 There is so much in the news and social media about depression and loneliness but yesterday I was reminded that Mondays are to be looked forward to!
I was invited to give a presentation at the Cherry Lodge Cancer well living day. I have never been in a room with so much positive energy. My 30 minute exercise session just whizzed by and the room was buzzing with laugher, singing and happiness. Roll onto my afternoon EXTEND class and we presented the Enfield Parkinson's Society with a cheque for £210.00 in memory of our dear friend Pat who passed away in April. A Fitness League member (as it was then) and a founder member of the EXTEND class she brought a smile to class even in the dark days when, despite her strongest attempts to keep active, Parkinson's was making life difficult. In my 18 years of teaching exercise I have seen the reasons for exercise changing. Way back the ladies (yes ladies) used to go to the Women's League of Health and Beauty for exercise but also for female company during the day. With the housework, children and cooking it was 'their time' to be themselves to make friends as well as enjoy the exercise. Roll onto 1976 the one of the main priorities of an EXTEND class was to make friends and maintain a social life. Somehow, the social value of classes got over looked as exercise became something you did to keep the doctor happy, to prevent illness, for rehab. It became about Stroke rehabilitation, fall prevention, obesity and 10,000 steps! Social wellness is not a new buzzword, it is something I, like so many other exercise to music teachers, have been doing every week. Just pop along to any class and you will see what I mean - every teacher will complain that it is impossible to start on time as everyone is chatting - and after all- that is what we want!
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"National Fitness Day is a chance to highlight the role physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier and active lifestyles.
National Fitness Day sees a huge range of activity options enjoyed by participants of all ages, such as ‘plank offs’, yoga and pilates classes, treadmill challenges, high-street HIIT classes, dance-offs, mass walks and many more." Planks? Treadmill? HIIT? If that is not your thing then try a Medau Movement class - in fact, one lady said my class was perfect for 'ladies of her age' as the gym was intimidating and no one looked like her! On Wednesday 26th September we will having our usual Medau Movement class at Elm Court. Those who come to class say that they enjoy it as it gets them out of the house, encourages the whole body to move, gets the muscles and the heart working as well as a good place to make friends. At the end of the session we are running (at a gentle dancers pace) the length of the hall without thinking about it! National Fitness Day is a great day to promote Medau, EXTEND and any other activity that gets you moving. No time for a class? You do not need to go to the gym to work the body - just a few minutes dancing to your favourite songs in the privacy of your own home every day is enough. Today the BBC led with a story that a 'WHO report estimates that more than a quarter of people worldwide - 1.4 billion - are not doing enough physical exercise, a figure that has barely improved since 2001.' I am not really surprised that people find it difficult to increase their daily activity - we all found it easier to sit on the sofa rather than walk round the block in the extreme heat of the summer months and soon the chilling winds, rain and frozen pavements will encourage us into winter hibernation. There needs to be signposts to classes and activities that people can relate to - images of people just like them enjoying exercise that they can enjoy. We all enjoy different things and we all have many different 'boxes' to tick. So, during National Physical Activity week bring a friend to a Medau or EXTEND class and see if it is 'the something' that ticks their 'box' and gives them 60 minutes of physical activity each week!
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Exercise With TracyEXTEND Exercise and Medau Movement teacher. Keeping the muscles working, the joints mobile and having fun! Archives
March 2021
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If you fancy trying a class then please get in touch. The first class is free!
EXTEND: Southgate Methodist Church, Monday 1.30-2.30
EXTEND: Grange Park Methodist Church Tuesday 10-11 Medau: Potters Bar, Wednesday 2.15-3.45 |
Email: exercisewithtracy@gmail.comTELEPHONE 07949 055958
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