How to return to exercise after Covid

Once you have the all-clear to get back to an exercise programme, the advice is straightforward – begin with light work and only raise the intensity when your body is able to cope.

Light intensity means exercise that barely leaves you out of breath, so walking, gardening, yoga or stretching exercises. 

Gradually increase the intensity as your fitness levels begin to normalise. Continue reading

New Year, new fitness target

Setting a new fitness target at the start of the year can be a bit daunting. For a start, your goals may change. In the after glow of the New Year’s Eve party, you may think that losing weight and eating healthily are your main goals. By the middle of January, just finding a way to stay motivated to go to the gym in the cold, dark evenings could be the target.  Continue reading

A happy and healthy Christmas and New Year

For your own sanity, the best approach is to see the whole festive period as a time to do things differently. You know full well that you are in a  good state of health and fitness going into the break. A few days of complete relaxation will not set things back to any significant degree. Your waistband may feel but tighter by 2nd January but that is nothing a few days of more intense exercise and some sensible eating will not cure. Continue reading

Be more Beth

Beth Shriever is Team GB’s BMX star who won a memorable gold medal at the Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games and then, just three weeks later won gold at the World Championships.

This was a young athlete who, until 2019, wasn’t even funded bu UK Sport to be on the British Cycling training programme. For a year, the athlete and her family did fundraising and crowd-funding activities to help get the cycling protégée to Olympic qualification events.

Training for muscle gain

Several things changed for Beth once she was accepted onto the programme. Working with a sports psychologist, she became mentally resilient and learnt to cope with all that life threw at her. She trained with the BMX men’s team to get strong and aggressive in her racing performances; she learnt how to match her nutritional intake with her energy needs. Most importantly, she learnt how to train in the gym so she was – in her words – ‘properly strong and powerful’. Continue reading

Pubs to reopen before gyms? It makes no sense

With cinemas, pubs and hairdressers all allowed to resume business on 4 July, those within the health and leisure sector fully expected to follow the same timeline.

Here at Kelsey Kerridge, we have been ready for re-opening for weeks, after following industry and government guidelines to the letter. Our workforce was ready to welcome people back, social distancing restrictions are carefully planned and the entire place is – and will always be – cleaned to the strictest standard of hygiene we can attain. Continue reading

COVID Update – AUGUST 2021

COVID-19 Up-date

Last up-dated:         20th August 2021

Roadmap out of Lockdown

Step 4 – From 19th July the following can resume:

  • All other areas can re-open
  • No legal limit on social distancing
  • Will be a risk assessment-based approach

Step 3 – From 17th May the following can resume:

  • Group exercise and fitness classes
  • ‘Organised’ sport for clubs affiliated with their governing body of sport
  • Informal sport with one other household of within the ‘rule of six’

 Step 2 – From 12th April the following can resume:

  • Gyms for individual use
  • One-to-One PT sessions can commence
  • Group exercise NOT allowed until Step 3 (no earlier than 17th May)
  • Climbing walls can re-open
  • Indoor sports same households or support bubble only – Badminton & Squash etc
  • Indoor sports are allowed for the under 18’s
  • All Covid-secure guidelines must be followed

Staff and customers are required to follow the guidance and measures in place to make our facilities as safe as possible:

General

  • If you or anyone of your household have COVID-19 symptoms you must stay away from the Sports Centre and follow Government guidelines
  • From 19th July we ask that you still wear a face mask whilst moving around the Centre. Covid 19 has not gone away so please respect other users and our staff by continuing to follow the guidance.  Staff will continue to wear a face mask while moving around the centre
  • NHS QR code posters are still displayed so individuals have the option to check in
  • The track and trace book remains in place so individuals who do not have the NHS App have the option to check in, these details will only be kept for 21 days
  • Maintain social distancing – some banners, posters & signage remain in place to encourage caution. Staff are still maintaining social distancing where possible
  • Regular cleaning of hands – Cleanliness/hygiene protocol signage displayed throughout the facilities
  • Sanitiser stations are installed in appropriate locations
  • We have an enhanced cleaning regime
  • Ventilation system to remain turned up, the dampers left fully open, filters changed regularly, and doors propped open where necessary

Reception

  • Protection screens are installed around the reception desk to protect both staff and customers
  • Queue management – 2m spacing markings on the floor from outside the entrance remains in place to encourage caution
  • Sanitiser station located in the reception area
  • Please use card/contactless payment method if possible
  • Your membership card will NOT be swiped by the receptionist. Please have your membership number ready so they can type your number in manually

Changing Rooms / Toilets

  • Showers are back open
  • Toilet area – Disinfectant spray bottles for customers to wipe down areas touched

Free Weights Gym

  • Disinfectant spray bottles for customers to wipe down equipment after use
  • Sanitiser station located within the gym
  • We will continue to monitor numbers and will reduce capacity if necessary. This will be reviewed along with case numbers

Outlooks Gym

  • Disinfectant spray bottles for customers to wipe down equipment after use
  • Sanitiser station located within the gym
  • Hot Tub & Sauna are back open
  • We will continue to monitor numbers and will reduce capacity if necessary. This will be reviewed along with case numbers

Fitness Classes

  • At present we are operating a reduced timetable
  • Classes have been moved back into the Studio and Fenners
  • Classes will minimise the need to share equipment
  • Bring your own mat for Yoga & Pilates if possible
  • Equipment (including mats etc) will be cleaned in between use
  • We will continue to monitor numbers and will reduce capacity if necessary. This will be reviewed along with case numbers

Climbing Wall

  • Climbers will no longer need to book
  • Disinfectant spray bottles for customers to wipe down the campus board and pull up bar after use
  • We will continue to monitor numbers and will reduce capacity if necessary. This will be reviewed along with case numbers

Main Hall / Sports / Bookings

  • All sports and activities can return with no restrictions
  • Bring your own rackets and bats if possible

Fitness for office workers

Office workers will often arrive at their desks by 9am in the morning and then sit for three to four hours with little or no walking during that time. Lunchtimes may also include eating at the desk. Then it is back for another long period in a seated position.

The impact of this can be catastrophic on the health of office workers. Carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal injury, repetitive strain, arthritis and bursitis, circulatory problems, neck and back tension, spinal disc degeneration – these are just some of the issues that arise for people who sit for prolonged periods of time. Continue reading

Train like a luge athlete

To celebrate the success of our British Luge team at the Winter Olympics, we have put together a training schedule for potential luge athletes. While having a go, just take a second to imagine what Yarnold, Deas and Parson put their bodies through. All at Kelsey Kerridge offer our huge congratulations to the GB Luge team. Continue reading