How P.E. With Joe Galvanized a Nation

And how a simple idea can have a massive impact

It was the middle of March, and lockdown was on the verge of commencing. Your average person was attempting to come to terms with their new reality. For the majority of us, options had previously been plentiful in our pursuit of staying active. You want a cardio hit? No problem, step outside and go for a jog. You want to gain some muscle mass? again, not to worry, hop in your car and spend an hour at your local gym. Let’s say you purely just want to get moving and have some fun in the process? You really needn’t be hesitant, call a friend and head out to the nearest tennis court or choose between a whole slew of mountains to ascend.

The point I’m intending to prove is not that any of these activities are easy to accomplish from a physical point of view, but the opportunities to engage in physical activity were endless. A commodity that I for one will never, ever again take for granted.

Nowadays, the act of purchasing a set of dumbbells has become a frightening prospect. With demands being so high and an army of gym buffs throwing down their life earnings in a desperate attempt to save their muscle mass, online retailers quickly ran out of stock and prices started to soar. Many took advantage of our shortcomings by listing their remaining stocks and excess weights and gym gear onto eBay with little consideration of the dire consequences this would have on the mental health and wellbeing of those from a poorer socioeconomic background.

A family conundrum

This, however, was only half of the problem. Whilst I’m at an age of being able to think for myself and engineer novel means to avoid being sedentary throughout the day, parents of young children with bundles of energy were tearing out their hair in exasperation at the the prospect of once again becoming full-time carers and educators to their young ‘uns. Many of whom had very little personal experience of regular exercise, let alone having the onus placed on them to undertake the role of a physical education provider. Schools were shutting left, right and center, families were at wits end, children couldn’t fathom why they weren’t allowed to attend the park with their friends…

With the world on the cusp of reaching its tipping point, queue Joe Wicks. Mind you, he’s not your average Joe, he’s the British nation’s sweetheart.

Who is Joe Wicks?

For those unfamiliar with his work, Joe Wicks AKA The Body Coach is most widely known for his inspired approach towards fitness and nutrition. Joe Wicks rose to fame and gained a substantial amount of notoriety back in 2015 with the release of his first book — Lean in 15 — The Shift Plan: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts to Keep You Lean and Healthy — At that time, his conception emphasised a mental shift away from the niche catering towards long, arduous workouts that needed the space of a gym and a bucket ton of equipment, instead, he encouraged a more casual approach to fitness at home, embracing the more fun, bodyweight workout for beginners and intermediate level enthusiasts, alike. His 15 minute recipes were easy to follow, cost effective, fun for all of the family to make and infused with a lot of flavour. In essence, he streamlined physical activity and nutrition into a package that could be shipped to the masses.

“I want to be the person who completely transformed the health of the nation.” — Joe Wicks

P.E. with Joe

Five years later and Joe was again able to assess the landscape and implement his solution to a problem that was mostly affecting families with young children. Whilst not ground-breaking by any means, his snapshot idea, p.e. with joe, took the nation by storm. At its core, the idea is centered around nothing more than going live on YouTube for 30 minutes every weekday and engaging an audience that predominantly consists of children to partake in a fun, casual Tabata workout.

On the topic of fun, here’s my unique vision of an outdoor Tabata workout for beginners with a twist for any reader looking to get some fresh air, stretch their legs and release some endorphins. My workout can be performed from within the comfort of your own home, or if you’re seeking adventure, why not find a quiet spot with a scenic view to pitch your feet.

How did The Body Coach galvanize a nation?

• He recognized the importance of routine and structure within the early phase of a child’s development.
• He ensured that his live stream would coincide with school days so that p.e. with joe became the new norm.
• He consistently went live at approximately 9 am, which just so happens to be the regular time a child would start classes in the morning.
• Parents became aware of the fact that an early workout tempers the child's energy for the rest of the day, offering them some much needed reprieve.
• It serves as an activity that can be added to the list of those that a child can share with their parents and siblings — An action-packed bonding experience with measurable results.
• By working together, you’re creating a dynamic practice for a child to avoid the empty feeling of being stuck in their bedrooms alone.
• Exercise is scientifically proven to positively boost your mood, reduce stress, increase your self-esteem and reduce the cognitive decline of your mental health.
• Being as it’s on YouTube, it creates a dual reality which combines the entertainment value of social media with physical activity.
• Every Friday, Joe would dress up as a superhero and bring his own children into the frame to exercise with him — helps children to visualize the world existing beyond their own doorstep and that they’re not the only children participating. Plus, who doesn’t want to get fit with Spiderman? You can count me in!
• Live vods are saved and can be consumed again at any point during the day — excellent for fitness enthusiasts looking to squeeze in a short workout at a later time when working from home.
• killing two birds with one stone — cardio that incorporates plyometric exercises which cater to bodybuilders looking to stay lean whilst maintaining their muscle deposits.

Here’s just one of thousands of complementary testimonials from his YouTube comments section —

“Wanted to say thank you for doing this, we are in Maryland (USA) and when the schools closed I was struggling to get my son to do anything active. Once we found your PE work outs it was easy, we did at least 16 week together with out fail.”

Get creative with your ideas

It’s fair to say that Joe Wicks is a diamond in the rough. Even when nursing a cast on his arm for six or more weeks, he selflessly persevered with his goal to provide physical education to children across the world. Without his commitment to the cause, children up and down the country would be suffering extreme loneliness, mental depravity and increasing levels of obesity. Parents would have to internalize a pressure-cooker of negative emotion with no external support network available if and when they’d inevitably implode. From being the nation’s sweetheart to becoming the nation’s lifeline, Joe Wicks, thank you for giving us a reason to go on during these testing times.

Whilst P.E. with Joe came to an epic conclusion in late July, this should not be seen as an excuse for us to stop there! There’s every possibility that you might be holding onto the key that unlocks the answer to another problem facing a subpopulation of people. Use Joe as an example of what you could achieve to help others. With the internet at your fingertips, the world is your oyster. Use your skills, personality and assets to help it out of its shell.

“No Matter What People Tell You, Words And Ideas Can Change The World.” — Robin Williams

If you’re looking to get creative with your ideas but you’re experiencing brain fog and lack of clarity, consider reading my article below :-

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