A farmer from County Galway has solved a problem for those missing the gym or training during the current pandemic.
Emmet Mahoney, a suckler farmer from Loughrea, used his creativity to showcase how to use farms to stay fit.
Farm gym
All sports teams have been prevented from organising group sessions due to Covid-19. The Loughrea Senior Hurling panel was asked to keep fit during this extended break and to keep the management team updated on their progress.
As gyms are also closed, some innovation was needed. The agricultural science teacher decided to use the materials he could source on the farm as weight training equipment.
Speaking to That’s Farming, Emmet said: “You would be working around the farm, forking out silage and things like that, but it’s not the same for your mental health. I’m used to going to the gym every evening so even to dedicate just half-an-hour to do a little circuit helps.”
“Farmers have loads of space and loads of equipment that you could designate for some personal exercise.”
The Galway man cannot wait to get back playing with his team and has praised the wider GAA community for the efforts they have made to keep people active at home.
“You’d miss the hurling. The selectors are putting up videos to encourage young people around the town here and there’s a great effort being made by every club. Hopefully, it will all be over in a few months.” he added.
The circuit
The circuit that Emmet was able to put together is as follows:
- Shoulder press with a log;
- Pull-ups using bales spikes on a front loader;
- Tricep-dips using a transport box on a 135 Massey Ferguson;
- Using a steak driver as dumbbells;
- Battle rope exercise using 3 concrete blocks and a length of rope;
- Inverted rows using a bale handler;
- Using a sledgehammer on tyres;
- Squats with oil drums;
- Lunges with a bag of fertiliser.
Emmet did this circuit three times during his session and said there is so much more that could be incorporated into it.
Personal benefit
“It takes 5 or 10 minutes to set up. A lot of lads would have slabs like that that are empty this time of year. You’re doing the labour on the farm for the good of the animals, but you have to do something as well for yourself.”
“You’re always working but it’s not for your own personal benefit and it would be good to set up something for 20 or 30 minutes.”
“There’s loads more that could be done. Safe ideas obviously because that’s the most important thing but I definitely think people should be trying this,” he concluded.
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