Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Art, reading and exercise classes move online

Over 2500 people tuned into Joe Mcmenamin's drawing livestream on Tuesday afternoon. Photo / Supplied

Local artists, exercise instructors and libraries have all moved on to online platforms to continue offering their services.

Once the country went into lockdown, Feilding artist Joe Mcmenamin began thinking of ways he could use his skills online.

"I've got a few different online classes I've filmed teaching. I've done those in the past, but because of lockdown a whole lot of my classes aren't going ahead.

"I do a lot of different things as an artist, I've done quite a few murals around the place and paintings, New Zealand native birds are my main jam."

Mcmenamin decided he will run a series of drawing tutorials for children, streaming on Facebook.

The idea originally was to offer something for his students to do, but the social media response has been so strong he has opened it up to anyone and everyone.

"I just decided to do something that's at home and accessible, keep it simple with some pencils. Lots of people are wanting stuff for their kids to do.

"I'm a really big advocate for just being creative in general, it is really good for mental health and something separate from the usual school work.

"I just want to encourage kids to be more creative at home, you just need pencil, paper and a picture and you're away."

More than 2000 people tuned into McMenamin's first live tutorial on Tuesday afternoon.

Mcmenamin said he is looking to run a couple of classes each week during the lockdown.

"Something like a fantail will be next off the top of my head."

It is all change for Whanganui yoga and meditation instructor Simone Grant who had just moved to a new studio when lockdown was announced.

With her previous location on Ridgway St to be converted to apartments she had only recently relocated her Yoga Spirit business to a studio space at the Whanganui Community Arts Centre on Taupo Quay.

But her classes had to be quickly moved to an online setting as the country locked down to stop the spread of Covid-19.

"It is what it is," she said.

"I'm quite happy to bring my classes online, on livestream. Happy to pivot."

For now she has a "sleep-well Yin" class on Tuesday evenings and "rise and shine Vinyasa" session on the Wednesday mornings - both via Zoom.

She said one of the benefits of going online meant people who lived in different parts of the country - and even the world - were able to sign up for them.

Whanganui yoga and meditation instructor Simone Grant: "I'm quite happy to bring my classes online, on livestream. Happy to pivot." Photo / Supplied

"I have a few friends and contacts around the country through my Facebook page that I run ... they have always wanted to come to some of my classes but haven't been local and now they get the chance to come.

"I even actually had someone contact me who's moved to Denmark who might be interested in joining my classes," Grant said.

The children's team at Whanganui District Library are hosting a series of stories, arts and crafts and other activities to keep kids busy in their bubbles.

Senior childrens librarian Jane Barlow said they have arts and crafts on Monday and Thursday, and story time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as posting other daily activities.

"Every day I'm pretty much posting an arts and craft activity for kids to do at home with Mum and Dad.

"We did this last year so we are well versed, we are real happy to do it and gives us something to do each day. We always get good feedback and it's cool to see other community organisations sharing their resources."

Barlow said they can't run any of their in-person sessions and activities until level 1, so they will be running online for the short term future.

"We can't run at level 2 either because of the distancing and there isn't enough space for everyone."

For the dog lovers, Pet Dog School's Sarah Hesketh is posting daily canine quizzes on her Facebook page.

As well as posting quizzes, Hesketh recorded a wide range of videos during the previous lockdown.

"They're called the Reluctant Dog Trainer. They are aimed at ordinary people with ordinary dogs that maybe haven't done any training at all.

"Things like how to get the sock off your dog or how to teach your dog to do agility in the lounge with cushions and trays."