A Derry grandmother has described how virtual exercise classes during lockdown have helped save her from depression.
Pauline Doherty (63) said the online classes run by instructor Pete Simms have been a lockdown "lifesaver".
"The classes make me get out of bed in the morning and it helps to have routine to my day. It starts the day on the right note," she said.
Before coronavirus Mr Simms was visiting building sites and offices carrying out blood pressure checks as part of a British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland funded community health project.
When Covid-19 prevented the father-of-two from checking people's blood pressure, he was determined to ensure the physical and mental health of the people in his local community did not suffer.
He set up Facebook and Zoom accounts so they would be able to access online exercise classes and coffee catch-ups.
"When lockdown happened we couldn’t go out into the community to check people’s blood pressure but there were many people who were borderline high blood pressure or have hypertension or diabetes, who already took part in our exercise classes at the Old Library Trust to help manage their conditions," he said.
"Keeping physically active is important in helping to manage such conditions as hypertension and diabetes as well as helping people’s mental health during this time.
"So although we couldn’t physically meet up we wanted to ensure people kept exercising so we increased the amount of exercise classes we offered and moved them online."
Alongside Jonathan Peberdy, the pair host exercise classes five times a week with around 80 people tuning in each time.
"We have Tai Chi on a Tuesday and Thursday armchair exercises and yoga on Friday and Jonathan does the other exercise classes in between and we now have a coffee catch-up on Friday to see how everyone’s doing mentally," said Mr Simms.
Regular participant Ms Doherty has credited the classes for helping her mental wellbeing and saving her from slipping back into a depression.
"Those first couple of weeks of lockdown I wasn’t in a very good place," she said.
"I didn’t go out and I wasn’t in a good place mentally."
Ms Doherty, who suffers from high blood pressure, said the classes can involve sitting on a chair and using tins of beans as weights as well as relaxation.
"It was Pete who got me online, without him I wouldn’t have access to the online exercise classes," she said.
"We all have a chat with Pete and his wife Kathleen, we sit and talk about how we’re feeling. It all means a hell of a lot to us.
"He had the patience when others didn’t to make sure I was connected as I live alone.
"It is my lifeline."
