The natural inclination during the dark nights is of course to stay indoors and snuggle down on the sofa with a box set rather than venture out into the cold or to the health club to get active.
But the importance of taking regular exercise is a proven way to lift our mood and must form an important part of everyday life.
Jason Eaton, general manager at the club and spa at Cadbury House in Congresbury is now encouraging people to get (and stay) motivated as the days slowly get a bit lighter and a little warmer.
Jason said: “Our bodies are meant to move and over the last 12 months a lot of us have been doing a lot less! But as I’ve said before, I can’t stress enough that doing exercise will make you feel a whole lot better.
“If you’re new to exercise or just need a little motivation, there are lots of ways you can get active whether it’s from the comfort of your home or at a health club such as Cadbury House. The important thing is that you do something.”
Here Jason gives some tips on exercise that can be done either at home or from a local health club or gym.
“Walking can be done either on treadmills or from your front door! It’s also one of the best exercises to lose weight. It’s an easy thing to do, especially if you are new to exercise and you don’t need any special equipment or clothing. All you need is a good pair of trainers or walking shoes and because it’s low impact means less impact on the joints. Including a 30 minute walk into your daily routine will soon result in improved fitness and weight loss and you’ll also feel great afterwards.
“Jogging is a great exercise that can again be done either on a treadmill in the comfort of a health club or out on the pavement or park. It’s great for weight loss and helps reduce what is commonly known as belly fat. Start gently and slowly build up your pace and time out. You’ll quickly find that jogging for 30 minutes will seem relatively easy. The main thing to note here is to make sure you’ve got decent trainers that provide the required support.
“Swimming is a great exercise as once you’re in the pool, the whole body weight is supported by the water. This makes it a very low impact exercise and is fantastic for those returning from injury or who have joint issues. It’s equally good for those free from injury or pain. Swimming for 30 minutes will see you burn well over 200 calories and it works pretty much the whole body so what’s not to like!
We’ve got a fantastic 20-metre indoor pool here at Cadbury House with two dedicated lanes so you can enjoy your swim and get your lengths in totally uninhibited
“In the UK cycling has benefitted from an explosion of interest helped by the success of the GB Olympic cycling team and success of Grand Tour riders such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.
“It’s great for people of all fitness levels and because it’s low impact, is a great exercise for anyone with joint issues. Traditionally done outdoors, most health clubs, like Cadbury House, offer a range of cycling options such as spinning, Watt Bike or bikes in the gym so there is plenty to choose from.
“Yoga and Pilates have grown in popularity in recent years, especially since the pandemic first hit. A great stress reliever, it also helps with flexibility, burns calories and is brilliant for all-round well-being. We hold regular classes but this is also something that can be done from the comfort of your own home.
“Using a gym for weight training will help build muscle strength. This in turn improves the rate at which your body burns calories as well as toning the body. The instructors here at Cadbury House can help put in place a programme designed for a specific reason, plus are on hand to give advice on technique and how to use the equipment.
“The most important thing is to do something. You’ll feel better, lose weight and improve your mental health.”
For advice or further information please visit https://www.theclubandspabristol.co.uk/
