 It’s starting to warm up, the days are getting longer- Spring is finally here! The onset of spring often fills us with a bit of hope and motivation and it’s a great time to change up your exercise regime. You can take advantage of milder weather and take your exercise routine outside and get all the benefits of what that has to offer. Fresh air and sunshine for an added boost of vitamin D combined with a bit of cardio or strength training can really lift your mood and give you an extra dose of endorphins. But, let's face it, British weather is changeable so if the weather is bad, don’t be put off, move your activity indoors!
Exercise for Well-Being The benefits of regular exercise, whether a daily brisk walk or more structured regime, are vast. Research shows how just 10 minutes of brisk activity boosts mental alertness, mood and energy levels. The end of dark mornings and the onset of longer days gives us more opportunity to spend time doing physical activities. If you work during the day , the extra daylight in the morning or evening means you have a bit more time to get active. A quick walk before breakfast or a workout before your evening meal will do you the world of good, physically and mentally. As the weather improves one of the easiest ways to increase your amount of physical activity is walking. Try adding a daily walk to your normal routine, whether that’s walking to work, the local shop or something more substantial like meeting up with your local rambling group. Join a Class If you’re stuck in a bit of a rut and need a bit of motivation you could try joining a class. There are lots of options and most will be tailored to your individual fitness level/ability. Being part of a group activity is fantastic for accountability and meeting new people. It also pushes you to try harder than you might if you are just plodding along on your own. Classes can often be held outside when the weather permits, especially classes such as Bootcamp which involve a broad range of exercises. Use it or Lose it! This saying couldn’t be more true, if you want to live an active and full life you need to keep moving. Loss of muscle tone, flexibility and cardio health can have serious implications in later life so it’s important to stay active. Don’t be put off if you are less mobile or find exercise difficult, there are classes specifically aimed at less mobile individuals , such as Move it Or Lose It. These classes are made up of exercises that can be carried out seated or standing and aim to help with daily activities such as climbing the stairs. Enjoy the longer days and (hopefully) milder weather and get active! What exercises do you like to do when the weather warms up?
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The health and safety of our class members is of our highest priority and given the latest guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UK Government it is with regret we have had to close all our classes until further notice.  Exercise Support at Home We will monitor update daily and make changes inline with new information published. It will be a good idea to maintain regular exercise at home where possible. We have a selection on Youtube videos and video we posted to Facebook that you can used as reference for exercising at home, especially if you have had to self isolate. Exercise toys can be replaced with any similar items you have in the home too. Move It Or Lose It Classes The Move It Or Lose It team have promised to publish some FREE online videos that you can use in the comfort of your own home, please check here for updates: FREE Online Videos they also have a Youtube channel that publishes regular videos. They also have a selection of DVD’s that can be purchased online here: Move It Or Lose It DVD's they also plan to do online rentals to keep costs down for those with reduced income. Signs and Symptoms of Coronavirus Please consider the latest guidance regarding signs and symptoms of Coronavirus. Conoravirus Guidelines If you have recently returned from any of the counties most affected by Conoravirus or if you, or a member of your immediate household are unwell and are experiencing a new and persistent cough and have a high temperature you must follow the latest guidance on isolation at home. Are you in the high risk category? Please consider if you or those close to you fall in to the high risk category, please look out for family, friends or those you know who are already isolated and may need additional support like help with food or picking up prescriptions. FREE Support Pack for Older People We know this outbreak will impact so many peoples’ lives so please follow the link below to download the Move It Or Lose it FREE support pack for older people to help you through these difficult times. Last updated 19th march 2020 If you’re still feeling the post Christmas slump and Januarys 'New You' plans have gone out the window, why not try joining a regular exercise class? Being active has many health benefits but staying motivated to keep exercising through the cold, winter months can be difficult. Attending a regular exercise class can really help you stay focussed and committed. If you just plan to go for a run on your own you have no one to keep you accountable and if the weather is bad it’s easy to keep putting it off until tomorrow. If you arrange to go to a class with your friends you are much more likely to achieve your fitness goals.  Bootcamp Classes Bootcamp is a great way to get fit and meet new people. Our Bootcamp classes are held indoors and outdoors allowing us to perform a greater variety of exercises. The main aim in the Bootcamp class is to have fun while getting fit! Bootcamp uses HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) as the basis for the exercises. HIIT allows us to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time (Bootcamp classes are 45 minutes long). Using circuits, race layouts, team exercises etc Bootcamp is never boring and each class is designed to push each individual to their limits. What We Do at Smart Fitt Bootcamp:
All classes are aimed at all abilities and the classes are designed around each individual. At our most recent Bootcamp class we used old mats and folded them over to use as focus pads. In pairs the class performed 10 punches, then side stepped across the room, then swapped who was holding the mat and repeated the sequence. Next, 2 punches standing followed by 2 punches in a low squat. Then ab curl up followed by two punches and finally high plank and punch. We went on to Gliders (discs that slide/glide across the floor). In pairs again, one person placed their hands onto the gliders and ran across the hall and back (monkey runs) while the other person did jumping jacks. Then swapped and repeated the exercises. Next, one person placed each foot on a glider and took a high plank position then used their hands to pull themselves across the floor while the other person did high knees. Then everyone swapped and repeated the exercises. The class was finished with a metabolic raiser where the group was split into groups based on their ability, beginners, intermediate and advanced. Each group was then given 3 exercises and each exercise had to be performed 10 times, then 9 times, then 8 times etc with a 5 minute time limit. The challenge of the exercise was to see the lowest number that could be achieved in the set time. This set will be re-done in 6 weeks to test fitness improvements. Improve Your Well-being Regular exercise really improves our general well-being, helps with memory and can help with depression and anxiety. To really get the most out of your exercise regime we recommend working with a personal instructor who can guide you and offer continued support. Personalised Training Sessions If group sessions are not for you, we offer one-to-one sessions or two-to-one sessions for those whose work and life schedules mean that going to classes is almost impossible or for those who want to achieve a goal but are not quite getting there with their gym membership |
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