Online classes for lockdown: courses to try in the Portsmouth area - from art to fitness and baking

If you’re all caught up on your favourite Netflix shows, or you’ve exhausted your general knowledge during the family Zoom quiz, there are plenty of fun courses and classes available online to keep you occupied during lockdown.

Whether you’re hoping to get fit, learn a new language, or hone your baking skills, we’ve rounded up some of the best online classes in the Portsmouth area.

Get in touch if you run a class or course that you’d like to add to our list.

Health, fitness and wellbeing

Evolve Fitness Portsmouth’s virtual class timetable features a range of activities including HIIT, step, dance, strength and yoga. Participants can pay £3 per individual class or £30 for the month for unlimited classes via Zoom.

Gosport-based JB’s Zumba/Dance Party runs a virtual Zumba fitness class every Wednesday evening – see the Facebook page for more details.

Sarah Moore Dance is hosting virtual dance classes for adults of all ages and abilities. The group’s online classes, which cover a range of styles from musical theatre to tap, will continue indefinitely as well as physical classes restarting in Southsea and Chichester when possible.

KCR Coaching Portsmouth is running three online fitness classes per week and will be adding new classes aimed at beginners/returners to fitness in March. The classes are all hosted on Zoom, but a recording can be sent for anyone who misses the live version.

Cosham-based Lucy Jasmine Yoga is holding virtual Hatha yoga, pyjama club restorative yoga, pregnancy yoga and postnatal yoga classes via Zoom.

Steps to Broadway Online Adult Dance Fitness Class hosts a fun 45-minute dance fitness class on Zoom, learning a routine to a different musical each week and finishing with a cool-down arm workout. The cost is £2.50 per session.

Robins Zumba Fit & Fun specialises in seated Zumba for anybody who is unable to exercise standing up. Robin currently works with the MS Society and runs a seated group with them via Zoom.

Coastal Rowing Academy is running three classes a week of RowFit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am on Zoom. Sessions are designed by rowers for whole-body balance, strength and conditioning and involve warm up, body exercises and cool down/stretch. Contact Bekki Bradley on [email protected] or Mike Gilbert on [email protected]

The Liberty Lounge has a packed calendar of online classes and webinars relating to mental and physical health, wellness and empowerment. They range from yoga to anxiety management, ‘sketch and chat’ and body positivity. Visit The Liberty Lounge website for more details.

Birch Tree Yoga Studio in Fareham is offering online yoga classes; they include three-hour-long live classes a week with all sessions available on playback.

Cookery

Sunday Bake-Along hosts child-friendly baking demonstrations via Facebook live, with participants invited to donate to a nominated charity every week.

Languages

Italian for Beginners and Holiday French are just two of the online classes being run by Hampshire Library Services in February.

Arts and crafts

Hampshire Library Service is hosting a range of online art and craft classes this month, including sewing for happiness, upcycling clothes, dressmaking with Sarah, art with Fatima, ceramic glass painting, and photo composition.

Music

The Rock Project - Portsmouth is offering free 15-minute music lessons online alongside its usual Zoom classes. Students aged seven to 18 can learn how to play guitar, bass, drums or vocals with a weekly jam session. To register, visit The Rock Project website.

For kids

Stageskool Gosport runs short courses with West End professionals in dance, singing and acting. Included are preschool classes, hosted via Zoom on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.

Theatretrain Portsmouth is running free online children’s classes in dance, acting and singing every Monday on its Facebook page.

31st Portsmouth Brownies continues to run Brownies online for seven to 10 year olds, with activities ranging from cooking to survival skills. Visit the GirlGuiding website for more information.

Pets

The Academy of Modern Canine Behaviour and Training provides free online dog training videos for puppies and older dogs.