Let's get virtually physical

Housebound staff and students at Victoria University are using chairs and books as makeshift gym equipment to join free virtual group workouts offered by VU Sport.

Every weekday at noon, dozens of people – some accompanied by their children – appear on video as a checkerboard of individual screens for a daily 40-minute virtual group workout.

Team trainer Brooke Olsen runs the sessions from her Werribee garage, which she has set up as a gym. She focuses on a different theme every day including cardio, upper body, legs, and posterior chain.

"We wanted to offer a service that would keep the VU community happy and positive while providing them with a healthy and fun way to connect to others."

Within less than a week, 135 people registered for the sessions, which are run over the Zoom platform.

The virtual workouts will continue until VU Sport Centres reopen.

"The feedback has been great. We’re considering offering more sessions at different times if the interest keeps building."

A free interactive workout

VU Sport is one of the only university organisations offering an interactive element to their workout sessions so participants can see each other in real-time and even send questions to the instructor during the workout, she said.

Brooke is also recording the sessions and creating other videos on crucial activities such as desk stretch routines for people who cannot join in during the day.

"This is hard for everyone, especially for people who regularly use the gym. We want to produce content that you can do anytime from any place and make sure people look after themselves."

To join, complete the workout signup form and you’ll be sent a link and password to join Zoom Team Training session.