​A recent study conducted by Alzheimer’s Research UK has found that half the UK population has no idea of the risk factors for dementia. In fact, the study revealed that a fifth of people believed it was just an inevitable part of aging. But the truth is we can all play a part in reducing our risk factors of developing the disease, simply by adopting a healthier lifestyle and exercising!
 
We all know how great exercise makes us feel so it makes sense to make regular, enjoyable exercise part of your routine. This NHS article really highlights how social physical activity can play a big part in helping depression and anxiety in old age which in turn could lower the risk of developing dementia.
 
Exercise can increase:
Memory and thinking skills
Harvard Medical School showed that moderate regular exercise can improve your memory in only 6 months. Exercise works on the brain directly and indirectly. Directly by increasing the volume of the parts of the brain which control memory and indirectly through improving sleep and reducing stress and anxiety.

Life Expectancy
According to the World Health Organisation regular exercise can increase your lifespan by reducing the likelihood of coronary disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer. Regular exercise improves muscle fitness and body mass.

Cardiovascular Health
John Hopkins Medicine suggest that physical activity can be just as much of a benefit to your heart health as medication. Exercise can help by lowering blood pressure, keeping your weight under control and strengthening your muscles.

Overall Wellbeing
Exercise can help treat depression and anxiety. The endorphins (hormone that makes us feel good) released through exercise give you an enormous sense of well being as well as helping you feel energised.
 
The benefits of regular exercise are vast but as we get older it is common to ease off on the amount of physical activity we do. Decreased mobility, illness and isolation are all factors that affect how active we are in old age. Taking part in regular exercise classes such as The Move it or Lose it classes with Amanda Abbott at Smart Fitt will help increase your overall well-being, heart and brain health as well as improve your balance and reduce your risk of falls. You’ll get to meet up with like minded friends to help motivate each other. The classes are designed to help people remain active and healthy as they age.
 
Classes started this month, a full class schedule can be found here: Move It or Lose It Class Schedule contact Amanda on 07535788756, or email amanda@smart-fitt.fitness for more information. 

Getting older doesn’t mean you should stop exercising. You might be a bit less agile and slower than when you were younger but regular exercise can help improve flexibility and mobility and you will look and feel so much younger! We recently wrote a piece about this, check out The Importance of Keeping Fit in the Golden Years.
 
There are so many reasons why it’s important to keep active as we age but it’s not easy to stay motivated, especially if you lack confidence or feel a little isolated. That’s one of the reasons an exercise class is such a fantastic way to stay in shape. As well as the physical benefits associated with regular exercise you will also meet new people and form new friendships. The chance to have a good natter with some like minded friends after some gentle exercise is a really great motivator to get yourself out to a regular class.
 
The NHS recommends regular exercise to help you stay healthy and active. Ensuring you exercise regularly can help improve sleep, relieve stress, improve your balance and give you more self confidence. Move it or Lose it classes are a perfect way to start exercising and improving your overall well being. Move it or Lose it classes began in 2010 by Julie Robinson in order to help motivate older people to stay active. The company has grown and now has a network of instructors across the country, including Amanda Abbott at Smart Fitt so you can now join a class near you, we have put one on for every day of the week. Even better your first class is free!
 
Move It or Lose It classes:
 
Monday: 

• 10:45-11:45 (starts 4th March)
• The Centre at Elsea Park, 1 Sandown Drive, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 0US
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Tuesday: 

• 13:30-14:30 (starts 5th March)
• Essendine Village Hall, 6 Glen Crescent, Essendine, Lincolnshire, PE9 4LQ

 
Wednesday: 

• 13:00-13:45 (starts 6th March)
• Tallington Village Hall, Main Road, Tallington, Lincolnshire, PE9 4RP

 
Thursday: 

• 13:30-14:15 (starts 7th March)
• The Dance Academy, Station Road, Corby Glen, Grantham, NG33 4NW

 
Friday: 

• 13:30-14:15 (starts 8th March)
• The Barn, Baston, Main Street, Baston, Lincolnshire, PE6 9PA

 
For more information call Amanda on 07535788756, or email amanda@smart-fitt.fitness.
 
We hope to see you at a Move It or Lose It class soon!

During February Smart Fitt is running a promotion called “Bring a Buddy” and get 2 for the price of 1. So if you’re struggling to stick to your New Year fitness goals or you just need some extra motivation, this is a fantastic opportunity to help you keep on track.

Exercising can be much more effective when you do it with friends and if you’re wondering how it can help you here are 8 Great Reasons to Train with a Friend:

1. Accountability When the tough gets going and you feel like giving in or you’ve had a bad week and are lacking the motivation, having a friend who depends on you to turn up to train together means you are more likely to keep going and stick to your fitness goals. It’s much easier to put off a workout if you’re only accountable to yourself so plan a weekly training session to keep the momentum going.
2. It’s more fun to train with a friend It can get stale and boring when you train on your own. Exercising with friends is much more enjoyable and means you’ll be much more likely to keep on training.
3. It makes you work harder Even if you don’t see yourself as particularly competitive you’ll still find you try much harder when working out with a friend. Trying to keep up with a training partner can make you push yourself harder than you would if you train alone.
4. You have more chance of fulfilling your exercise goals Exercising with your friend gives you the added motivation to keep going. You’ll be more likely to achieve your goals and set new ones.
5. Safety When lifting weights it’s always good to have a ‘spotter’, someone you trust to make sure your technique is good and to encourage you to complete your exercises.
6. Social Interaction Exercising with friends allows you to share your successes, support one another and form new bonds.
7. Get some ‘me time’ Working out with a friend can give you a much needed break from your everyday life. Having a regular time when you meet up with your exercise buddy can really help your mental well-being.
8. Learn new skills Everyone has their own unique skills and interests and by working out with a friend you can pick up new fitness exercises and possibly try a class you wouldn’t have tried if you were on your own.

With all this in mind now is a great time to start exercising with a friend so why not take advantage of Smart-Fitt’s February offer and get 2 for the price of 1 on a range of our classes.  All the classes are mixed gender, great fun, led by a mature qualified experienced instructor and with daytime and evening options available.
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All you need to do is print off the vouchers or show them on your phone and say where you saw this, either on the website or social media.