I’VE been in fitness a long time. In fact, it was barely an industry all those moons ago and certainly not a profitable one like now.

Back then, it took some convincing to get people to bend and stretch for no reason other than well-being. Unless you were training for a re-run of a Shackleton expedition or pumping your heart to max on a squash court once a week, followed by a few beers in the club bar, fitness was rather superfluous and silly.

And certainly, just for the ladies that liked high cut leotards.

My own father, being a real man with manly hobbies like mountaineering, diving and guns, shared this thinking. And no matter the cuttings, columns or championships I gathered, it was always vaguely embarrassing to us both that it wasn’t presented by the Alpine Club or Royal Geographical Society.

Until that is, at the age of 64, he took up ballet and the ladies in leotards more seriously. Now we had common ground. And he joined my quest to promote a positive message and healthy image to get people exercising, albeit an exercise of a different vein for him.

Sports clubs got tired while gyms, health clubs and spas shot up like mushrooms, incentives were offered to corporates and Mr Motivator filled our screens.

Yet still only a very small percentage of the population were motivated. Now, it seems that all it takes to get the nation thinking about exercise and doing something about it, is to close all the gyms, leisure centres and activity clubs. Oh the irony!

This lockdown is clearly a very serious matter with wide-ranging and lasting repercussions, but it is something we have to follow. As I write this 66% of the world’s gyms are closed and more will likely follow. Hundreds of millions of members with no gym to go to.

The upshot is that the population is turning to people who can deliver workouts online . So while many of us have gone digital, home workouts are coming out of our ears via Instagram, Facebook and any other medium that Mr Motivator never needed.

But in case you fancy following a local broadcast from Ceredigion, I’m providing a free livestream workout every weekday morning at 8.30am during this period to give people a bright and pepped up start to the day.

Seniors, remote workers and body shapers, I’ve got it covered for you along with health tips to round it off. And you can tell me what you want - by liking, sharing and commenting.

What has become noticeable is that these are becoming family events (along with a perplexed pet) which is wonderful. And some of the most rewarding feedback is coming from the children who seem to be enjoying it as active playtime, which is perfect.

And it seems to work two ways. I have been recording children’s workouts which I gather mums and dads are getting stuck into also.

Finally, fitness seems to be becoming a shared activity, a family business, which is something lots of us have been trying to influence for years. Everything is better shared, and what’s better than sharing with family or ladies in leotards?

Now more than ever we need to maintain and improve our health and fitness. A good set of lungs and less chronic inflammatory responses from a nutritious diet is a start. We need to be fortified and healthy.

The UK’s Centre for Perioperative Care has stated we need to be fit to fight the virus, now is our moment, from home with more daylight and time.

My weekday livestream workouts are free and take place 8.30am. Join me at www.youtube.com/joeybull

www.joeybull.com