Zoom has allowed us to connect with our patients and the Pilates classes are a great way for them to continue strengthening while staying safe at home.”
The fact that they can be done at home also allows people who are new to the classes to try it out without feeling self-conscious and the whole family can join in, Catriona said.
“Pilates is a great form of exercise not just for the body but for the mind as you consciously engage the small muscles and control your breath. It has fantastic benefits for posture and pain and I think it’s a great workout during this anxious time because it allows you to escape from any worry and focus on breath and thoughtful movement,” Catriona explained.
Classes are varied and include straightforward Pilates, Pilates with weights, gentle core with weights, stretch and mobility and pre-natal classes.
Yoga benefitting the community
Hally Vu from Cayman Yoga Club has also been busy, offering free and donations-based public online yoga sessions via Zoom, Instagram Live, and Facebook Live “in an effort to support the community in finding stability and grounding through these uncertain times,” she said.
“The donations classes have gone to benefit seniors in our community through Meals on Wheels Cayman. We will continue to offer such classes online while we all adjust in this transitional time, committing to our core values of building community and giving back,” she added.
Hally said that while their regularly scheduled studio classes had been suspended, they had been able, with the assistance of technology, to continue their private individual and group yoga sessions through online platforms.
“Doing so has enabled us to maintain as much authentic connection and energy exchange as possible while maintaining safe distances and promoting the communal stride towards eradicating this virus – at least locally,” she said.
Besides their online classes, Cayman Yoga Club has also shifted its social media posts to share messages of peace, emphasising the importance of yoga practice (in its many forms) and yoga philosophy, from which we learn to become witnesses of our own experiences, she explained.
“Among everything that is available online, we hope to continue offering messages of hope and inspiration for all so that we can pull through this together – in health, wellness, and still full of love,” Hally stated.
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