Lockdown has given people more time and freedom to exercise.

And with the stress and worry that comes with living during a pandemic, it is safe to say that exercising has never been more important not only for physical health but for our mental wellbeing too.

That being said, gyms are now closed and remain so for the foreseeable future so we can’t rely on them for fitness.

But there are plenty of workouts that you can do safely and for free in the comfort of your own home.

RSVP Live spoke to Antrim-based personal trainer Caroline Girvan, who has amassed hundreds of thousands of social media followers since lockdown began.

The mum-of-two uploads free workouts to YouTube and has become a sensation with fitness fanatics over the past year.

Caroline has shared her top tips for achieving a toned stomach at home and they couldn’t be easier to follow.

“Full body movements are number one for working your abs, for example doing a squat into a shoulder press will really engage your core,” she says.

“And for your abs I would definitely say the likes of your planks.”

How to do a squat

• Stand with your feet a little wider than your hip width and your toes facing front.
• Push your hips back, bending at the knees and ankles and pressing the knees slightly open.
• Sit into a squat position but keep your heels and toes on the ground, your chest up and your shoulders back.
• Bend so you reach a parallel position, meaning your knees are bent at a 90 degree angle.
• Press into your heels and straighten the legs to return to the original standing upright position.

How to do a shoulder press

• If you have dumbbells at home use them, but if not you can use other weights.
• Sit upright holding a weight in each at shoulder height with your palms facing away from you.
• Keep your chest up and core engaged, and press the weights upwards until your arms are straight and the weights can touch above your head.
• Slowly lower the weights down to the original starting position before repeating.

How to do a plank

• Start by getting into the plank position - face down with your forearms and toes on the floor. Elbows should be directly under the shoulders with forearms facing forward and you should be looking at the floor.
• Engage your core, drawing your navel towards the spin. Keep your torso straight and your body in a straight line from ears to toes with no bending. Keep shoulders down and your heels should be over the balls of your feet.
• Hold the position for 10 seconds before releasing to the floor. Over time as you build up your strength, increase the planks to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, so on and so forth.

You can watch Caroline's free home workout videos by subscribing to her YouTube channel here and following her Instagram page here.