 We are excited to share that Amanda was featured in the Instructors Spotlight at Move It Or Lose It this month. You can read her interview here:
Instructors Spotlight - Move It Or Lose It This month we had a catch up with one of our instructors, Amanda Abbott, who runs her classes at various locations in Lincolnshire. We asked Amanda a few questions and here's what she had to say. How did you find out about the FABS course? I saw an ad on Facebook. What did you do before becoming a Move it or Lose it instructor? I'm a level three personal trainer and hold Level 3 Designing Exercise Programmes for the Senior Population too, so I did personal training and a couple of "chairobics" classes. What made you want to do the FABS course? It seemed like the natural progression from the courses I'd already done. What do you love most about being an instructor? Seeing people improve. Seeing their faces when something 'goes right'. Have you had any funny moments in your classes? So many! Once doing the pass the baton around the circle game, I had left my bag of spare batons behind a gentleman (the group joker!). Every time I called 'stop' to get the group to do a move in between the passing there seemed to be an extra baton! Then there were two extra batons. Every time there were more and more batons in the circle. The gentleman in question kept dipping into the bag of spares and adding them into the circle. It took me quite a while to work out what was happening. Meanwhile a few in the circle had worked it out or had seen the extra batons being added. I couldn't believe I was so slow to pick up on what was happening. We had a great laugh that day! What's your favourite music track to use in a class? I don't really have a favourite. I plan my routines to last for around 6 weeks. Every routine has a bit of a theme, so at the moment I'm doing Autumn/Halloween. Amongst the tracks being used at the moment we've got Time Warp and Thriller for the aerobic section; Ghost Town by The Specials for the strength section and Autumn Leaves for the cool down. I like a good box step to the right music as you can really get into the beat - my groups like it too! What would you say to anyone thinking about doing the FABS course and becoming an instructor? Be prepared for a lot of hard work, working out playlists and routines are very time consuming. But the sense of achievement when you deliver a good routine; when the group all works together in unison; the smiles on the clients faces and the laughter make this a very rewarding occupation. What are your hobbies? Open water swimming, cycling (road and off-road), taekwondo. gardening, baking and sewing. What is your favourite food? Any recipe with lamb! What is your favourite TV programme? Tricky this - I always forget when dramas are on so I'll watch one episdoe then forget it's on. I'm not good with catch-up tv. The Great British Sewing Bee and Great British Bake Off are my 'must see' programmes though. What is your guilty pleasure? I love going for long walks with my dog (Cocker Spaniel called Bailey) and will organise my weekly schedule so that I have one afternoon a week to go for a lovely long walk in the local countryside.
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 The holidays are over for most of us and even though we’re currently enjoying a mini-September heatwave the signs of Autumn are starting to appear. It may not seem like it right now, but colder weather will soon be upon us and with it the threat of colds and flu. After the past year we’re all fully aware of the need to keep healthy but there is only so much we can do to avoid colds and viruses. The good news is there are simple things we can do to help boost our immune systems, so we are better equipped to fight off any nasty bugs.
A study done last year at the height of the pandemic showed how obesity and inactivity can lower the immune system. One of the simplest things we can do to help support the immune system and give ourselves a fighting chance against respiratory illnesses is to make sure we stay active, whether that be walking every day or taking part in regular exercise classes. The study found we are much more likely to see an improvement in our immune response if we partake in regular moderate exercise rather than prolonged intense exercise (especially if you have been exposed to any type of cold virus). The key is to be consistent, so make it part of your daily routine and reap the benefits. Motivation is key If you find it difficult to motivate yourself you could try joining a fitness class with a friend- you’re more likely to stick to the routine if you have a friend who is relying on you to keep turning up. You could also plan to walk every day with a friend or group of friends- walking daily is a great way to get some exercise and the social aspect of walking with friends will help boost your mental well-being. Above all you need to make sure you are having fun, or you’ll find it hard to stick to, so pick an activity you enjoy or mix it up and do a few different things each week. How long do you need to exercise for to see the benefits? The study recommends about 30-60 minutes of brisk walking every day to help boost your immune system. Other things you can do to boost your immune system:
As always, if you are new to exercise you should take it slowly to begin with, listen to your body and build up gradually. Contact Amanda if you would like any advice or support with starting any of Smart Fitt’s fitness classes.  Summer is here (although someone needs to remind the weather!) and many of us are planning a holiday in the coming weeks. This often means our usual exercise routines are put on hold and it can be tempting to just let it all go and overindulge. If you do decide to ditch the healthy habits for a couple of weeks that is absolutely fine, it might be daunting picking it all up again but with a little determination and effort you’ll soon be back on track. A break is as good as a rest and if you need a break from exercise then you should definitely take one. Taking a holiday from exercise allows your body to fully recover, you can concentrate on getting some much needed sleep and avoid injuries caused by over-exercising.
On the other hand, if you’re an active person and love exercising then suddenly stopping exercise can have a negative effect, leaving your body feeling stiff and your mind racing. Thankfully, just because you can't attend your usual exercise class or gym doesn’t mean there aren't plenty of ways you can keep fit and active while still enjoying your holiday. Here are a few options to help keep you in tip top condition:
However, if you decide to spend your time when you’re on holiday this summer, be sure to relax and savour the break. The past year has taken its toll on all of us and we all deserve some quality self-care- What are you are planning to do with the rest of your summer? Maybe just taking it easy and enjoying a rest? Let us know and post a pic on our Facebook page. |
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