Lockdown means the return of online fitness classes and workouts in the comfort of your lounge.
Photo: Supplied / Erika Neuhauser
During the first Covid-19 outbreak last year, a group of Edgecumbe seniors embraced Zoom so they could keep getting their weekly Zumba fix.
When Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced just over a fortnight ago that the country was going back into alert level 4, group fitness instructor Erika Neuhauser knew what she had to do.
"I had no doubt that I needed to set up my studio again, so we just rearranged our lounge again, I asked hubby to help me.
"That is the only way. We need to get these people moving, we cannot just let them sit at home and go into sadness or depression or anything."
That means the Thursday morning Edgecumbe Zumba Gold class is back online, on Zoom.
There are not as many technical hiccups, but it has taken a bit to get used to it again, Neuhauser said.
Jenny Campbell has been part of the group for a couple of years now.
"When [Erika] said, 'do you want to go Zoom again?' we all went, 'yip!', and it was great."
Marge Rennie is one of the newer recruits - she joined during lockdown last year.
"That was my first introduction to it, leaping around here in my lounge in front of the iPad trying to do the moves."
For Campbell, exercising at home has its pros and cons.
She wears her slippers, which you are not really supposed to do.
"The cat comes and watches me, last time she got under my feet and got stood on, so she was not really impressed with that."
It is a similar story for Jacqui Barley.
"I have had a few comments from the neighbours who have seen me bouncing at the window, as they have been going up and down their property.
"But you can do your own thing ... dancing like nobody is watching."
And it is something to look forward to when you are stuck at home, Barley said.
"Sometimes it is nice to have a bit of time to myself. I am here in the house with my husband - I do not want to say anything rude about him - but sometimes you just need to go into another room and do your own thing."
Rennie said it is not just a workout - it is a good opportunity to catch up with everyone and see how they are getting on.
"Particularly with this group, we are all women of a certain age and therefore there is a lot more going on there than just meeting together for exercise."
Neuhauser said everyone is enjoying being together on Zoom.
"I got emails after class, how great it was to do it again and to see each other, and they just love it."
With alert level 3 restrictions to continue for a little while yet, Neuhuaser is even thinking about adding more classes.
"We are not going to stop."
