In the excitement of the new rule of six and short-lived sunshine, you may not have given a thought about what the new lockdown rules mean for your workout routine. However, the changes do mean big things for how and where you can exercise – particularly if you’re a lover of group fitness.

Given that it’s been a year since England first went into lockdown, the new guidelines are probably the motivational boost you need. With a couple of weeks until gyms reopen, the novelty of new year goals wearing off and many months of home workouts under our belts, changing up your routine is the best way to get out of your fitness funk.

In fact, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact of missing your mates during a workout – the benefits of training with someone else range from more enjoyable workouts to better performance. Here’s the guidance on when, where and who you’re allowed to sweat it out with.

Can you exercise with a friend during the coronavirus lockdown? Here are the rules